Creating the GM Ringway: a long-distance walking route for Greater Manchester

The Greater Manchester Ringway is a long-distance walking trail planned for Greater Manchester linking all ten authorities

A long-distance walking trail linking all ten authorities is being planned for Greater Manchester.

The Greater Manchester Ringway will be an 18-stage walking trail that is focused on Greater Manchester's countryside and green spaces and designed to be linked by Public transport. It is approximately 175 miles in length and circular, designed to start and finish in Greater Manchester City Centre.

Richard Gibbons, Chairman of Rochdale Ramblers, has attended a recent presentation by Dr Andrew Read, the originator of the Greater Manchester Ringway.

Richard said: “Rochdale has two proposed sections, ‘The Exhilarating East’ Newhey to Smithy Bridge, and ‘The Noble North’ Smithy Bridge to Bury. 

“There are approximately 20 miles of the trail within Rochdale borough and Dr Andrew Read would welcome support from walkers when he finalises the route as it needs to be tested and waymarked.”

Passing through the beautiful countryside and green spaces of our varied region, each of the 18 stages is designed to be accessed by public transport. The full route starts and finishes in Manchester city centre but visits every one of the ten boroughs: Manchester, Trafford, Stockport, Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Bolton, Wigan and Salford.

The GM Ringway long-distance trail follows an anti-clockwise circuit from its starting point in Manchester city centre through some of the finest countryside and green spaces of the entire city region.

Dr Andrew Read said: “Over the summer and autumn of 2018, many of the 18 stages have been tested and refined in more detail. The resulting changes are now shown on an interactive, zoomable map for the whole 174 mile/281 km-long route.”

• http://gmringway.org/overview/full-route/