They are all in picturesque locations with the most sought-after properties in the UK right now - and these three pretty villages are less than an hour away from Manchester. The villages are among 54 named in The Telegraph's "most desirable" list which has been causing a stir this week.
The list was compiled from research by estate agents Savills, who say demand for quaint, rural village locations is soaring - pushing up prices in the process. In total the 54 most in demand villages in different counties of the UK were listed, and three that fall within an hour's drive of Manchester.
In Greater Manchester it was Haigh in Wigan that made the cut, while in Cheshire it was Nether Alderley, the quieter sister to the blingy Alderley Edge. Meanwhile in Derbyshire the Chatsworth Estate village of Edensor was named - which has a unique history and most unusual set of properties within its gated boundaries.
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Here we take a look at what it's like in all three of the villages, and the attractions that make them worth a visit.
Nether Alderley, Cheshire
Describing the village in its list, The Telegraph states: "Nether Alderley is the more subtle version of the achingly hip Alderley Edge. With the Grade I-listed St Mary’s church at its centre, it sits within what is known as the Cheshire Golden Triangle, the poshest bit of the Cheshire countryside, where plenty of high-profile, Manchester-based footballers choose to reside."
It pointed to the village's most famous former residents as David and Victoria Beckham. Nether Alderley is indeed the quieter sibling to neighbouring Alderley Edge, although is seeing a burgeoning new population thanks to the vast housing development of millionaire mansions at Alderley Park.
Here you'll also find the popular and only recently-opened Churchill Tree pub, which was created inside an historic Grade II-listed former tenant's hall on the Alderley Park estate. The Cheshire Pub Company transformed the interiors to create a stylish new gastropub for both park residents and guests from outside the area to enjoy.
Aside from Alderley Park, Nether Alderley itself doesn't have much of a "village centre", although the pretty St Mary's Church offers a picture postcard view from the area. Also worth a visit in this neck of the woods is the National Trust-owned Nether Alderley Mill.
The unusual 600-year-old mill is an historical local landmark right on the main Congleton Road between Alderley Edge and Macclesfield.
In terms of living in this part of the world, well, you'll need a pretty princely sum to get on the property ladder here. The average house price in the village is more than £1.2m.
How to get there
The village is around 18 miles out of Manchester city centre, which takes around 40 minutes by car. The nearest train stations are at Alderley Edge and Chelford, both on the main line between Manchester Piccadilly and Crewe.
Haigh, Wigan
Haigh appears to be Greater Manchester's most desirable countryside haven right now, named in the Telegraph's "most desirable" list after earlier this year also naming it one of the UK's "poshest" villages too.
The area is hugely popular with visitors, thanks to the Haigh Woodland Park mansion and the magnificent Haigh Hall. Indeed the park there was recently described as the best in Greater Manchester - thanks to its huge free adventure playground and quirky independent cafes and shops.
The restored Haigh Windmill, built in the early 1800s, is also a favourite spot among residents. There are also a host of walking trails to enjoy around this area that both residents and visitors love.
In terms of places to live, it also represents one of the more affordable villages on the Telegraph's list. House prices here average at £257,020, making it a more affordable rural location surrounded by trees and just a few miles from Wigan.
How to get there
Haigh is around 21 miles from Manchester, and takes around 40 minutes to drive. The nearest train station is at Blackrod, which is around 30 minutes on the main line to Manchester Piccadilly.
Edensor, Derbyshire
Looking around the picture perfect village of Edensor today, it's hard to believe it wasn't always nestled in this idyllic location in the midst of rolling countryside in the Peak District. But this chocolate box village was created entirely by design almost 200-years-ago - when the then lord-of-the-manor decided to demolish the original Edensor village and move it over a hill - so it didn't spoil his view from Chatsworth House across his country estate.
The residents of the original Edensor, pronounced 'Enza', were moved out to other neighbouring villages while an entirely new village was created for them by the 6th Duke of Devonshire in the 1830s. Acclaimed architect Sir Joseph Paxton, of Crystal Palace fame, was then tasked with the brief of creating 33 homes of entirely unique designs for the villagers to return to.
So the story goes, Paxton asked the Duke to take a look at an architectural guide of designs for his preferred styles, to which he is said to have replied: "I'll have one of each." It leaves us today with one of England's most unusual model villages, with an extraordinary hotchpotch of homes, varying in styles from Swiss Cottage to Tudor, Italianate and even turreted mini-castles.
The intriguing architecture has made Edensor a popular tourist destination for those exploring the Derbyshire Dales, with a well-trodden walking route from the village all the way to Bakewell. And for those visiting the palatial Chatsworth House and gardens, it is around a ten minute walk over the hill from Edensor - out of view of the village of course.
Homes very rarely hit the market here, due to almost the entire village still owned and maintained by the modern-day Chatsworth Estate. But it is listed in the Telegraph's study with an average house price here of £670,644.
At the heart of the village is the picturesque church which houses the grave of JFK's sister Kathleen Kennedy. Visitors also love heading to the Edensor Tea Cottage, based inside the oldest building in the village in a former farmhouse, with plenty of indoor seating as well as tables in the pretty outdoor courtyard.
The tearooms are run by husband and wife team Stuart and Sarah Yates who have breathed new life into the venue with an extensive refurbishment and expanded menu boasting hot and cold delicacies, daily changing blackboard specials as well as a full range of freshly baked cakes, traybakes and scones. You can also sample a local delicacy in the form of Derbyshire oatcakes at the tea cottage.
How to get there
Edensor village is around 38 miles from Manchester, via the A6 and A623, use sat nav DE45 1PP and the village is on the right as you drive into Chatsworth.
The nearest major train station is Chesterfield, with local bus services needed to connect to Chatsworth. There are also daily National Express coaches from Manchester that pass through Bakewell.
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