Dr Andrew Read, a long-time walking enthusiast who spearheaded the establishment of the GM Ringway, has authored a new collection of Greater Manchester walks.

Published by Ordnance Survey (OS) as part of its popular Pathfinder series, Outstanding Circular Walks in Greater Manchester features 28 circular routes covering a total of 190 miles.

With walks ranging between three and 11 miles, the book features everything from gentle family strolls to challenging full day hikes. From Heaton Park to Dunham Massey, it also contains walks across all parts of Greater Manchester.

Like the GM Ringway, all the walks can be reached by public transport, something inspired by Andrew’s own frustration with walking routes which assume people have access to cars, or are always happy to drive.

He said: “Every single walk in this book is accessible by public transport. This is an absolute passion of mine. I have loads of walking books on my shelf, and what is such a frustration for people, like me – who prefer not to drive – is when the walk starts from a car park.

“Often, the locations described are tricky to get to if you don’t have a car. Even worse, they’re often close to a public transport point, such as a train station or tram stop, and yet there’s no mention of that fact at all.

“The city of Manchester also has the highest proportion of people outside London who don’t own a car. Lots of these are younger urban dwellers who have moved to Manchester over the last few years. I’ve noticed from chatting to people in the co-working space where I work that most of them don’t have a car, but they’re really keen to get out in nature.

“So, in the Greater Manchester Pathfinder guide, I’ve described a set of attractive and scenic walks that are close to the city, but accessible by public transport for the 2.8 million people in Greater Manchester, and the millions of visitors to the region.”

OS’s Managing Director for Leisure, Nick Giles OBE, said: “There is something for everyone in this Greater Manchester Pathfinder. It is the perfect companion for individuals or groups and wish to discover more about what’s on their doorstep. So, if you plan to head out of the city and experience the joys of getting outside safely, this is the guidebook for you.”

Richard Hawksworth, chair of the GM Ringway Association, said: “One of the things which makes the GM Ringway unique is that every linear stage is accessible by public transport, something which Andrew was determined to bake into the Ringway trail from its inception. The fact he has managed to apply the same principle to these 28 Greater Manchester circular walks on behalf the Ordnance Survey is brilliant.

“Further, for many people trying out rambling or hiking for the first time, the OS Pathfinder guides often act as their gateway to more ambitious walking – so I’m thrilled that there is such a strong connection between this new book and the founder of the GM Ringway project.”

The 28 routes in Outstanding Circular Walks in Greater Manchester are split into three categories, with ten shorter and easier routes, ten walks that will take about half a day to complete, and eight longer and more challenging hikes at the end. The guide is priced at £12.99 and available from retail outlets or via the OS Shop.