Alexandra Park
Oldham's Victorian showpiece, 72 acres built by out-of-work cotton spinners. Lake, duck pond, cafe on the water, seven free tennis courts and a playground with a proper accessible section.
Daisy Nook Country Park
Oldham, Greater Manchester
Daisy Nook is 40 hectares of the Medlock Valley on the Oldham and Tameside border, run by both councils. There is water everywhere: the old canal, Crime Lake, Sammy's Basin, a model boat pond, plus woods and wildflower meadows. The John Howarth Countryside Centre off Stannybrook Road is the base, with a cafe open every day except Christmas Day, toilets and the ranger office.
Right by it is a children's play area with sand and a basket swing, and picnic tables. The council's two marked walks both start at the centre and go through the old canal's 'dark tunnel': the Green Walk is about 25 minutes, the Blue Walk about 40, crossing the Valley Aqueduct on the way back.
Herons are regular on the canal, and there are woodpeckers and owls if you are lucky. The arboretum and a few ruins are all that is left of Riversvale Hall, which gives older children something to go and find.
Know before you go
- Start at the countryside centre and do the Green Walk: about 1.4km and 25 minutes along the old canal, through the tunnel, past Sammy's Basin and back via the model boat pond.
- The play area has sand play and a basket swing, and equipment suitable for disabled children.
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Tandle Hill Country Park
110 acres of beech wood and open grass above Royton, with a play area, an orienteering course and a hilltop war memorial you can see Manchester from. Free car park, small.
Chadderton Hall Park
The Chadderton park with the cafe, and therefore the toilets. Play area with a sand pit and accessible swings, free tennis, a river walk and ornamental gardens, all on a flat site with parking.
Dunwood Park
Small, tidy and 300 metres from a tram stop, which makes Dunwood the one you can do without a car. Playground, three tennis courts, a bowling green and free parking if you do drive.
Dove Stone Reservoir (RSPB)
A reservoir walk on the edge of the Peak District above Greenfield: 2.5 miles round the water with moorland crags on every side. Free to walk, pay to park, and no cafe, so bring the flask.
Gallery Oldham
Oldham's free museum and gallery, now with Our Beautiful Oldham, a hands-on nature gallery built with local early years families. Two minutes from the tram, closed Sundays, Mondays and bank holidays.
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