Freedoma's Blog

A Sunday stroll is always a good thing after a long week. Somewhere green and beautiful, or indeed somewhere of historical interest, and a picnic, and that’s your day complete. A perfect way to round off the week….

Urmston Meadows

This stretch of meadow is right by the River Mersey and is perfect for walking dogs, horse riding and other activities. Accessed by a bridge over the Mersey, I’ve spent many a day here as a kid collecting berries and looking at the butterflies. There’s an old Victorian rubbish dump on the meadows and I’ve often seen people digging for old bottles there (although the farmer doesn’t like it much!)Not only makes it a place of relative natural beauty it’s also a place of historical interest, because going round picking up the old bottles, you can really piece together some of the social fabric and local history of the area. Good fun as long as it’s not chucking it down.

Sale Water Park

Sale water park is a beautiful place, tucked away behind the Manchester orbital motorway. In summer it’s great to stroll round the perimeter of the lake and watch the fishermen and boatmen at work. I’m also told that Decker’s restaurant is nice, which is by the car park. There’s a play area for children. It’s almost like a makeshift track, so perfect for running, walking or cycling around. It links well with Chorlton meadows and Stretford and Sale Ees, other local places of natural beauty. The more sprightly among you can rent a powerboat and zip across the lake, although I prefer to stand on the jetty and watch…

Wythenshawe Hall

Wythenshawe Hall was built in the 16th century. Standing in the grounds of Wythenshawe Park, I have been many a time on visits to the park. Of significant local historical interest, Oliver Cromwell’s army besieged the hall in the 17th century. Half-timbered, and Grade II listed, the hall has been a museum since 1930. Decadently furnished, you could almost imagine yourself living there and being lord of the manor…Only open one day a week for three months of the year though, it is however free, and the staff are friendly. They actively encourage you to sign the guest book and tell them of your experience of the hall, and mine is always a good response.

Castlefield

Castlefield is the old centre of Roman Manchester and a place of significant local interest. There’s a Roman fort here and I’ve been on numerous school trips to it, hearing from the guides about the history of Manchester. The modern mural on the wall of Roman soldiers is quite something and it’s also the location of the oldest surviving railway station in the world. Much redevelopment has made it a swanky area of flats, bistro bars and the like but it will always maintain its history and charm It used to be an area of warehouses and canal basins back in the day, but now looks modern and cutting edge. The fort does look out of place but it’s refreshing to get a bit of history and culture away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

Castleton-

A tiny but vibrant village in the Peak District is about an hour’s drive from Manchester, but well worth it as it’s a place of natural beauty and historical interest. A place that holds memories school field trips and family outings for me, Castleton is really worth a visit. The focal point is the castle on the hill, which attracts many a crowd on a summer’s day. The fish and chips are nice from the takeaway, and when you’re done climbing mountains there’s the lovely Castle Hotel pub for a refreshing drink. Perhaps the most interesting place is Cavedale, an old river valley where lots of fossils can be still found. I remember as a youngster picking up small slabs of rock with animals and crustaceans fossilised inside-amazing, eh?! There is also a lead mine where you can take boat trips through, and a small amount of the rare Blue John lead is mined locally.

Now you know the places to go. If you’re ever bored on a Sunday or half-term you can take the kids out and enjoy these places of natural beauty and historical interest of Manchester (and beyond).

Jamie Doherty