Tameside residents will soon be able to enjoy a new long-distance trail on their doorstep.

The countryside charity CPRE, together with The Ramblers, Britain’s walking charity, have been awarded a £250,000 grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to establish the ‘GM Ringway’ – the new long-distance walking trail for Greater Manchester that connects Tameside with the other nine boroughs of the city-region. 

Designed around existing footpaths, parks and open-access land, the two Tameside stages feature arguably some of the most dramatic scenery along the whole GM Ringway route. 

Stage 7 starts at Marple in neighbouring Stockport and follows a varied route along and above the valleys of the Goyt and Etherow rivers. Highlights include a wander around Werneth Low, offering views across Greater Manchester and the Peak District. 

The second Tameside section of the GM Ringway – Stage 8 – is a challenging route that links Broadbottom with Greenfield in Saddleworth. Highlights include panoramic views across the Etherow and Longdendale valleys, an ancient path that climbs into the Peak District National Park via an old stone bridge, and a trackless section through the appropriately named 'Wilderness' – the highest point of the entire GM Ringway trail.

All 20 stages of the entire 186-mile (300-km) route are also designed to be accessed by public transport. The trail also guides walkers through 57 conservation areas, nine sites of special scientific interest, 18 local nature reserves and parts of the Peak District National Park.

One view from the Tameside stage of the GM Ringway 

The Heritage Fund grant will enable signposting and an improved app and website to be established so that a wide range of people, including less experienced walkers, can enjoy the trail. It will also support the organisation of community events across all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester. Once the trail is fully established, it’s estimated that at least 30,000 people will walk part of the route every year.

A GM Ringway ‘trail passport’ will also be developed which, it is hoped, will not only allow walkers to mark their progress on the route but also offer discounts to visitor attractions and pubs, cafés and hotels along the way.

A network of at least 200 volunteer ‘footpath guardians’ will be recruited across the region and trained to help signpost the route, get involved in community events, and manage the trail long-term.

A map of what the overall walking trail will look like 

As a key project aim is to open up the benefits of walking, nature and heritage to a wider range of people, the project team aims to cooperate on activities with community groups across Greater Manchester. 

Andrew Read, GM Ringway Project Lead, said: “The Tameside stages of the GM Ringway offer an adventurous route with spectacular scenery and it takes to the highest point on the whole of the GM Ringway trail. Our core aim is to connect even more people with our local nature and heritage. We know there are proven health benefits that come from moving more and from spending time in nature.

"We’re particularly keen to enable those currently under-represented in the walking community to enjoy Greater Manchester’s incredible landscapes and heritage sites, especially those living in deprived areas, young people, those with disabilities or long-term health conditions, and different ethnic and faith groups. We believe that, as people explore Greater Manchester’s rich landscapes and history, it will increase their appreciation of and pride in their local area.”

Andrew Read designed the route and is the GM Ringway project lead 

Margaret Manning, Chair of Greater Manchester and High Peak Area Ramblers said: “The grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund is just fantastic as it will enable us to make the GM Ringway project a reality, which is so exciting.

"The GM Ringway will open up opportunities to collaborate with local community groups, charities and partners in the health, heritage and environmental sectors on trail-related events and activities. We also hope heritage sites and hospitality businesses will benefit as visitors discover them on foot. The grant will allow us to establish this wonderful trail as a long-term asset for the region.”

For more information and news on the GM Ringway, including route maps, visit GMRingway.org

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