Warming up for spring

Shorter, step-free routes and some news about the GM Walking Festival

Hello there!

With the beginning of March in sight, spring flowers popping up from the soil (try this Wildlife Watch Spring Flower Spotter Guide) and the days getting a little bit milder and lighter, we will all be thinking more about getting out and about again for walking, wheeling or rolling. Spring is an excellent time to get out on the stages and features of the GM Ringway trail because you get to enjoy nature coming back to life. Whether you’re on a mindful walk in Lyme Park (on the Middlewood to Strines stage), admiring the view of the Pennine hills from Holcombe Hill (on the Bury to Bromley Cross stage), or strolling among the urban nature on the canal in Manchester (on the Manchester to Sale Water Park stage), there is something for us all to enjoy as the seasons change.

In this month’s newsletter, we’ll ask whether you can help get some walks on the GM Ringway for the GM Walking Festival (along with the “Let’s Walk” funding opportunity), share some shorter, step-free routes to get you warmed up for Spring, as well as showcase some beautiful pictures from along the route.

The deadlines for joining the walking festival and applying for the funding are looming so don’t delay if you want to take part!
Click here to jump to the Walking Festival news

Spotting urban nature on a stroll along the Bridgewater canal
Manchester to Sale Water Park Route
? by Andrew Read

Join us for the GM Walking Festival

During the GM Walking Festival , running for the whole of May, we aim to have a walk or activity along the GM Ringway in all ten boroughs but we need your help please to get as many walks going as we can!

Do you run or participate in a walking group in Greater Manchester? Would you like to run a walk or step-free walk or activity along the GM Ringway or in one of the parks, woods, or heritage spots along the way for the GM Walking Festival? (check out the shorter, step-free routes below) We will support you with advertising and publicity for your walk and help you get set up on the GM Walking website form.

If you’d like to run something on your local stage, please get in touch with Sarah, our Community Engagement Officer, to chat sarah@gmringway.org.uk and see what help we can provide.

All walks must be submitted to the GM Walking Festival by
Deadline 24th March 2023

NOTE: If you are submitting before chatting to Sarah, please include GM Ringway in the organisation name e.g. “Sarah’s Striders / GM Ringway” so we know that your walk is along our route as part of our project. Thanks!

Does your group need a bit of funding?

The GM Walking Festival Team have some small pots of money (£100) to assist you in setting up your walks. It can include buying drinks before or after a walk or transport to and from the walk. To complete the form, follow this link to the “Let’s Walk Fund” application form—deadline noon, 15th March 2023

Be part of the GM Walking Festival by arranging a walk along the GM Ringway or one of the fantastic parks on the route.
? by Phil Foster

Check out some of the shorter step-free walks
along the GM Ringway

Chorlton Water Park Tree Trail
(part of GM Ringway Stage 2 Sale Water Park to Didsbury Village)
? by Andrew Read

Step-free walk around Bramhall Park
(part of GM Ringway Stage 3 Didsbury Village to Bramhall)
? by Andrew Read

GM Ringway Stage 1 Step-free variant Imperial War Museum North to Stretford
? by Andrew Read

We hope you leave this newsletter feeling inspired to take on one of our step-free routes, plan a walk for the GM Walking Festival, or simply browse the routes to plan your next weekend walk.

Do get in touch when you’ve been out and about enjoying the GM Ringway as we would love to share your phots and #MyGMRingway stories to encourage others to get out there too.

Have a wonderful start of spring,

The GM Ringway Team

PS: Want to find out about volunteer opportunities? Sign up for our new newsletter here

Find out more about the GM Ringway