Bird-Watching
Eastwood RSPB Reserve is an area of woodland 9 miles east of Manchester city centre, and is the home of the oldest Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reserve in the UK. It is open to the public, albeit only on a Sunday from 10am to 4pm, and the walking routes are dotted with hides providing the best views of habitats of particular interest to different species of bird. Dogs and bicycles are not allowed in order to preserve the integrity of the trails.
Climbing
Debdale Outdoor Centre is Manchester city’s outdoor pursuits centre, and as such offers a smorgasbord of organised activities for the whole family or groups of any age. With indoor and outdoor climbing, dingy sailing courses, kayaking, canoeing, power boating and hill-walking, qualified guides and instructors train and coach participants through the rudiments of each activity. On the outskirts of East Manchester, Debdale Outdoor Centre is easily accessible by rail and road.
Cycling
The Manchester Velodrome can be found in Sportcity, a facility purpose built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games less than two miles from the city centre. It is located in the Medlock Valley in East Manchester, and is focussed on the 48,000 capacity City of Manchester Stadium, now home to Manchester City Football Club. Sportcity includes the Manchester Velodrome for cyclists, the National Squash Centre, the Regional Tennis Centre, the 6,500 seat Manchester Regional Arena, the English Institute of Sport and a comprehensive gymnasium. Though constructed primarily for professional and elite events, of which it hosts over 400 a year, Sportcity also incorporates many community programmes whereby the public are able to use the facilities, though booking ahead is expected. Over 4,500,000 people visit Sportcity annually.
Football (soccer)
As one might expect, Manchester is a football-mad city, being home to both Manchester United and Manchester City. These two soccer powerhouses, especially United, showcase the top level of football available anywhere in the world. Manchester United’s hallowed 76,000 seater ground at Old Trafford is situated in the heart of The Quays, Manchester’s cutting edge dockyard development, while Manchester City has taken up residence in the 2002 Commonwealth Games stadium, the 48,000 seater City of Manchester Stadium located in Sportcity. Both locations are easily accessible by rail and road, and have guided tours on non-match days. Official merchandise shops are onsite at both venues.
Golf
The main golf course in Manchester is Heaton Park Golf Centre is the city’s number one golf facility that is open to the public seven days a week. It hosts a range of amenities, including a championship golf course, a three par pitch ‘n’ putt course and a teaching range for golf lessons. The pavilion contains the usual bar, restaurant and equipment shop. There is a function room available and park of the building is given over to the Heaton Park Golf Club. Accessible by Manchester’s citywide Metrolink tram system.
Hiking
See Debdale Outdoor Centre (under Climbing) for organized hikes. Manchester is also an easy drive or short hop on the train for the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and especially the Peak District, all stuffed full of great climbing, hill-walking, hiking and gorge-scrambling, sprinkled with delightful villages to explore and gorgeous views to bask in.
Horse-Riding
The Carrington Riding Centre, about 7 miles southwest of Manchester city centre, is approved by the Association of British Riding Schools, the British Horse Society, and the Pony Club Centre. It offers a range of activities for both children and adults in both indoor and outdoor arenas, as well as courses in riding and stable management, with the onsite café providing refreshments after your ride. The Manchester Equestrian Centre, located in the same area, offers almost identical services to the Carrington Riding Centre.
Kayaking
Available at Debdale Outdoor Centre (see Climbing) and also at Trafford Watersports Centre, which is conveniently situated next to the M60 motorway (the Manchester ring road). Trafford Watersports also provides facilities, equipment and instruction for dingy sailing, power boating and windsurfing.
Sailing
See Debdale Outdoor Centre under Climbing, or Trafford Watersports Centre under Kayaking.
Squash
The National Squash Centre is located in Medlock Valley, two miles from the city centre, in the Sportcity complex purpose built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Swimming
Manchester Aquatics Centre in East Ardwick was built for the Commonwealth Games, which Manchester hosted in 2002. It’s convenient location in the heart of the city puts it close to local universities, and its twin Olympic-sized swimming pools host a variety of enjoyable swimming programmes. They have also recently installed a new gym.
Open from 6.30am to 10pm weekdays, 7am to 6pm on Saturdays and 7am to 10pm on Sundays.
Tennis
See Sportcity under Cycling.
Windsurfing
See Trafford Watersports Centre under Kayaking, and Debdale Outdoor Centre under Climbing.
