Alkrington Woods
This walk visits the pretty Alkrington Woods Nature Reserve in Middleton, Greater Manchester.
The woods have some pleasant trails with paths along the River Irk and a number of small lakes to see. It's also great for wildlife with Geese, Swans, Kingfishers and Cormorants to look out for.
On the eastern side of the reserve there's also the 18th century Alkrington Hall which is now a private residence.
The Rochdale Way passes through the reserve so there is scope for continuing your walk along this waymarked footpath. Following it north would take you toward Heywood and Rochdale itself.
Another good option is to head a couple of miles west to visit Heaton Park in Prestwich. The expansive park includes many attractions including a boating lake, an animal farm, woodlands and ornamental gardens.
Postcode
M24 4EA - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsPlease click here for more information
Alkrington Woods Ordnance Survey Map - view and print off detailed OS map
Alkrington Woods Open Street Map - view and print off detailed map
Alkrington Woods OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Alkrington Woods Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Dog Walking
As you'd expect the woods are ideal for dog walking. You'll probably meet a few other owners on your visit.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Just a few miles to the north east you'll find Tandle Hill Country Park. There's some excellent views over the Manchester Plain and the Pennine Hills from this elevated park. The long distance Oldham Way can also be picked up here.
Just a couple of miles to the south there's the noteworthy Boggart Hole Clough. This attractive park includes some impressive steep ravines, a boating lake, a visitor centre, bike hire and good surfaced paths for cyclists.