Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Tameside, Greater Manchester

Manchester’s eastern borough of Tameside has a story that is representative of the wider region.

From the late 18th century, a group of agrarian communities evolved into mill towns supporting the textile industry, interconnected by a network of canals.

Travelling from west to east, the initial hills of the Pennines become visible, with settlements constructed using the region’s distinctive dark sandstone.

Tameside boasts an excellent local museum in Ashton-under-Lyne located in a canal house at the intersection of three waterways. Additionally, visitors can journey to high points such as Werneth Low and Hartshead Pike for expansive views across Greater Manchester.

The Peak District National Park lies slightly further east, while within Tameside, one can discover Medieval churches, delightful Victorian parks, and an expertly preserved 18th-century settlement established for Central European refugees from the Moravian Church.

1. Portland Basin Museum

A cluster of waterways flows south of Ashton-under-Lyne, where the Peak Forest Canal, the Ashton Canal, and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal converge at Dukinfield Junction.

In this picturesque setting lies the Portland Basin Museum, situated in the beautifully restored 19th-century Ashton Canal Warehouse.

The galleries provide insight into Tameside’s industrial history, allowing visitors to comprehend the realities of working in a mine, cotton mill, or farm, while showcasing a fascinating array of preserved machinery.

There is a reconstructed 1920s street that immerses visitors in the sights and sounds of a town center during the interwar years.

Children under five can engage with creative activities at the “Nuts and Bolts” play area, and you can relax with a rejuvenating cup of tea at the Bridge View Cafe, overlooking the Tame Aqueduct.

For an enhanced experience, consider a narrowboat excursion with the Tameside Canal Boat Trust.

2. Stamford Park

Among the premier Victorian parks in Greater Manchester, Stamford Park in Stalybridge stands as a testament to community initiative from the mid-1800s, designed to provide cotton mill workers with a space to relax and enjoy fresh air during their days off.

Inaugurated in 1873, the park occupies land that was once a deer park for the Earl of Stamford.

Stamford Park is celebrated for its ornamental gardens, which showcase evergreen shrubs in winter, tulips and other bulbs in spring, alongside vibrant herbaceous borders in summer.

The Pavilion Cafe in the park operates seven days a week, while for younger visitors, there exists a play area, which during the summer is complemented by a boat lake, land train, bouncy castle/trampolines, and a large water feature with jets.

Elsewhere, visitors can stroll through the Dingle, a steep wooded valley, and appreciate its bird collection.

A notable Grade II-listed curiosity in Stamford Park is a set of stone stocks dating back to 1730, which once belonged to the Ashton-under-Lyne workhouse.

3. Peak District

Tameside is adjacent to the UK’s oldest national park, established in 1951 and encompassing the upland region at the southern extremity of the Pennines.

The Peak District consists of two distinct regions: to the south is the limestone White Peak, while encircling the upper section in an inverted horseshoe shape are the imposing millstone grit moors of the Dark Peak.

In Tameside, visitors can embark on the Trans Pennine Trail for an adventure into the Dark Peak.

This trail spans the North of England, stretching from Southport in Merseyside to Hornsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Completed in 2004, the 207-mile route is designed to be accessible, featuring entirely paved paths with a gentle gradient, constructed at a cost of £60m.

The constant surface provides a suitable path for wheelchair users and those with pushchairs.

4. Werneth Low Country Park

Post-First World War, this 200-acre tract on the northern and western slopes of Werneth Low Hill (279m) in Hyde was acquired as a memorial for the 710 local men and boys who lost their lives during the First World War.

The memorial was inaugurated at a scenic viewpoint in 1921, and sixty years later the surrounding land, formerly a farm, was designated as a country park.

The charming former farmhouse, dating back to the 17th century, serves as the park’s visitor center and is accompanied by a picnic area, orchard, and herb gardens.

Werneth Low is traversed by the 40-mile Tameside Trail and the expansive Trans Pennine Trail, while its exposed hillside provides an excellent locale for kite flying in Greater Manchester.

On a clear sunny day, observers may see Beetham Tower in Manchester and the Jodrell Bank Observatory from the vantage point.

5. Park Bridge

Situated in the tranquil Medlock Valley, the Park Bridge Ironworks commenced operations in 1786 and functioned for nearly 200 years.

At its peak during the 19th and early 20th centuries, this factory employed hundreds of individuals and produced rivets for iconic structures like the Eiffel Tower and the Titanic.

The ironworks ceased operations in 1963 and were subsequently demolished, yet the charming landscaped ruins and greenery make it a beloved picnicking site.

Park Bridge serves as a starting point for walks, with the Park-Bridge and Daisy Nook trail following the old railway line that served the ironworks. It also provides access to paths leading to hills like Hartshead Pike and Knot Hill.

Visitors can explore a heritage center (open by appointment) and enjoy refreshments in the tearoom located in the former stables, which operates Thursday to Sunday.

6. Fairfield Moravian Settlement

Many pass this locale in Droylesden unaware of the enchanting village concealed behind a row of terraced houses.

The Fairfield Moravian Settlement was established by a community of Protestant refugees fleeing what is now the Czech Republic over two centuries ago.

At its founding in 1785, this self-sufficient settlement was isolated in open countryside and maintained its own council, inspector of weights and measures, fire service, schools, and hospital.

This enclave surrounding the cobbled Fairfield Square is impeccably preserved and often serves as a filming location for period dramas, including the BBC’s Peaky Blinders.

Buildings 15, 28, and 30 are Grade II* listed structures, with the focal point being the church, constructed in 1785 and refurbished in 1908.

7. Hartshead Pike

A challenging hike in Tameside, this 267-meter hill rises above Ashton-under-Lyne, Lees, Saddleworth, Mossley, and Oldham.

On clear days, the vistas extend westward toward the heart of Manchester.

Being a prominent hilltop, Hartshead Pike was likely utilized as a signaling station since Roman times.

The current monument, a neo-Gothic tower constructed in 1863, incorporates elements from a previous 18th-century structure, which itself was a reconstruction.

Evidence of this storied past exists in an inscribed stone, salvaged from the earlier version, which reads, “This Pike Was Rebuilt By Publick Contributions Anno Domini 1751.” The hilltop has long been popular with walkers, and visitors could even find a shop selling refreshments there during the interwar period, although it closed at the start of the Second World War.

8. St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Mottram

Located at the eastern edge of Greater Manchester, this charming Perpendicular Gothic church originates from the late 15th century, although earlier records of a church on this site date back to the early 13th century.

St Michael and All Angels’ occupies elevated ground, providing a commanding view of the surrounding landscape. The monument underwent restoration in 1854-55, yet still retains numerous captivating historical features.

Visitors can admire the barrel-shaped Norman font from the original church, as well as two exquisite early-15th-century recumbent effigies located in the Staveleigh Chapel to the south.

Other notable sights include the painted reredos above the chancel arch, featuring panels representing the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer, along with the remarkable brass chandelier produced in 1755.

9. Astley Cheetham Art Gallery

The town of Stalybridge in Tameside owes its culture to the philanthropic spirit of a mill owner.

In 1901, he and his wife Beatrice Astley established an elegant Jacobethan lecture theatre as a gift to the community, which later became the venue for the Astley Cheetham Art Collection, donated in 1932. Among the notable masterpieces in this collection is “The Virgin and Child with Angels and Saints,” created by the Primitive Florentine painter Master of the Straus Madonna, who was active during the early 15th century.

The gallery is also home to an impressive assortment of 19th and early 20th-century art by renowned figures such as George Frederic Watts, J. M. W. Turner, and the watercolorist George Price Boyce.

Entry to the gallery is complimentary and it operates on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

10. Cheetham Park

Situated just a short distance from the shops in Stalybridge, Cheetham Park offers a tranquil retreat in a residential setting.

Similar to the Astley Cheetham Art Gallery, Cheetham Park was established through a donation from John Frederick Cheetham, opening its doors in 1932. Cheetham was forward-thinking regarding environmental matters, mandating that the woodland bordering the stream on this parcel of land become one of the first nature reserves in the country.

The park features a wooden sculpture trail depicting local wildlife, while the “Time Line” installation provides insights into Stalybridge’s industrial heritage.

In recent years, a vibrant herbaceous border has been added and provides a delightful display in mid-summer, alongside a community orchard planted with pears, plums, apples, and cherries.

11. St Lawrence’s Church, Denton

One of only 29 timber-framed churches remaining in England, and the sole example in south-east Lancashire, St Lawrence’s Church began as a chapel of ease in 1531. This church served as a place of worship for residents within the parish who could not easily access the main parish church.

In 1872, the church was expanded with the addition of transepts and a chancel, designed in a Mock Tudor style to harmonize with the 16th-century nave.

Originally dedicated to St James, the church’s name changed when stained glass depicting the martyrdom of St Lawrence was uncovered in the 19th century. This 500-year-old glass has been incorporated into a new window on the south side of the sanctuary.

12. Huddersfield Narrow Canal

Approximately five of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal’s 20 miles flow within Tameside.

This canal was inaugurated in 1811, traversing the Pennines, beginning at the site of what is now the University of Huddersfield and concluding at the Whitelands Basin in Ashton-under-Lyne.

The towpath through Tameside guides visitors through a series of green spaces, including Cheetham Park, Eastwood RSPB, and Stalybridge Country Park.

Approaching the Pennine moors after Stalybridge, one can observe the transition as the dark Pennine sandstone becomes the predominant building material.

While traversing the Tame Valley, keep an eye out for the remnants of 15th-century Stayley Hall perched high on the hillside.

Mossley is a picturesque former industrial town lined with remnants of old mills.

Before arriving, you will pass through the Scout Tunnel, enveloped in lush broadleaf woodland, a cherished spot for picnics.

13. Museum of the Manchester Regiment

When this article was composed in March 2019, the Museum of the Manchester Regiment was temporarily closed due to renovations at Ashton Town Hall.

When operational, these exhibits narrate the narrative of the Manchester Regiment and its predecessor over a span of two centuries from 1758 to 1958. Visitors can learn about individuals who served in the regiment and discover all the locations where they were deployed, ranging from Southern Africa during the Boer War to the Middle East during the First World War.

Thousands of artifacts, including weapons, field equipment, uniforms, medals, and various mementos gathered from around the world during tours, are available for viewing.

14. Cockfields Farm

Best enjoyed in spring and summer, Cockfields Farm is a family-friendly attraction where the animals take center stage.

In addition to typical farm animals such as donkeys, sheep, goats, and pigs, visitors can observe a collection of lizards, tortoises, and snakes, as well as adorable pets like guinea pigs and rabbits.

Every half hour, new scheduled activities occur at the farm, whether it involves encountering snakes, grooming rabbits, meeting the resident barn owl, or bathing a tortoise.

During spring, an Easter Wonderland is hosted, where children can engage in activities like bottle-feeding lambs and kid goats.

Cockfields Farm also features various play areas, including an indoor role-play village, a sandy beach area, a jumping pillow, and a track designed for pedal tractors.

15. Longdendale Trail

Partly coinciding with the Trans Pennine Trail, the Longdendale Trail extends for 6.5 miles along the route of the former Woodhead Rail Line.

This scenic walk takes you through a stunning valley, alongside a series of five reservoirs.

Constructed in 1877, these reservoirs were once the largest artificial expanses of water worldwide.

As with the remainder of the Trans Pennine Trail, this route features gentle gradients and well-paved surfaces to accommodate walkers of all abilities.