One of the most popular items on the BBC News site today is a listing of the top 20 hidden tourist gems in the UK.

Filling the Manchester quota is the Mersey Valley, as recommended by Steve Mansfield:

Less than five miles from the centre of Manchester and intertwined with the southern stretch of the M60 orbital motorway, the Mersey Valley is a glorious green ribbon where you can go 10 miles without crossing a single road, and is the home to herons, cormorants, salmon and kingfishers. A very large number of Mancunians don’t even know its there - on second thoughts it’s such a glorious haven maybe I should keep quiet about it.

Taking in Chorlton Water Park, Sale Water Park, Urmston Meadows, Millgate Fields and Ivy Green, the area provides plenty of walking routes and hosts other events, such as bike rides.

Visit the official Mersey Valley site for more information, or the visitors centre in Sale Water Park itself. And check out Flickr for lots of beautiful photographs of the area.