A stroll is good for the Northern soul: local walking routes highlighted to get Greater Manchester moving

Local walking routes have been highlighted in a campaign to create a long-term walking culture across Greater Manchester following a surge in appreciation of exercise during the lockdown period.

Celebrating the simple (and often hidden) joys of walking, the campaign aims to help us all to realise what walking has to offer, while highlighting the real reasons why people walk, from physical and mental health improvements, to social cohesion and environmental benefits.

The Greater Manchester Way campaign is encouraging everyone, whether they are a mover, a strider, a rambler or stomper to walk more, and to walk more often.

A survey conducted last year showed that adults over the age of 16 across the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester who took part in walking at least twice a month averaged to a total of 58.96%,with Stockport home to the keenest walkers with 64.1% of residents walking at least twice a month.

Several local routes have been highlighted in the campaign from easy and leisurely – such as Rochdale town centre parks and gardens, and the Heywood Co-operative Society Heritage Trail – to more challenging climbs for seasoned walkers, like Turf Moor & Black Hill from Ashworth Reservoir and Cheesden Brook from Pooley Bridge, Heywood.

Greater Manchester’s Cycling and Walking Commissioner, Chris Boardman, said: “We want to see 2 million daily walking trips being made across Greater Manchester by implementing the UK’s largest cycling and walking network. Currently, 30% of all journeys across the region that are less than 1km are driven, so there’s huge potential for us to switch many of these to ‘active’ trips – either on foot or by bike.

 

 

“During lockdown, we’ve seen how important walking is as people have been using it for their daily exercise, exploring their local area and walking for local trips. In Greater Manchester, our vision is to create a ‘Walking Region’ where getting round on foot is the norm, and at a time when people have truly appreciated the benefits of walking, hopefully this campaign will inspire them to continue walking long term.”

Led by the Greater Manchester Moving (GM Moving) team, The Greater Manchester Way forms part of the local plan to overcome long-term environmental barriers to physical activity and to improve population health.

It is supported by the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).

Rochdale borough residents can find local walking routes and walking groups and ‘find their own way’ to walk at:

• gmwalking.co.uk/walking-routes/?sq=rochdale