Alderley Edge

Alderley Edge is a National Trust woodland with an impressive sandstone escarpment (the Edge!) and spectacular views over Cheshire countryside to the Peak District. It's a place steeped in mystical folklore and the area is strongly associated with a wizard thought to be Merlin.   We always have fun at Alderley Edge, with plenty of woodland tracks to explore and tree trunks to climb it's not surprising. We usually follow the wizard's walk, a 3.5-mile route taking in a number of landmarks featured in the legend of the wizard. Not for the faint-hearted is the 'thieves hole' - a very deep u...

Boggart Hole Clough

Boggart Hole Clough is an ancient, densely wooded park three miles north of Manchester city centre. Park in the free Charlestown Road car park and set off in the direction of the lake but one word of warning - the park is anything but flat!   As the name indicates it's in a clough - which means a ravine. In former times, the clough was said to be haunted by the Boggart, a mischievous goblin or phantom. We were a bunch of one pram containing a baby, one toddler walking and three on scooters. So the scooters were whizzing perilously down hills, the mum with the pram was puffing up hills ...

Bruntwood Park

The best reason for visiting Bruntwood is its modern and well-equipped playground. There are three areas side by side, each aimed at different age groups.   All the usual swings, slides and roundabouts are present, but there is also a really big climbing frame with lots of interesting features and one of our favourites, the giant ball catcher - where you hurl your ball into a large metal bucket on a seven-foot high pole and wait for it to drop out of one of four holes. The different play areas are linked by gentle slopes which are perfect for children learning to ride a bike. In season...

Chorlton Water Park, Chorlton Ees and Ivy Green

Tucked away, not far from Princess Parkway, you'll find this great all-round park. It is a very easy one-mile walk round the lake and with flat paths it is perfect for pushchairs or bikes.   There are a couple of gentle sandy slopes down to the water, ideal for feeding the ducks or poking around in the mud with a stick. Take detours off the path and you'll find blackberry bushes and almost directly across the lake from the main entrance, over the bridge, you'll discover a path on your left leading to Kenworthy Woods - essentially a secret orchard, where you can help yourself to apples, ...

Clifton Country Park

Clifton Country Park boasts over 50 hectares of perfect meadows, woods, ponds and lakes and is an appealing tranquil setting. The main car park is by the visitor centre with a children's playground on the left-hand side just before you reach the water's edge.   The play area is suitable for 3-11 year olds with the usual swings, slides, rope bridge and climbing frame. There is also an equestrian centre close by so there are plenty of horses in the fields to look at. The main lake is huge, with geese and swans eagerly waiting to be fed and a purpose-built jetty to get to them. It's surrou...

Daisy Nook Country Park

Daisy Nook is an area of the Medlock Valley between Oldham, Failsworth and Ashton-under-Lyne. Despite us missing the turning it is actually quite easy to find (follow the sign to Daisy Nook Garden Centre) and is only five minutes from the motorway and Ikea. At the bottom of the hill is a free car park and The John Howarth Countryside Centre, a friendly cafˇ with information leaflets and displays.   They sell hot and cold snacks, including bacon barms, toasties, cups of tea and hot Vimto. Tables can be found inside but there's also an outdoor picnic area. It is worth calling in here for ...

Delamere Forest

At 2,300 acres, Delamere Forest is the largest area of woodland in Cheshire and, quite simply, stunning. Lots of dry sandstone paths make it ideal for buggies and bikes.   There are clearly signposted routes around the lake that vary in length and the terrain is generally flat (with just a few ups and downs). There is certainly a choice of easy-to-walk forest roads and trails ideal for families with children on foot. Though we didn't do this particular one, there's even a trail with musical instruments on it to entertain the children! No glockenspiels on our route, but biking around the...

Etherow Country Park

With family staying for the weekend and feeling in the mood for a brisk country walk before lunch, we all headed to Etherow. One of Britain's first country parks, it's approximately 240 acres in the Etherow-Goyt Valley, rich with wildlife, fungi, waterways and plenty of child and pram-friendly pathways.   We set off from the pay and display car park in George Street, Compstall, near the visitor centre, where there are also toilets and a cafˇ. The visitor centre, which sells duck food, aims to be open daily 9am-5pm but they can't always man it so it's potluck.   There were hundred...

Fletcher Moss Botanical Gardens

Whether in summer or winter, this park is beautiful. There is limited parking off Millgate Lane and on Stenner Lane, but beware of parking in the Didsbury Pub car park as there are clamping signs everywhere.   The cafe opens most weekends and daily through the summer months, as well as occasionally on a cold bright winter's day. There is a small visitor centre at the bottom of the building behind the cafˇ which is open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, and at weekends if there is a warden. Toilets are usually open, but there are no baby-changing facilities. If you manage to get past the cafe without bei...

Healey Dell Nature Reserve

It's quite some time since I've been on a walk where so many people have said hello! Healey Dell is a very friendly place indeed and I gleaned quite quickly that it is clearly a popular walking spot for those local to the area.   It's one of those places that I think if you live nearby would be wonderful to exploit - for us who'd travelled some way with a baby in a buggy and a toddler, we'd misjudged the terrain somewhat. Much of the beauty of this area comes from the fact that the River Spodden has carved its way through a steep-sided valley. It's a dramatic landscape with waterfalls a...

Heaton Park

One of the largest publicly-owned parks in Europe (650 acres, Grade II listed) and just four miles north of the city centre, there is loads to see and do with little ones in beautiful Heaton Park. There are four car parks so look on a map before you go to work out which one's best.   First off we visited the Farm Centre - home to pigs, cows, sheep, rabbits and alpacas, although the animals were slightly upstaged by the tiny outside play area with its wooden tractor. Thankfully the lure of a donkey ride tempted them away. The donkeys from the farm are harnessed up most weekends to give c...

Holcolmbe Hill

As a child I lived at the foot of Holcombe Hill and therefore I'm rather fond of it, or more particularly of Peel Tower perched at the top. It was built to commemorate Sir Robert Peel, former prime minister and founder of the modern police force. I have since returned with my boys and we have enjoyed the spectacular views of Manchester and North Wales, whilst sat at the top of the hill eating a picnic.   On first assessment, there isn't anything particularly child-friendly about it - the paths are difficult for pushchairs and there are no toilets or places to eat. I therefore wouldn't r...

Hollingworth Lake Country Park

The two and a quarter mile flat perimeter path around Hollingworth Lake offers a superb walk if you have toddlers and pushchairs in tow. The lake is man-made (dating back to 1800) but appears natural and has beautiful countryside surrounding it. On a clear autumn day I took my parents, a three-year-old and a baby.   The three-year-old managed to walk almost the whole distance without stopping, and was kept entertained by muddy puddles, a bridge over a weir, plenty of wildlife (ducks to feed, birds, rabbits, domestic dogs), throwing pebbles in the lake (not at the wildlife) from the smal...

Longford Park

Despite the fact that between us we've lived in Didsbury and Chorlton for donkeys years, neither myself nor my friend Caroline had ever visited Longford Park, just a mile or so down the road in Stretford.   So it was good to spend a couple of hours here exploring with our four children. The park dates back to 1850 and still contains the historic coach house and stable buildings, though unfortunately the original house constructed by John Rylands, the famous cotton merchant, has been flattened. We strolled around the pretty gardens and although in some places you could see money needs to...

Lymm Dam

Driving around Cheshire one day we passed a sign for Lymm Dam so decided to take a detour. We parked on the road over the dam itself, although later we learned there was a car park just behind the church that overlooks the lake.   There are two paths that take you on the mile or so circular route around the lake, one of which is wheelchair-friendly. We opted for the other one, which was perfectly easy going with three-year-old Max and five-year-old Lucas. If we'd had a pram, bar a few steps, I still think it would have been fine. As you walk, there are various diversions to keep the chi...

Moses Gate Country Park

Restored from an old industrial site, this beautiful 305-hectare park is a place of national scientific interest due to its unique wildlife. It's easy to find and there's plenty of free parking - we parked at the bottom car park, which brings you virtually straight into the excellent children's playground and the Rock Hall Visitor Centre.   Moses Gate is centred on three lakes with miles of scenic parkland to take a walk in. There are pathways and seating everywhere, and the area we ambled around was nice and flat so access with a pram is easy.   There's no cafe but plenty of wel...

Moss Bank Park

In the summer holidays Moss Bank Park has an assortment of fun fair rides and activities, including a bouncy castle, an enormous inflatable slide and a carousel. In winter it is a much more sedate park but that is how I prefer it.   Moss Bank is also home to Animal World, which sounds quite grand and raises your expectations. Grand it isn't, but this is a free attraction and it is definitely worth a visit. You enter via the Butterfly House, which is actually pretty good, with wooden walkways over a running stream where you can see lots of fish, and butterflies are flying overhead in the...

Park Bridge

About five minutes away from that giant Ikea in Ashton, you'll find Park Bridge Nature Reserve. This side of Manchester is all pretty new to me, but if you look on a map you'll see that Daisy Nook, Etherow County Park and Goyt Valley, amongst other open spaces, are all kind of joined up, and somewhere in the mix is Park Bridge.   Once the site of one of the region's biggest iron works, this is now almost completely gone bar a few buildings and the area has been reclaimed as a nature reserve. The Park Bridge Heritage Centre, set in the old stables, celebrates the local history. We starte...

Pennington Flash Country Park

With a huge lake as its focal point, Pennington Flash is a beautiful country park in Leigh. Clearly popular, there's a large pay and display car park by the water's edge. We started our visit with the obvious favourite - the children's playground, which everyone loved.   There was sand to play in, a large net-style circular swing, toddler swings and even a metal satellite dish style spinning ride - great equipment but I imagine on a busy weekend it may not be quite big enough. Next we embarked on the walk. We checked the map first, did the toilets second (surprisingly clean - big tick t...

Philips Park

Opened in 1846, Philips Park is one of the world's first municipal parks. It's still crammed with original features including the carriage drive, serpentine paths and plantation, although its Victorian splendour has worn a little thin.   It's situated next to the City of Manchester Stadium and covers 31 acres of ground, with the River Medlock running through the middle. We found the best place to leave the car was on Stuart Street - the entrance there brings you straight in at the younger children's play area, then you can drop down towards the duck pond and have more of a walk around t...

Platt Fields Park

Although not the prettiest, Platt Fields has a lot to offer. There are two great playgrounds for small children, one specifically for under fives with lots of age-appropriate equipment and a central boating lake which is paved all around.   During the summer you can hire boats for around £5 for half-an-hour for up to four people. Through the rest of the park there are walking paths where you tend to stumble on some rather nice little mini-gardens such as the Shakespearean Garden and the Eco Arts Garden, the latter of which is great for exploring.   Toilets are in the Lak...

Reddish Vale Country Park

Reddish Vale Country Park spans over 398 acres of green belt land along the River Tame in the heart of Stockport. Depending on where you think you might end up, you can either park at the bottom of the hill by the country park and walk up to Reddish Vale Farm and tea rooms or park by the farm and walk down to the country park.   Either way parking is free and is less than a five-minute walk away. To your left as you come to the bottom of the hill there is a little mill pond with great views of the viaduct and The Vale. To your right, past a small visitor centre, there is a wooded area h...

Roman Lakes Leisure Park

Less than 10 miles from the centre of Manchester you'll find the Roman Lakes - a real hidden gem. Though there is no tangible connection with the Romans, this was apparently a popular spot in Victorian and Edwardian times when excursion trains would ship visitors into nearby Marple Station.   It's a funny one to find if you're not in the know - a narrow, winding road eventually brings you out into the tranquil and beautiful valley in which sits the Main Lake. We took a gentle stroll around with prams and toddlers on foot - it got a bit boggy at times due to recent rainfall, but I think ...

Sale Water Park and Broad Ees Dole Nature Reserve

The Mersey Valley is an important wildlife corridor running through the urban areas of Manchester and Trafford. It's a huge sector made up of wetlands, grasslands and woodlands.   Our walk started at the Mersey Valley Visitor Centre, where we parked the car. We set off down a pathway in the direction of Broad Ees Dole Nature Reserve, walking alongside Sale Water Park. The footpath was gentle and well surfaced and for the most part quite protected by tree canopies with gaps exposing views of the marshland and of course the lake. Despite it being a blustery day our three-year-old walked a...

Smithills Country Park

Combining a walk in this country park with a trip to the adjacent Smithills Farm and if you're up to it, a tour around the magnificent medieval hall - is a good way to pack a lot into a day trip to Bolton!   We started with a walk around the hall's gardens; they're neither sizeable nor grand, much more country garden style, but in full bloom they're charming - totally enhanced by the backdrop of Smithills Hall. After this we headed towards the surrounding woodland following the shorter red-signposted route. A gravelled winding path led us down quite a steep descent to a bubbling stream ...

Stamford Park

This is a pretty big park, so big in fact that I made a fool of myself and drove through the open wrought iron gates instead of parking on the road outside! The park boasts a small duck pond, large boating lake across the road (which operates seven days a week during the summer), a beautiful conservatory and a lovely wooded area known as The Dingle.   The beds are beautifully kept and the bowling green immaculate, but the park seemed to lack a bit of atmosphere. The aviary was missing the birds and the play area was a bit of a mish-mash. What looked like a water feature has been filled ...

Tandle Hill Country Park

As you approach Tandle Hill Country Park, it has a really lovely feel. There is a wooden play area near the car park that is mainly aimed at older children but is very nicely designed and beautifully kept. There are a variety of walks of differing lengths, with an ideal two-kilometre circuit fully accessible with a pushchair.   Once into the woods and across a small stream, there is a detour along a stone path to the highest point in the park, which provides fantastic views across to the Pennines, the Peak District and down into Greater Manchester.   There are steps back down to ...

VernonPark

Vernon Park is Stockport's oldest park, opened in 1858. It's a grand old place, typical of Victorian civic parks. Restored to its former glory in 2000 after decades of neglect, it's a beautiful open space overlooking the Goyt Valley and its river below.   In truth there's not a lot here for small children. There's no playground, nor any bespoke facilities. Not only that but Vernon Park is built into a steep hill and walking up with toddler and buggy is not for the faint-hearted. That said, for all its child-friendly flaws, this is a glorious park. There are lawns, fountains, cannons, sc...

Walton Hall and Gardens

On a cold and icy day between Christmas and New Year we decided to venture out and get some fresh air. We headed over Warrington way to Walton Hall and Gardens; entrance to the gardens and the children's zoo is free and it is open every day.   After parking in the pay and display, you head into the park via a bridge over the Bridgewater Canal - a very picturesque start. Once in, head left and this brings you to the children's playground and then on to the zoo. The playground is large and could do with a bit of modernisation but it does have a couple of great pieces from the 1970s! The z...

Walton Park

Just off the Washway Road in Sale, where there is free parking, this is a lovely little park, with a couple of playgrounds and an enclosed area for the under fives. Some of the playground facilities may be a little dated but this park has one special feature - a miniature railway.   The quarter-mile, circular route is run by members of the Sale Area Model Engineering Society and operates on Sundays between 12noon and 4pm. It's 30p a ride for both children and adults and has been running for more than 30 years.   Behind the park is the Bridgewater canal, which has a lovely towpath...

Wythenshawe Park

This public park covering around 250 acres in south Manchester has a lot to offer - a working community farm, a playground, a sixteenth century hall and even a horticultural centre.   It also has historic and ornamental woodlands, formal flowerbeds and beautiful wildflower meadows to explore. The small farm (a registered charity) is always our main reason to visit. Because it's free and on the doorstep, it is easy to pop in for half-an-hour. There are cows, sheep, pigs, horses and chickens - the usual suspects. You can buy eggs here as well. If you're after a pleasant walk, a trip to a ...