There are few things better in life than heading into the Great Outdoors with a furry companion by your side.
This can be especially true for those of us living near Manchester, since weâre never in shortage of spectacular trails to venture on!
While Greater Manchester is most famed as the unofficial âcapital of the northâ, make your way out of the city centre and youâll quickly uncover a whole host of outdoor wonder.
Chances are if youâve found this post, youâre looking for cracking dog walks in the local area.
Whittling down a list to what we consider the very best walks in and around Greater Manchester, head out along any of these dog-friendly hikes and I guarantee youâre in for a great day out!
Are you and your pooch interested? Letâs get to it
Best Dog Friendly Walks Manchester
Heaton Park
Synonymous with the city of Manchester, Heaton Park is one of the most renowned dog walking spots in the whole county.
Nestled just north of Manchester city centre in the quaint town of Prestwich, Heaton Park spans over a whopping 600 acres; officially making it the largest park in Greater Manchester.
A popular location for city dwellers to walk their dogs and escape the downtown hustle and bustle, youâre bound to find mutts of all breeds and sizes here.
A full circular loop around the park comes in at around 9 kilometres (5.6 miles), which should take roughly 1 hour 30 minutes.
However, with the park having a variety of interweaving walking trails, rambles here can be tailored to be short or as long as you want.
We never walk the exact same route twice, often just doing an improvised new trek each time we visit!
This particular park proved an absolute life-saver for me during the Covid lockdowns, and is where I spent many of my evenings after work, getting some well-needed fresh air after being couped in the apartment all day.
More than just a stroll in the park however, Heaton Park is also host to cafes, an animal centre, tennis courts, bowling greens, golf course, boating lake, adventure playground and the historic Heaton Hall; an 18th century grade I listed building.
For the full lowdown, be sure to head on over to our Ultimate Heaton Park Guide here đ
Greenbooth Reservoir
Amidst the rolling pastures north of Heywood in the borough of Rochdale lies Greenbooth Reservoir â a stunning embankment with a hidden past long forgotten by most.
Now a popular dog-friendly walking destination, the Greater Manchester dam was actually previously home to Greenbooth Village; an old settlement which now lay demolished and submerged beneath the reservoirâs shimmering waters.
Providing marvellous views out towards Manchester, Yorkshire and the surrounding countryside, the area is home to four reservoirs in total which can all easily be accessed via the Greenbooth Circular Trail.
A relatively gentle & straight forward ramble, start the walk from Greenbooth Reservoir and simply follow the large looping trail around all four embankments of:
- Greenbooth Reservoir
- Naden Lower Reservoir
- Naden Middle Reservoir
- Naden Higher Reservoir
Likewise, with spots such as Heaton Park taking much of the dog-walking limelight, youâll often find youâll have many stretches of this trail all to yourselves. Perfect if youâre looking for some peace and quiet!
For all you need to know, be sure to check out our Greenbooth Reservoir Walking Guide here đ
Clowbridge Reservoir (& Singing Ringing Tree)
Teetering on the border of Lancashire & Greater Manchester, this iconic & criminally underrated walk just had to make the list.
The circular loop starts by guiding you around the glistening waters of Clowbridge, followed by a mild incline through the surrounding moorlands leading all the way up to Crown Point; the home of The Singing Ringing Tree.
A circular route coming in at just 5.5 miles in length, this luscious countryside trail is suitable for all walking abilities & is bound to have your dogâs tail wagging throughout!
Plus, the countryside views from up top are absolutely astounding.
Interested? Be sure to check out our detailed guide to the Clowbridge & Singing Ringing Tree Walk here đ
Peel Tower Monument
Located on the hills above the town of Ramsbottom, this 9-kilometre circular route takes you up to the Peel Monument and over Holcombe Moor, offering fabulous vantage points to take in the superb views of Manchester and into Lancashire.
Image caption – Built in 1852, the tower was erected after the death of the Bury-born Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel; credited with creating the London Police Force in 1829.
Look out for the flying flag on top of the tower which indicates that itâs open to the public!
Also, with the ramble finishing back in the centre of Ramsbottom, what better way to reward yourself than with a coffee at one of the many dog-friendly cafĂŠs in town after your ramble!
Full route info here.
Prestwich Forest Park
Literally just a 5-minute drive from Heaton Park, Prestwich Forest Park spans over 200 acres of scenic woodland and open space.
Giving you four parks in one, this hidden gem consists of Philipâs Park, Drinkwater Park, Waterdale and Prestwich Clough, all which interconnect through a variety of magical forest walks to explore.
The size of the park and the wide selection of routes here also means that it never feels too crowded; pick the right day and it can feel like you have the whole place largely to yourself!
Bleaklow Plane Crash
Just outside of Greater Manchesterâs borders, hiding in the hills above Glossop, lies the eerie remains of an old aircraft crash site known as the âBleaklow Bomberâ.
The US Air Force craft crashed here during a routine flight in 1948, sadly killing all 13 passengers in the process. Much of the plane wreckage still remains at the site today along with a touching memorial plaque.
There are several ways to get here, but we went via the Snakeâs Pass and then veered off the path up the hill to the wreckage.
The Bleaklow moorland panoramas during your climb are simply sublime, with plenty of opportunity to explore further once reaching the crash site.
For the full lowdown, be sure to trawl through our âHow To Find The B29 OVEREXPOSED Bleaklow Plane Crash Siteâ blog post! đ
Dovestone Reservoir
Nestled on the hills above the village of Greenfield, Dovestone Reservoir continues to attract ramblers from far and wide due to its spectacular scenery, varied wildlife and abundance of hiking trails.
Just a 45-minute drive from Manchester city centre, the reservoir provides city-dwellers with a well needed dose of tranquillity and provides the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle.
Particularly popular amongst families & dog walkers, at a relaxed pace, it shouldnât take much longer than an hour to walk the standard circular route around Dovestone Reservoir.
However, itâs certainly worth allowing more time here if youâd like to explore some of the off-shoot trails and make the most of its fantastic picnic area!
For more info, feel free to read through our Dovestone Reservoir Walk Guide here đ
Pendle Hill
Last but not least, we certainly couldnât finish this blog post without mentioning one of the most infamous hikes in the north of England.
Admitedly a little further out from Manchester than other locations on the list, Pendle Hill is still under an hour away via car and the glorious views from the summit make the drive more than worth it.
Fun fact – Notorious for the Pendle Witch trails of 1612, Pendle Hill also shares strong ties with the Quaker movement which was founded after George Fox experienced a religious vision atop of the summit.
With several trails leading up to the trig point, our favourite has always been the walk starting from the charming village of Barley.
Overlooking Lancashire and into the Yorkshire Dales, on a clear day you may even be able to spot Blackpool Tower looming in the distance!
For a detailed rundown of this fabulous hillside hike, be sure to head on over to our Pendle Hill Guide here đ
More resources
For more outdoor inspiration, why not stick around and explore The Walking Northerners site?
Providing a rich catalogue of walking guides in the neighbouring counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire & beyond, I’m sure you’ll find something to satisfy your itch for adventure!
Happy dog walking đ đś