Round Manchester Hiking Trail
A 157-mile circular walk making a wide sweep around the city of Manchester. Designed to be completed in around two weeks, highlights include Alderley Edge, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Winter Hill, Blackstone Edge, Kinder Scout, and sections of the Limestone Way. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: SJ 91962 73606
Distance: 157 miles (253 km)
Time: 70–80 hours
Duration: 10–13 days
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (1:25,000):
OL1 The Peak District – Dark Peak Area
OL21 South Pennines – Burnley, Hebden Bridge, Keighley and Todmorden
OL24 The Peak District – White Peak Area
267 Northwich and Delamere Forest
268 Wilmslow, Macclesfield and Congleton
276 Bolton Central, Wigan and Warrington
285 Southport, Chorley, Wigan, Formby and Ormskirk
287 West Pennine Moors, Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington and Bolton North
288 Bradford, Huddersfield and East Calderdale
Summary
This route was created by Matthew Ball, a member of the South Manchester LDWA. It is a 157-mile walking route that encircles the city of Manchester in 13 stages, each accessible by public transport, taking in as much as possible of the best scenery along the way.
Highlights include Alderley Edge, the River Bollin, Tatton Park, Glaze Brook, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Winter Hill, Haslingden Grane, Todmorden Edge, Blackstone Edge, Laddow Rocks, Kinder Scout, the Limestone Way, and Shining Tor.
The average stage length is around 12 miles, varying between 10 and 14 miles. However, the amount of ascent on the stages varies considerably, from just 100 metres on the flattest stage out to the west crossing Chat Moss, to 800 metres on the eastern stage crossing Kinder Scout. The stages are all designed so that they can be completed as a single day’s march by an experienced walker, setting out from home in the morning by train or bus and returning home by a different train or bus in the evening. The stages also finish near pubs and restaurants, allowing walkers to relax after the day’s exertions before undertaking the journey home. (Source: Round Manchester Hiking Trail Website)