The GM Walking Festival 2026

May is #NationalWalkingMonth and we’re encouraging as many of you as possible to take part in a programme of walks for all ages and abilities along parts of the 200 mile stretch of the GM Ringway. 

Focussing on ‘Celebrating Connected Communites’ we’ll be holding two walks led by Chair of the North West Regional Group of CPRE, Nick Thompson. 

Walk 1: Salford Quays Circular is on Sun 17th May at 10.30am starting and finishing at the Media City Metrolink station.

This step-free walk explores the Salford Quays waterfront and visits some outstanding cultural heritage sites including:

• Waterside paths along the Manchester Ship Canal and the basins of Salford Quays
• The Grade I-listed Ordsall Hall, a 15th-century manor house surrounded by Elizabethan gardens
• The striking structure of Imperial War Museum North, designed by US architect Daniel Libeskind.

This gentle walk will take about 2 and 1/2 hours and it is 4.8 miles in distance. You can sign up here.

Walk 2: The second Marple Circular walk will be on Sun 31st May starting at 10.30am. 

It is a lovely walk starting at Marple Station following stage 7 of the GM Ringway then doubling back to Marple Station .  

This 8.5k undulating walk involves about 150m of uphill walking.  It should take between 2 and 1/2 and 3 hours to complete.  We’d class it as a moderate walk. 

Want to join in?  You can sign up here.