GM Ringway: Next stage of work on epic 200 mile Greater Manchester walking route gets underway

An exciting project to create a walking route which connects all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester has taken its next step forward. Signage directing walkers of the route has been fitted in areas of Oldham and Bury. 

The route, which is known as the Greater Manchester Ringway, is being constructed using new and existing routes. In total, it will be 200 miles long and consist of 20 stages. Roundels have started to be fitted along the route, along with QR codes which when scanned will direct walkers to the GM Ringway website. 

The first stage to be completed was Stage 9 from Greenfield to Newhey, just over the border in Rochdale, with volunteers painstakingly marking out the 20-km (12.4-mile) stretch. The three-man team took over eight hours to complete the task in dry but chilly conditions. 

The most recent stage to be completed was number 13, which was tackled the weekend after. This was from Bury to Bromley Cross, carefully signposting the 18-km (11.2-mile) stretch taking a further seven hours in wintry weather. In total more than 200 roundels were nailed to existing structures along the route.

The ringway has been planned so that all of the 20 stages can be accessed via public transport. If you are looking to make the walk in the new year, you can get signed up to the hiking app GoJauntly which will allow you to safely make your way around. 

The Ringway project is being led by two charities. These are CPRE Lancashire and The Ramblers. It has received financial support in the form of a £250,000 Heritage Fund grant, a £2,000 grant from Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust and £10,000 from TfGM’s Cycle & Stride for Active Lives initiative.

 Andrew Read, GM Ringway’s project lead said: “It’s very exciting to see the GM Ringway roundels start to go up on wooden posts, gates and stiles. It will make Greater Manchester’s walking route a lot easier to follow. We’re working hard to make sure anyone who wants to get out in nature and explore Greater Manchester’s great outdoors can do so without getting lost, by adding helpful waymarks with a handy QR code along the route.”