>>340445Well you've got the Peak District on your doorstep, but I've never been there. The M6 North gives you access to the Trough of Bowland and the Lakes.
The Trough is barren moors and heather covered hills mostly. Nice if you like that kind of thing, but bring decent boots/wellies cos peat bogs. There's the Wyre Way and Abbeystead in the SW of the area, near the M6, which is a nice green area to walk. Lots of little villages. Forest of Bowland, round near Clitheroe, is supposed to be good for mountain biking.
The Lake District has much more going for it obviously. Hit some of the popular peaks: Coniston Old Man, Helvellyn, Scafell Pike etc. Or check out the lakes if you want something lower down. Rent a boat, go for a row. Dunno what the deal is with fishing on them.
You've also got the Yorkshire Dales a bit further out. The Ingleton Waterfalls Walk is only something like 4 miles, and is absolutely full of tourists, but I still love it. There are tons of potholes and caves in the area too and plenty of potholing clubs to join. The three peaks make for brilliant walks: Whernside, Ingleborough, Pen-y-Ghent. Plenty of little villages and nice walks across limestone pavements along the A65. Which takes you all the way up to Kirkby Lonsdale and Devil's Bridge, where all the motorbikers meet up at the weekend and teenagers almost kill themselves jumping off into the River Lune below.
There's a ton to do within an hours drive of Manchester. And that's just to the North.
