Bury

Bury sits where the River Irwell comes down off the West Pennine Moors, and that meeting of town and upland shapes the whole area. Head north out of the centre and the streets give way quickly to moorland villages like Hawkshaw, with stone pubs and views back over the valley; stay closer in and you're within reach of the river itself, which threads through Burrs Country Park on its way south. It's a compact place, easy to get a feel for in a weekend, but with enough variety in landscape to fill one.

Most visitors base themselves in or near the town centre, where places like Premier Inn Manchester Bury, the Rostrevor Hotel and Beautiful Rooms offer straightforward, well-placed stays. For something with more grounds, Best Western Bolholt Country Park Hotel sits away from the centre with its own parkland setting, while The Old Mill Hotel and The Red Lion Hawkshaw put you up towards the moorland edge, handy if walking is the plan. Self-catering options are limited but include Smithy Lodge at Heaton Park and Stable View, and Dearden Wood offers the area's one campsite for those wanting to be outdoors from the start.

Burrs Country Park is the obvious place to get close to the Irwell, with paths along the riverbank and old mill weirs that hint at Bury's industrial past. From there, the East Lancashire Railway runs steam trains up the valley, a good way to see the surrounding hills without lacing up boots. The Fusilier Museum covers the town's military history, and there's plenty for a rainy day too: Arcade Club for retro gaming, Vue Bury for cinema, and the Boomerang Multi Sensory Play Centre for younger children. The East Lancashire Mystery Treasure Trail is a fun way to explore the town centre itself.

Whether you come for the moors, the river, the railway or the market, Bury works well as either a day trip from Manchester or a base for a few days exploring the wider Irwell valley and the Pennine edge above it.