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The route of GM Ringway

From its start in Manchester city centre, the GM Ringway – Greater Manchester’s walking trail – explores the green spaces, countryside and heritage of all ten boroughs. Green in every way, all 20 stages of the varied and beautiful 200-mile (322-km) route are designed to be accessed by public transport.

The anti-clockwise route falls into four characterful southern, eastern, northern and western sections, each made up of five one-day stages:

Southern Start-Up: Stages 1 to 5

This section uses waterways and green spaces to trace an almost traffic-free route from Manchester City centre to the edge of the Peak District.

stage 1 manchester walking trail
Walk Grade:  Leisurely

Stage 1 Manchester to Sale WP

Est time: 3 hours 45 minutes

Distance: 7.4 miles / 12.0 km

Ascent: 38 metres

Public transport: Train | Tram | Bus

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Sale Water Park on stage 2 of the gm ringway
Walk Grade:  Leisurely

Stage 2 Sale WP to Didsbury Village

Est time: 3 hours 20 minutes

Distance: 6.5 miles / 10.5 km

Ascent: 57 metres

Public transport: Tram | Bus

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Walk Grade:  Leisurely

Stage 3 Didsbury to Bramhall

Est time: 3 hours 45 minutes

Distance: 7.2 miles / 11.5 km

Ascent: 103 metres

Public transport: Train | Tram | Bus

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Walk Grade:  Moderate

Stage 4 Bramhall to Middlewood

Est time: 4 hours 15 minutes

Distance: 7.9 miles / 12.7 km

Ascent: 152 metres

Public transport: Train | Bus

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Walk Grade:  Moderate

Stage 5 Middlewood to Strines

Est time: 4 hours 40 minutes

Distance: 8.2 miles / 13.2 km

Ascent: 282 metres

Public transport: Train | Bus

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Exhilarating East: Stages 6 to 10

On this section, you can explore the lovely line of hills that rise above Stockport, Tameside, and Oldham boroughs.

canal on stage 6 of gm ringway
Walk Grade:  Moderate

Stage 6 Strines to Marple

Est time: 4 hours 45 minutes

Distance: 8.3 miles / 13.4 km

Ascent: 343 metres

Public transport: Train | Bus

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Walk Grade:  Moderate

Stage 7 Marple to Broadbottom

Est time: 5 hours 20 minutes

Distance: 8.9 miles / 14.3 km

Ascent: 392 metres

Public transport: Train

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Walk Grade:  Challenging

Stage 8 Broadbottom to Greenfield

Est time: 7 hours 10 minutes

Distance: 11.7 miles / 18.8 km

Ascent: 551 metres

Public transport: Train

Facilities: Pub | Cafe

Walk Grade:  Challenging

Stage 9 Greenfield to Newhey

Est time: 7 hours 25 minutes

Distance: 12.5 miles / 20.2 km

Ascent: 529 metres

Public transport: Train | Tram | Bus

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Walk Grade:  Challenging

Stage 10 Newhey to Littleborough

Est time: 6 hours 45 minutes

Distance: 11.3 miles / 18.2 km

Ascent: 491 metres

Public transport: Train | Tram | Bus

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Noble North: Stages 11 to 15

These five adventurous stages connect the dramatic peaks and valleys of the South and West Pennines within Rochdale, Bury and Bolton.

Walk Grade:  Challenging

Stage 11 Littleborough to Norden

Est time: 7 hours 5 minutes

Distance: 12.4 miles / 19.9 km

Ascent: 512 metres

Public transport: Train | Bus

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Walk Grade:  Challenging

Stage 12 Norden to Bury

Est time: 7 hours 30 minutes

Distance: 13.1 miles / 21.1 km

Ascent: 484 metres

Public transport: Bus | Tram

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Walk Grade:  Challenging

Stage 13 Bury to Bromley Cross

Est time: 6 hours 40 minutes

Distance: 11.2 miles / 18 km

Ascent: 506 metres

Public transport: Tram | Train | Bus

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Walk Grade:  Challenging

Stage 14 Bromley Cross to Blackrod

Est time: 7 hours 35 minutes

Distance: 13.4 miles / 21.6 km

Ascent: 484 metres

Public transport: Train | Bus

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Walk Grade:  Moderate

Stage 15 Blackrod to Wigan

Est time: 5 hours 20 minutes

Distance: 10.1 miles / 16.2 km

Ascent: 219 metres

Public transport: Train | Bus

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Western Wind-Down: Stages 16 to 20

This section brings the GM Ringway to a gentle finish via the wetlands, mosslands, farmland and canals of Wigan, Trafford, and Salford boroughs.

Walk Grade:  Moderate

Stage 16 Wigan to Leigh

Est time: 5 hours 15 minutes

Distance: 10.1 miles / 16.3 km

Ascent: 103 metres

Public transport: Train | Tram | Bus

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Walk Grade:  Moderate

Stage 17 Leigh to Irlam

Est time: 5 hours 15 minutes

Distance: 10.3 miles / 16.6 km

Ascent: 53 metres

Public transport: Bus | Train

Facilities: Pub | Cafe

Walk Grade:  Moderate

Stage 18 Irlam to Altrincham

Est time: 5 hours 35 minutes

Distance: 10.8 miles / 17.4 km

Ascent: 122 metres

Public transport: Train | Tram | Bus

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Walk Grade:  Leisurely

Stage 19 Altrincham to Stretford

Est time: 4 hours 45 minutes

Distance: 9.4 miles / 15.1 km

Ascent: 64 metres

Public transport: Tram | Train | Bus

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

Walk Grade:  Leisurely

Stage 20 Stretford to Manchester

Est time: 4 hours 20 minutes

Distance: 8.5 miles / 13.7 km

Ascent: 69 metres

Public transport: Tram | Train | Bus

Facilities: Toilet | Pub | Cafe

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