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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Paige Oldfield

The beautiful town less than 20 miles from Manchester known as the 'Happy Valley'

It was once voted the best place to live in the North West – and it’s easy to understand why. Tucked away on the outskirts of the Peak District National Park is the small but bustling town of Bollington.

The area is surrounded by beautiful countryside and can be found in the western foothills of the Pennines, just above the Cheshire Plains.

The thriving town is known for its independent shops, cafes and pubs. A number of historic mills still stand in the area, many now converted to apartments, revealing the town’s industrial past around every corner.

Clarence Mill on the Macclesfield Canal, Bollington (Geograph, Roger Kidd)

Bollington serves as a base for visitors to the Peak District, with many trails starting just outside the town. For those looking for walking and cycling activities, there is a route available on Middlewood Way, a converted railway track that stretches for 11 miles from Macclesfield to Marple.

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Historically nicknamed Happy Valley, Bollington beautiful location amongst the hills of the Cheshire Peak District has drawn commuters to Manchester and Cheshire over the decades. It's also home to The Poachers Inn, which recently received two awards from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

The canal in Bollington (Jill Jennings)

Some popular walking routes include Bollington to the Macclesfield Canal, where visitors can h ead out from Bollington and take in a section of the Middlewood Way, enjoying some lovely views of the Macclesfield Canal along the way.

Visitors can also h ead north along the Macclesfield Canal, strike out into farmland and ascend a moor with vast views over the Cheshire Plain before returning to Bollington via the pretty village of Pott Shrigley.

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