A wonderful new Greater Manchester walking guide for hikers who don’t have a car

The new Greater Manchester Pathfinder guidebook is jam-packed full of meticulously researched walks for people keen to escape the bustle of the city and enjoy the fresh air and dramatic countryside that surrounds it.

It contains 28 circular walks ranging between three and 11 miles in length, ranging from gentle family strolls to challenging full day hikes, all reachable by public transport.

From the wetlands of the Wigan Greenheart to the stunning views of the Dark Peak from Mellor Moor, and from the charms of Dunham Massey in Altrincham to the panoramic spectacle from Peel Tower on Holcombe Hill, the area’s highly varied landscapes can all be experienced on the 190 miles of walking routes captured in the book.

The new guide is the brainchild of author Dr Andrew Read, a long-time walking enthusiast who also spearheaded the establishment of GM Ringway, Greater Manchester’s now popular 200-mile walking trail.

Andrew, who lives in Ancoats near Manchester city centre, was determined to create a walking guide that works for residents as well as visitors without access to a car.

He added: “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.

“The city of Manchester 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. This book is perfect for them.

“If you speak to people locally around Manchester who go on regular or even occasional walks, they’ll often say we’re going outside the area to walk in the Peak District, Cheshire, or North Wales. This book shows you don’t need to do that. We have so much beauty and heritage on our doorstep.”

It took Andrew the best part of a year to research the book in full and test every route in the book. He pointed out two particular favourites. The first one was the final walk in the book, which explores Harrop Edge and Wild Bank Hill from Stalybridge in Tameside.

He said: “I was astonished by this one because I've not walked it before and the scenery is so lovely along the way. The views from Harrop Edge towards the Peak District and looking towards Cheshire and the Manchester skyline were stunning.

“The other one was Haigh Windmill and Borsdane Wood, right on the other side of the city-region in Wigan. This is a much flatter walk, though it still has a bit of ascent to it, and it goes to Greater Manchester's only windmill, which not many people know about. It's a delightful picnic spot with a pond nearby.

“And I did the final part of the walk – through beautiful Borsdane Wood on an early evening in summer, and it was like being in a tropical rainforest. The bird song was incredible. I recorded about 20 species of different birds on an app on the way down. It was just a magical experience.”

OS’s Managing Director for Leisure, Nick Giles OBE, said: “There is something for everyone in this Greater Manchester Pathfinder. We’ve split the walks into three categories. It features 10 shorter and easier routes in the first chapter, progressing through to 10 walks that will take about half a day to complete in chapter two, before finishing with eight longer and more challenging hikes at the end.

“The book is the perfect companion for individuals or groups that wish to discover more about what’s on their doorstep.

“There are so many hidden treasures to discover in Greater Manchester’s green spaces. So, if you plan to head out of the city and experience the joys of getting outside safely, this is the guidebook for you.”

The Greater Manchester Pathfinder guide is priced at £12.99 and available now at retail outlets and via the OS Shop.