Sometimes you fancy a walk in the fresh air and immersing yourself in nature, without having to trek too far away. Luckily, in Greater Manchester we have some amazing country parks you can visit for a slice of the countryside.
Located between Marple and Romiley in Stockport is Etherow Country Park. It boasts around 200 acres of green space, made up of woodland, lakes, marshland and a river.
Etherow became one of England’s first country parks in the 1960s. It started out life as part of the Andrews estate in the 1820s.
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Entrepreneur George Andrew built the cotton mill and the lake, as well as the nearby houses and facilities to support the mill’s workforce, creating the village of Compstall. The lake served as a reservoir to power the water wheel for the mill.
Today the park has been transformed into a space which everyone can enjoy. The lake is now used by the Etherow Country Park Sailing Club, which offers courses for both children and adults.
If you don’t fancy taking to the water, there’s even a model boat club, so don’t be surprised if you see boats both big and small on the water. The club at Etherow is one of the largest in the UK.
The park lies in the Etherow-Goyt Valley and features a diverse range of habitats, home to a huge variety of wildlife. At the far end of the park you’ll come across the Keg Pool, originally built as a fishing lake but today it’s where you’ll find a variety of birds and animals.
Lining the sides of the valley are expanses of ancient woodland and there are trails you can follow through the trees. There’s lots of different areas to discover, including a beautiful weir.
The park has a pay and display car park, which costs £3 for the day and is free on bank holidays. There is also a visitor centre, toilets and a small cafe.
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