The newspaper stated that the Greater Manchester village had a posh appeal due to its woodland park, which has a country mansion at its heart and miles of walking trails.
When you think of posh, we might associate that with the south of the country, Cheshire, and perhaps a handful of Greater Manchester spots like Altrincham and Didsbury. However, in a recently published guide, a different Greater Manchester location has been ranked as one of the poshest villages in the UK – and it’s got a lot going for it, besides having posh appeal.
In The Telegraph’s list of Britain’s 49 poshest villages, Haigh, a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, was selected for the Greater Manchester region.
Where is Haigh?
Historically part of Lancashire, but now part of Greater Manchester, Haigh is located next to the village of Aspull. The western boundary is the River Douglas, which separates it from the town of Wigan. You’ll find Standish located north-west of Haigh, Westhoughton and Hindley to the south, and the likes of Blackrod, Horwich, and Rivington east of the village.
What makes Haigh one of the poshest villages in the UK?
The Telegraph stated that the Greater Manchester village had a posh appeal due to the leafy Haigh Woodland Park, which has a country mansion at its heart and miles of walking trails. Shrouded by trees, The Telegraph described Haigh as “a hidden gem just a few miles from Wigan town centre”.
Central to the village is the early 19th-century Haigh Hall, which is currently undergoing a £50m restoration that’s expected to be completed by 2028. The Telegraph noted that “homes on the Haigh Hall estate are especially prized”; however, average house prices in Haigh are around £313,183.
The 250-acre Haigh Woodland Park has miles of winding trails through woodland, some of which are on the Ancient Woodland Register, and beautiful gardens. The village is also home to the only working windmill in Greater Manchester, Haigh Windmill, originally used to pump water to Haigh Brewery.
How to get Haigh from Manchester
Haigh is around a 35-minute drive from Manchester city centre via the M61. The nearest train stations are Wigan North Western, a 45-minute walk or short drive away from Haigh, and Wigan Wallgate, which is a 40-minute direct train to Manchester Victoria. You can also get to Blackrod train station, just a 7-minute drive away, which is a 30-minute direct train to Manchester Oxford Road.
