Manchester

Marple, and Marple Bridge, are not too far out and have some pleasant living areas. I haven’t lived there for a long time, but have friends over that way that we visit regularly. Poynton, as annodomini mentioned is also OK.

Don't exclude Cheshire from your enquiries. Poynton is a small town between Stockport and Macclesfield. There are good shops including three supermarkets and a well-stocked Co-op. It's a quick trip down the A555 to M&S, Boots and a large Tesco. There are hourly trains to Manchester Piccadilly. Many interest groups thrive in the town, including U3A and a flourishing garden club. There's a variety of housing types from former miners' houses to big detached ones, in the £million bracket. You are minutes from Lyme Park and plenty of country walks in and around the Peak District.
I was very contented living there for 22 years and left only for family reasons.

Thank you everyone such great ideas, I really appreciate it.
I think actually on reflection, north Manchester makes more sense as two of our 5 children live in Leeds and Lytham. One in Worsley and one in Stockport.
I will look into everyone's suggestions though and I really appreciate anymore that may come in.
Iam64 we have explored the areas you suggested previously and I agree there are some very pretty places. I did rather like Bury too, steam train is a lovely bonus 😊

Hellogirl1

Having recently visited Bolton and stayed in a Premier Inn there, I`d hesitate to recommend it, although the hotel was very nice. The area around Littleborough and Hollingworth Lake is quite pretty though.

I did say the town centre needs refurb, the area where the Premier Inn sits is the red light/drug dealing area. The outer areas are thriving, safe and all have access to,open countryside. Bury round the corner has a good town centre

AnnSixty, I think your post was nice and informative. Very nice of you.

Apologies to the word nice for overusing it.
Not nice of me.

Having recently visited Bolton and stayed in a Premier Inn there, I`d hesitate to recommend it, although the hotel was very nice. The area around Littleborough and Hollingworth Lake is quite pretty though.

Stockport has some lovely areas.
It is supposed to be very up and coming but the town itself has some way to go.
Bramhall, Poynton, Marple and Marple bridge are very nice but fairly expensive.
I live in Hazel Grove which again has some nice areas but the centre is not so nice with lots of closed shops and pubs.

Derbyshire is loveky but not a quick trip to Salford
I live in north Manchester, edge of wild beautiful moorland and hillside open country with lots of walking
Bury has a lively thriving market and town centre. Metro into Salford Manchester free to oldies once you have a pass. Bolton town centre needs refurb but edgworth, Egerton, Bromley Cross good safe residential suburbs that used to be lovely villages - the village centres still there. Excellent schools which often means friendly safe areas
Ramsbottom a thriving market town
Look north - houses much less expensive than south Manchester and city centre thirty
Mins away

I lived in New Mills for 14 years - small town with interesting mix of people and countryside fab. Got a good modern council leisure centre and local groups for this and that, housing reasonable cost.

You'd have to go into Stockport for the hospital, check on what you need health wise. Marple is in Stockport and nearer A and E and so on but still nearer lovely High Peak.

I know New Mills well. There are two train stations and easy to get to Manchester or Stockport.
The countryside in the Peaks is lovely.

Stockport borders the High Peak. You could look at the nicer areas of Stockport bordering the High Peak like Marple or over the border to New Mills, or Hayfield. Very good train lines into Manchester. Buxton is well known but probably too far out for you.

I think Flintshire is rather far away from Salford or Stockport. By car the travelling time to Stockport is an hour or more, depending where you start in Flintshire and just over the hour to Salford. Lovely county though.