Outwood Country Park covers more than 125 acres of woodland, meadow, ponds and playing fields on the bank of the River Irwell, a couple of minutes' drive from Radcliffe town centre. There is a children's playground and a free car park, and the old East Lancashire line's Ringley Road platform still stands in the park as a bit of industrial archaeology.
It is a proper nature park as well: the council lists roe deer, buzzards, barn owls, newts and toads among the residents, and there is a weir on the Irwell and pieces from the Irwell Sculpture Trail along the way. National Cycle Route 6 passes through, and the Urban Cycling Centre here runs cycling lessons.
What it costs: Free, with free car parking.
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Heritage steam and diesel trains on a 12 mile line from Heywood through Bury and Ramsbottom to Rawtenstall. A Day Rover lets you hop off at any of the seven stations and catch the next one back, and there are themed family trains through the autumn and at Christmas.
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One email a week: what is on this weekend within a sensible drive, and the places worth booking before they go.