Some of the most picturesque towns and villages near Greater Manchester for a weekend trip

Here are some of the prettiest towns and villages to visit close to Greater Manchester, perfect for a walk on a crisp and sunny winter’s day.

The constant raining has stopped for a while and made way for some sunny yet COLD weather. 

Although temperatures have plummeted, the fresh and clearer days are just the right kind to take a drive and go for a stroll around a picturesque village, followed by a hot beverage and bite to eat.

Being in the city is great, but sometimes it’s nice to escape to somewhere more rural, less busy and a little quieter.

Here’s some picturesque places not too far from Greater Manchester to visit for a day out.

Number one on the list has to be the village that provided the setting for our beloved Happy Valley, Hebden Bridge.

This charming market town in the Upper Calder Valley in West Yorkshire will prove a stunning backdrop to a bracing winter walk while you fill your lungs with fresh air.

With a rich history dating back to the 12th century and a thriving arts and culture scene, this village attracts tourists from all over.

It has a fantastic range of pubs, restaurants, cafes and independent shops for visitors to enjoy.

Next up is Haworth, West Yorkshire, which was home to the Bronte sisters.

Set against the backdrop of the Pennines with moody, vast and rugged moorland, you’ll see the landscape that inspired Wuthering Heights and have plenty of opportunity to go and explore Brontë Country.

Attractions include the Brontë Parsonage Museum, which was home to sisters and authors Charlotte, Emily and Anne from 1820 to 1861. It’s like a step back in time, showcasing what their lives were like.

There’s also a shop called the Cabinet Of Curiosities, where you’ll lose hours getting lost in the interesting and unusual potions and treasures.

Hawkshead is a village and civil parish in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria. Set in the magnificent vale of Esthwaite in the heart of the Lake District, this village of clustered white houses has some excellent country walks to offer and is a great place to fish.

Nearby, visitors will also find Hill Top House, where author and illustrator Beatrix Potter lived.

In 1905 she bought Hill Top Farm at Near Sawrey out of the proceeds from her recently published book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit. 

Great Budworth is a picturesque village and civil parish in Cheshire and features the charming George & Dragon pub.

Early history of Great Budworth is documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it mentions a priest at Great Budworth.

There’s plenty of attractive country walks with pretty historic buildings and houses to admire along the way.

Cartmel is a hidden gem located on the southern edge of the Lake District. This Mediaeval village offers visitors a delightful setting of traditional lime washed cottages set against rolling fells.

The Cartmel Priory, which can be found in the very heart of the village, has an 800 year history. The tradition of its bell rigging goes back centuries and can still be heard around the village today. 

It is also the home of sticky toffee pudding, for which the town is very proud of.

Croston is a village near Chorley, in Lancashire filled with old world character and charm. This quintessential English rural village is lined with beautiful cobbled streets and red-brick cottages and also has a French connection.

Croston is twinned with the Azay-le-Rideau area in France’s Loire Valley and, taking its connection seriously, it has its own boules league and even celebrates Bastille Day in July.

The River Yarrow, which runs right through it, also adds to the idyllic atmosphere of the village. Croston makes for a lovely stroll where you can admire its 18th century weavers’ cottages and pay a visit to a traditional pub.

Wycoller is an old village famous for the ruins of its 16th century Wycoller Hall – the inspiration for where Charlotte Bronte set part of her novel Jane Eyre. It is also believed to be haunted.

It has many footpaths leading to local beauty spots which include Bank House and Wycoller Beck. This place was once a handloom weavers’ village but was abandoned during the Industrial Revolution.

Close to the ruins is the late 18th / early 19th century Clapper Bridge. Grooves in the bridge formed by the weavers’ clogs were apparently chiselled flat by a farmer whose daughter fell and was fatally injured on the bridge.

These days this magical village is a country park where cars are not permitted to enter. Visitors will have to use one of the two pay-and-display car parks located a mile away.

Next is the village of Downham which lies at the foot of Pendle Hill in the Ribble Valley, in Lancashire.

It is located in the Forest of Bowland’s Area of National Beauty, which has remained in the same family for around 500 years. There’s plenty of unspoilt natural beauty to take in while visitors enjoy a crisp country walk.

This village was used as a location for the famous film ‘Whistle Down the Wind’ as well as the popular BBC drama Born and Bred.

And finally, Castleton is a beautiful village situated at the head of the Hope Valley in the heart of the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire.

If you’re visiting here, bring your boots and enjoy a good hike in the hills as well as a stroll around this classic English hamlet.

The village is overlooked by the ruins of Peveril Castle, which you can hike up to for some spectacular views.

It also has four caves, with the biggest of the four being Peak Cavern. This cave boasts the largest cave entrance in Britain at 60ft high – nicknamed the ‘Devil’s Arse’.