Free guided walks are taking place in Trafford this month to test out a new long-distance walking trail.
Residents are being given the chance to try out some of the stages of the new GM Ringway within Trafford through five free guided walks on Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16.
The guided walks include a ramble from Manchester city centre that passes Old Trafford along the Bridgewater canal, a step-free walk around Sale Water Park, a gentle ‘walk for all’ around Longford Park with the MileShyClub, and a circular walk from Altrincham to Dunham Massey.
Leader of Trafford Council, Cllr Tom Ross will be joining the first of the guided walks on Saturday, 15 July.
Participants are being invited to give feedback and will also get a chance to test the new GM Ringway app and website for the first time.
All 20 stages of the trail are set to be rolled out over the coming months.
Andrew Read, GM Ringway project lead, said: “Trafford is particularly significant as the borough features in the very first and the final three stages of the GM Ringway. Those stages of the trail follow a series of pretty, largely traffic-free footpaths along the canal and through parks, nature reserves and countryside.”
Below is a full itinerary of the Trafford GM Ringway walking weekend:
Saturday, July 15
Hosted GM Ringway walk from Manchester city centre to Sale Water Park
Time: 10.30am
Walk description: A scenic 7-mile walk from Manchester city centre to Sale Water Park along the city canals and waterways.
Link to book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hosted-gm-ringway-walk-from-manchester-city-centre-to-sale-water-park-tickets-664464119067
Accessible step-free circular walk at Sale Water Park
Time: 2pm
Walk description: A leisurely and accessible 2.5-mile step-free walk around Sale Water Park with experienced and supportive hosts.
Link to book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/accessible-step-free-circular-walk-at-sale-water-park-tickets-664525241887
Sunday, July 16
Altrincham to Timperley History and Heritage walk
Time: 10.30am
Walk description: Discover the history and heritage of the town, buildings and parks, and parks, exploring the industrial and technology links along the canal
Gentle one-mile walk around Leafy Longford Park
Time: 1.30pm
Walk description: A gentle beginners’ walk around leafy Longford Park, starting with a gentle warm up to improve balance, mobility and coordination.
Link to book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gentle-1-mile-walk-around-leafy-longford-park-tickets-664588992567
Altrincham to Dunham Massey Circular walk
Time: 1.30pm
Walk description: A scenic walk sampling parts of the GM Ringway
and other green spaces in Trafford.
Link to book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/altrincham-to-dunham-massey-circular-walk-with-the-gm-ringway-tickets-664456576507
Spaces are limited and must be booked via Eventbrite on a first-come, first-served basis.
The GM Ringway has been funded by a £250,000 grant awarded by the Heritage Fund to the countryside charity CPRE, together with The Ramblers, Britain’s walking charity.
The trail has been designed around existing footpaths, parks, and open-access land.
All 20 stages of the entire 188-mile (300-km) GM Ringway are designed to be accessed by public transport.
For more information and news on the GM Ringway, including route maps, visit GMRingway.org.
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