Stamford Park sits on the border of Ashton and Stalybridge, and it has more going on than most country parks. The play area has a huge sandpit for little ones and a zip line for older children, there are water play fountains running 11am to 4.45pm in the warm months, and an aviary open 9am to 3.30pm. There is a little train too, £1.50 for children.
The boating lake is run separately by Ridgehill Enterprises, with pedalos and rowing boats at weekends from 1pm and paddleboard sessions on weekend mornings. Crazy golf is £3, paid at the cafe, which opens 10 till 4. There is also a new accessible swing for children who cannot use the rest of the play equipment.
Then there is The Dingle, a wooded area for exploring. With a picnic this is a full day that costs very little unless someone spots the boats.
What it costs: Park free. Crazy golf £3, paid at the cafe. Train £1.50 for children and £2 for adults. Pedalos and rowing boats £10 at weekends, 1pm to 5pm with last boats at 4.30pm (the council's own activities page still shows older, lower prices). Paddleboarding £15 an hour on weekend mornings from May, booked through Ridgehill Enterprises. Prices from the Manchester Evening News, 30 April 2026.
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A council-run indoor adventure centre in Droylsden: Clip 'n Climb walls, a 54 metre crawl-through cave, a high ropes course hung from the ceiling, bouldering and soft play, at leisure-centre prices. Weekends and school holidays only for most of it.
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A 200 acre hilltop above Hyde with views across Manchester to the Welsh mountains on a clear day, and a proper hill for a kite. Very little else, and that is the point.
A 26-lane Hollywood Bowl on Ashton Leisure Park, billed as Manchester but in Ashton. Bumpers, ramps and light balls for small bowlers, an arcade and diner, and eat, drink and bowl from £8.50 each.
One email a week: what is on this weekend within a sensible drive, and the places worth booking before they go.