I am doing a county year list this year so although I know plenty of places to see them (Dovedale etc), we are a bit restricted in the Greater Manchester area.
I don`t know how far you would be willing to travel for a year tick, but there are Dippers on the River Douglas at Haigh Plantations & Worthington Lakes ( both Wigan ). If you do go to Crompton Lodges perhaps you could take a detour on your way back and call in at these sites.
Unfortunately they are not but I will keep this website informed when I can get out during the week. Unless you are doing a Gtr manchester year list I would have thought the Peak District would have been your best bet other than that I find the best place for Dippers is near me is Longworth Clough nr Belmont which isn't strctly in Gtr Manchester. ATB Ste
Once onto Hall Lane you will immediately see the Moses Gate CP carpark entrance. Its not a great site for a long distance traveller but it is scenic and has some historic features and kingfisher almost cert.
The confluence is a kilometre walk from the starting point at Crompton Lodges. Might be a good idea to print an map at ordanance survey level from www.streetmap.co.uk.
Hope I have not complicated things. If so let us know. Also I will be up there next Saturday morning and I could show you around if you wan,t might be a better idea.
Croal Irwell Confluence 7+ Goldeneye 3 Goosanders 12 Herons 2 Pheasants Prestolee Aquaduct 2 Dippers on Irwell viewed from aquaduct looking upstream on the righthandside bank. Crompton Lodges Kingfisher been showing well on NR lodge recently
