On Tuesday we had made plans to go to Manchester.  Over the last few years a number of guests staying at our Bolehill Cottages  (see here)  have enquired about visiting the Lowry Gallery in Manchester.  So we thought it about time we did!  We could have gone by car bit our guests have always used public transport so we set off to catch the first off peak train from Grindleford. We were early enough to have a cup of tea at the cafe before catching the train. The train from Grindleford was busy with walkers who were getting off at the next few stops. The advantage of going to Manchester this way (rather than from Buxton) is that you go through the Hope Valley and Vale of Edale so we had wonderful views of the Kinder Plateau.  By New Mills all the walkers had left the train.  At Manchester Picadilly we walked the short distance to pick up the tram line to Salford Quays where we found the Lowry Centre.  This area has been redeveloped over the last few years and almost adjacent to the Lowry Centre is the new BBC complex. After we had gone round the Lowry Centre we walked the short distance across the Manchester Ship Canal to the Imperial War Museum (North).  A striking building and after we had lunch we toured the exhibitions.  After the War museum we had a look round the local outlet shopping centre and the foyer to the BBC Centre before catching the tram back into Manchester.  We had just missed a train back to Grindleford so we had time to stroll round the centre of Manchester before catching the scenic train back.  It brought back memories of London in the rush hour.  The dogs were pleased to see us, one of our regular guests had taken them for a walk round our fields with her dog in the afternoon so they had been looked after.  Next time we get asked about Manchester we will have first hand experience of getting there.