Dog-friendly cafe is perfect spot to finish a walk in Greater Manchester's 'absolute gem' of a country park

My perfect weekend usually involves a walk with the dog, which, if we're lucky, ends with a bite to eat at a cafe or pub.

Fed up with our usual haunts, we decided to head a little further afield to Burrs Country Park in Bury.

Described as 'an absolute gem' of Greater Manchester in one of many five star Google reviews, it's a great place for families to have a wander.

On the banks of the River Irwell, there are various paths and trails you can follow and places where dogs can have a paddle or swim.

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Ours was in his element and would probably have dived straight into the waterfall if we'd let him.

There's an exercise trail for kids to have a go on the beams and climbing equipment and the park is also home to a station for the East Lancashire Railway, where you can hop on or off, or just stand there to watch the steam train.

There are loads of spots to have a picnic when the weather's warm and there's even a pub there too, The Brown Cow.

But for those just wanting a brew and a snack, like we were, there's the popular cafe, The Lamppost and its neighbouring Burrs Ice Cream Parlour, which has a handy hatch for people to order from outside and has the dog-friendly ice cream Scoop's on the menu.

Since opening in 2018, the café has built up quite a reputation among visitors for its homemade dishes and tasty treats.

Many stop off for the cakes alone, as we did for the millionaire's shortbread, which was delicious.

The counter was full of cakes of all kinds, which you can either takeaway, or eat inside or out on one of the outdoor tables.

Dogs are welcome inside too, so we took a seat while us grown ups had a latte and our daughter a milkshake.

Mi