Related reading: the best walks in Sale and dog walks in Timperley.
Northenden (M22) sits right on the River Mersey, which makes it a genuinely lovely place to walk a dog. Between the riverside paths, Millgate Fields and the woods just over the bridge, there’s plenty of green space without ever going far from home. Here are our favourite Northenden dog walks.
Millgate Fields & the riverside
Millgate Fields gives you open green space right beside the Mersey — flat, easy and great for a relaxed walk. Follow the river and you can stretch the walk out in either direction along the well-used Mersey valley path.
Towards Simon's Bridge & the Didsbury meadows
Head upriver and you reach Simon’s Bridge, the pretty crossing into the Didsbury water meadows and flood basin — a brilliant longer loop. If you fancy exploring that side, see our guide to the best dog walks in Didsbury.
Kenworthy Woods
Just downriver towards Northern Moor, Kenworthy Woods adds mature woodland and quieter trails — a great change of scene from the open meadows and lovely shade in summer.
A few local tips
- The Mersey-side paths flood in winter and get muddy after rain; check conditions before a riverside walk.
- Keep recall tight near the water, especially when the river’s high and fast.
- Bag everything and take it with you — these are well-loved community spaces.
Prefer to leave the walking to us?
We walk Northenden’s riverside every week. See our dog walking in Northenden page for how we cover the area, browse the best dog walks across South Manchester, or see what a dog walker costs locally.