Manchester (or nearby) - recommendations

[Folklore9074]

Me, DH and DS1 are moving back to the North West at the end of January. We're considering Manchester, Stockport or perhaps a village like Todmorden or Marsden. We're looking to rent for a bit before buying again and are looking at areas where we can rent a two or three bed semi for a reasonable price, say £1200 or less per month. We've both lived in Chorlton/Didsbury before but don't know other neighbourhoods that well. We're looking for cafes/pubs within walking distance, a nice park or somewhere to go for a run. Decent transport links wouldn't hurt too. Any ideas hive mind?

Tod and hebden are lovely
They do flood! Also tod was badly affected by recent snow. Marsden is also nice, but IIRC rubbish for secondary schools.
Greenfield/Delph/uppermill/grasscroft/mossley are all worth a good look too

@Folklore9074 the East side is very pleasant - Marple, Romiley areas. Romiley has very decent transport links to Manchester and the Peak District. There are parks, the canal plus a good range of bars and restaurants.

Marple although I've no idea what rental prices are like!

Also recommend Romiley/Marple - great connection to city centre and close to nice walks etc

Tod is lovely, but does flood. It’s also in a valley so doesn’t get much direct sunlight - you can tell where it’s dark by the moss on the walls of some of the buildings.

Ramsbottom, Greenmount, Tottington?

'Decent transport links'. In M/c that means being near a tram stop. Some of the places mentioned above, don't even have train station.

Gatley, Cheadle, Heald Green, Wilmslow

Littleborough has direct train into Manchester, good motorway links, nice restaurants, lovely walks and scenery. It's much nicer than Tod

@Frostyted87

Gatley, Cheadle, Heald Green, Wilmslow

Not for £1200 pcm

Sowerby Bridge isn't bad. Drove through there an hour ago, looked ok.

Marsden is ok, Tod is fine (have a look round), Mossley ok, why would anyone live in Greenfield? Even in the old post office? Uppermill and Delph are pretty, but touristy and the traffic can be heavy. Driving into Mcr from that end is a pain, there's a train from Greenfield. Shaw, Newhey and Milnrow are on the tram route, if you look carefully you can find all the good things there but they're not upmarket as Delph and Uppermill. Don't be fooled though - 'Old Saddleworth' families can be very fixed in their ways. Littleborough, yes. The lake, shops, Sainsburys with an Argos (never been, read about it online) easy access to the hills and to Rochdale, Oldham and Manchester. Ramsbottom has a certain charm - is the chocolate cafe still going? Decades ago, that was ok.

@ImmutableSexQueen chocolate cafe - yes. I'm going tomorrow actually. I recently moved from South Manchester to Ramsbottom area. Loads of positives and one that stands out is that people are friendlier. Very good food/pub scene too.

Fabulous. Aunt and I will make a visit to the chocolate cafe soon. Thanks!