Healey Dell Nature Reserve

Looking for an incredible day out in nature in North Manchester? Head out to Healey Dell Nature Reserve! The Tea Rooms alone would be worth a trip, but as the name would suggest, the natural beauty in the area is phenomenal.

There are four heritage trails to explore in the area, totaling just over 13.7 miles if you were to take it all on. With the amount we stopped to take in the scenery, we've only explored one of the trails but this just means we'll be planning multiple trips back.

Back in 2015, one of the iconic "Fairy Bridges" was destroyed by floods on Boxing Day when the River Spodden swelled to unprecedented levels. Previously, there were two of the stone arches (one pictured above on the right), which supported an external wall of the Fulling Mill that was built in 1676 - but today just one is left standing. Although such an incredible piece of history was lost, it's extraordinary to be able to see something that was created almost 350 years ago still standing today.

Along the Healey Dell trail, there are a number of waterfalls, including Fairies Chapel (pictured below on the left), a 100ft disused railway viaduct that you can walk along & a heritage centre with the aforementioned Tea Rooms - it's honestly the perfect day out.

It's a very easy walk around the area, with no steep inclines making it a very accessible day out for families and those with different walking abilities. Getting to the Fairies Chapel does require going down (and then back up) a few stairs, so unfortunately, this isn't accessible for wheelchair users, however, the vast majority of the route is accessible to all, including those requiring large mobility vehicles. Check out the full trail map with accessibility routes here.

One of the big selling points for me is that the area is big enough that it doesn't feel crowded even during peak seasons, making it such a tranquil experience. However, the people we have come across when exploring the area have all been so lovely, providing recommendations of where to explore along the trail, so it's definitely not a "bad" thing to come across fellow wanderers on your route.

Have you visited? Let me know!