8 scenic autumn walks not far from Greater Manchester- including Rochdale Way and Cheshire Ring

Autumn is here and in Greater Manchester summer already feels like a fading memory. It's getting to be an ideal time of the year to explore the great outdoors with a hike. 

Greater Manchester and the surrounding area has some stunning scenery, and plenty of hiking routes to get you out and about. From Lancashire to the North West and the east of the region, there are plenty of lovely routes for you to explore. 

Holiday company Holiday Cottages has launched an interactive map which allowed users to find a good hike near them. Near to the Greater Manchester region, there are no fewer than eight for you to check out. 

Some are up in Blackburn, Lancashire, whilst several others at least start in Greater Manchester. The hikes vary in distance and difficulty depending on the terrain and where in the region it will take you. 

The full list of local hikes can be found below. Further details on all of these hikes can be found on the Holiday Cottages website. 

Oldham Way 

A challenging walk which may take you around 15-20 hours. It is 40 miles in total and starts in Dobcross to the east of Oldham. 

Rochdale Way

Described as a moderate difficulty walk, the Rochdale Way hike is about 45 miles long. The destination is its around 18-22 hours in total and it both starts and finishes at Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre in Rochdale.

Rossendale Way 

The 45 mile hike gets underway in Todmorden to the north of Rochdale. The moderate difficulty route will take you through mainly countryside and the whole hike will take at least 16 hours. 

Witton Weavers Way 

This challenging hike is around 33 miles long and will take you around lakes and countryside. It starts up in Blackburn and can take around 15 hours to complete if you feel like really testing yourself. 

Hyndburn Clog 

Another Blackburn hike, this one has three stages of around four hours each. The hike route is a total of 53 miles and will take you through the Lancashire countryside. 

Cheshire Ring 

One of the longest hikes on the list at 97 miles, the Cheshire Ring is relatively easy to hike despite the length. There are eight stages of the hike and it takes place around Stockport. 

Bullock Smithy Hike 

Another of the more interestingly named hikes, Bullock Smithy is just under 60 miles in total length. The hike is another beginning in the Stockport area and has five stages of roughly four hours of walking each. 

The last of our look at hikes in and around Greater Manchester sees us look to the east Stockport area. Gritstone Trail is a challenging hike with three sections of five hours.