Ever wanted to walk round the whole of Greater Manchester? I admit it may be a bit of a niche proposal. But then so is walking round the whole of London, and people do that.
At 186 miles long, the GM Ringway does just that (and indeed is longer than the London Loop despite Greater London being a tad bigger.) It all starts and ends in Manchester City Centre for no particularly obvious reason given it's a circular walking route.
Published 16 May 2021
Welcome to Greater Manchester’s quite new but very own orbital walking trail.
Published 23 May 2021
An orbital walking trail it may be, but the GM Ringway starts in the heart of Manchester City Centre.
Published 30 May 2021
Setting off from Sale Water Park station, the GM Ringway now gets into its orbital route properly.
Published 27 June 2021
The GM Ringway joins Micker Brook – a waterway that would the focus of many miles of walking.
Published 4 July 2021
From Bramhall, the GM Ringway continues its journey along the Lady Brook, along the Greater Manchester boundary to Middlewood.
Published 11 July 2021
An old chimney, a lovely clock, an unexplained Dovecot and a National Trust park as seen on TV
Published 22 May 2022
One of the least direct sections of the GM Ringway provides a giant cross, a stunning view at a bus terminus, archaeology, the recording of a podcast, and somewhere the Romans never went.
Published 29 May 2022
Industrial history, yet another corker of a viewpoint, and a secret nuclear bunker.
Published 26 June 2022
Out of quaint villages, and up onto the moorland, as the GM Ringway carries on its journey round Greater Manchester.
Published 17 July 2022
It’s off to a section of Pennine moorland, and lots of lots and lots of snow.
Published 4 December 2022
Revisiting part of stage 9 to make up what I had missed after getting lost the last time.
Published 2 July 2023
From one village to another, via reservoirs, a motorway, and a big lake.
Published 24 September 2023
Moorland, reservoirs, a viaduct and an enchanted dell. Just another day on the GM Ringway.
Published 8 October 2023
Wind turbines, ruined mills, and enchanting valleys, all feature in what must be one of the best sections of the trail.
Published 10 October 2021
Whilst out on walking the GM Ringway, I took a slight detour about half a mile off the route. Why? Because if I did I could cross into the Peak District National Park at a point that is the closest bit of the National Park to my house.
Published 15 October 2023
This is a nice looking path, isn’t it? Well I think so. And I enjoyed walking on it.
Published 10 July 2022
It really shouldn’t be so hard to get round a major city so you can go for a walk at weekend.
Published 15 May 2022
In which we talk about 80s pop bands, loud noises and a manufacturer of wastepaper bins, all under the notion of long distance walking.