Burn off the Christmas chocolate and mince pies with an energising Boxing Day walk
(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Christmas Day is over which means Boxing Day is upon us. It’s a day when little ones will play with their freshly unwrapped toys, big kids will test out their new gadgets and adults will breathe a sigh of relief at not having to cook a full blown Christmas dinner.
In a way, Boxing Day is the more relaxed sibling to December 25. You can let your hair down a bit knowing the stresses of the big day itself are over, while still enjoying the festive atmosphere.
For many a beloved tradition on Boxing Day is heading out on a walk. There’s no rulebook for how long it should be or where you should go – it’s completely up to you. It could be a stroll in your local park for just an hour, or a whole day out with a pack up of turkey sandwiches.
Either way it’s a chance to spend some time with your loved ones (or escape your relatives if that’s what you need), and get out into the fresh air. Below we’ve rounded up some of the best walks to do in and around Greater Manchester this Boxing Day.
Alexandra Park, Oldham
Alexandra Park (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
There’s no shortage of impressive Victorian parks across Greater Manchester, and among them is Alexandra Park in Oldham. Located on the edge of the town, it’s full of period features which give it a sense of grandeur, providing the perfect backdrop for a Boxing Day walk.
Take a stroll along the park’s winding paths, passing ornamental gardens and herbaceous borders. In the heart of the park is the impressive boating lake which looks particularly beautiful on a frosty day. Another highlight is the ‘Lion’s Den’, an ornate public shelter packed full of design details.
Kenworthy Woods, Manchester
Kenworthy Woods(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
With paths weaving through towering trees, it’s hard to believe that Kenworthy Woods was once the site of a former tip. Located between Chorlton Water Park and the M60, it’s one of Manchester newest nature reserves, having been rewilded in the 1990s.
Covering an area of 89 acres, it’s perfect for a woodland wander on Boxing Day and feels a world away from the nearby M60. For a longer walk you can follow the River Mersey, or you can head to Chorlton Water Park and follow the path around the lake there.
Rivington Terraced Gardens, Rivington
Rivington Terraced Gardens(Image: James Maloney/Lancs Live)
A Boxing Day walk can be an escape from all of the madness of the festive period, and the intriguing landscape of Rivington Terraced Gardens on the edge of Bolton offers just that. Located on the hillside of Rivington Pike, it covers an area of 45 acres. Originally designed as a pleasure garden for soap magnate Lord Leverhulme, the gardens were abandoned after his death.
Now the land is now owned by United Utilities and a volunteer-run conservation and repair project is underway, led by the Rivington Heritage Trust. Today you can see the half-finished follies, visit the Japanese Garden with a tranquil lake once overlooked by lanterns and pagoda-style tea houses, and the Pigeon Tower, which was built as a present from Lever to his wife.
Reddish Vale Country Park, Stockport
Reddish Vale Country Park(Image: Vincent Cole – Manchester Evening News)
The beautiful thing about a country park is it offers that rural escape without the need to travel too far. Reddish Vale Country Park in Stockport is a gorgeous spot with grassy meadows, ponds and beautiful woodland areas.
Once the home of a calico printworks, there are still clues to the park’s industrial past including a stunning weir, and the former mill ponds. Crossing the park is an impressive 16-arch viaduct which was built in 1875 to carry the Hope Valley line over Tame Valley, and it’s still in use today. There are dozens of walks to take through the park with routes that pick up the Goyt, Etherow, Saddleworth and Longdendale trails.
Hollingworth Lake, Rochdale
Hollingworth Lake(Image: Robin Mulligan / Flickr.com)
If you fancy a waterside walk then head to one of the reservoirs around the outskirts of Greater Manchester. Hollingworth Lake in Littleborough provides a circular walk with views across the water and of the surrounding moorland.
Originally built as a water source for the Rochdale Canal, it was later developed into a tourist resort in the 1860s. While it may not seem like it in the middle of winter, today in the height of summer it has the feel of a seaside destination with people taking to the water in pedalos and sailing boats. However, in winter it doesn’t attract quite so many people, making it an excellent spot for a relaxing walk.
Bridgewater Canal and Castlefield Basin, Manchester
Castlefield(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
For those who live in the city, a walk along the canal in Castlefield can be the perfect way to stretch your legs. It’s a part of Manchester which feels very different to the city-centre shops and allows you to catch a glimpse of the city’s industrial past.
Start your walk in Deansgate and have a mooch around the basin, taking a peek at the houseboats moored there. From here you can pick up the Bridgewater Canal and follow it west towards Salford, passing under bridges and beside graffiti-cover walls along the way. You can make this walk as long or as short as you like; there’s always the option to cross over to catch the track into town for the return leg.
Bramhall Park, Stockport
Bramhall Park(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Another one of Greater Manchester’s magnificent parks, Bramhall Park has all the grandeur of a stately home but in miniature. In the centre of the park is Bramall Hall, a gorgeous timber-framed building which looks like it’s straight from the scene of a Christmas card.
The park itself covers an area of 70 acres and is completely free to visit. There’s lots to explore, from formal gardens with tidy privet hedges to ancient woodland. Should you fancy a rest there are dozens of benches to perch on along the way.
Wigan Pier to Appley Bridge, Wigan
Wigan Pier(Image: David Dixon)
The walk from Wigan Pier to Appley Bridge is a route which features both industrial history and beautiful nature. Setting off from Wigan Pier, the walk begins with a backdrop of old mills and warehouses, then picks up the canal towpath.
Along the way you’ll pass Scot Lane Ponds, home to swans and geese, and the charming Crooke marina, as well as areas of woodland. You can follow the path all the way to Appley Bridge which is just over five miles, or choose a shorter section of the route.
Ladybower Reservoir, Peak District
Ladybower Reservoir(Image: Graham Hogg / geograph.org.uk)
There’s no shortage of incredible walks in the Peak District, and while a hike up Mam Tor or Kinder Scout is ideal for a sunny day in summer, sometimes you want something a bit easier. Ladybower reservoir provides just that with a relatively flat path circling the water which still benefits from those gorgeous Peak District views.
There are two main pay and display car parks, Fairholmes and Heatherdene, and you can begin your walk at either one. A full circuit of the reservoir is 9.2km, however you can make it shorter by going back on yourself if you prefer. If you start at the Fairholmes car park you’ll be at the right end to see the Derwent Dam which is always a spectacular sight.
Pendle Hill, Lancashire
Pendle Hill(Image: James Maloney/Lancs Live)
Views don’t get much better than those from Pendle Hill, just over the border in Lancashire. It’s located in a detached part of the Forest of Bowland, a National Landscape, formerly an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Measuring 1,827ft above sea level at its summit, it can be seen from miles around and from the top you can see as far as Blackpool Tower and the Yorkshire Three Peaks. There’s a five mile circular route you can follow from the village of Barley and passes the Ogden Reservoirs, grassy fields and moorland along the way.
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