1 May – 31 May 2016 Over 200 free, guided walks in and around Manchester and districts Welcome Welcome to the 2016 Greater Manchester Walking Festival! With over 200 walks taking place throughout May, this year’s festival is all set to be even bigger and better than last. If you took part in the Walking Festival last year we hope you enjoyed it – perhaps you even joined a local group, and are considering participating this year. Whether you’re a seasoned walker or a relative newbie, within this guide you’ll find an exciting programme of walks, appealing to all ages, abilities and interests and covering the ten districts of Greater Manchester – Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan. Each of the walks are led by experts and, with the exception of one or two specialist walks, are completely free, although some groups may ask for a membership fee if you want to walk with the group on a regular basis after you have given it a try. Remember to check out the many public transport options available by bus, tram or train – this is a great opportunity to explore areas further afield than your own doorstep. Transport for Greater Manchester coordinates the Walking Festival but it doesn’t deliver the walks itself – that’s all down to our enthusiastic walking partners, whether that’s local branches of the Ramblers, Walking for Health groups, community groups or walking groups linked to charitable organisations. We’d like to say a huge thank you to all our partners as obviously we couldn’t run this festival without you. With walking being increasingly seen as one of the most effective exercises for improving your health, apart from being a great way to meet new people and explore new places, now’s the time to put your best foot forward and see what walking can offer you! Find out more information: 0161 244 1145 [email protected] www.tfgm.com/walking www.facebook.com/GMwalkingfestival #GMwalkfest Image courtesy of Jim Barrott www.jimbarrottphotography.co.uk 3 Safety and Guidance What to wear and bring Things to note For all walks please wear comfortable Many of the walks in this brochure are and sturdy shoes or boots. We cannot accessible to people with limited mobility. guarantee the weather so bring a water- However, it is recommended that you proof coat or jacket just in case it rains. check with the walk organiser prior to a walk if you have any specific requirements If it’s sunny bring a sun hat and sun including wheelchair access, or if you are cream, especially for those longer walks. unable to step over stiles. It’s also a good idea to bring some water with you as not all of the walks offer Please arrive 10 minutes before a walk opportunities for refreshments. begins so that you can locate the group and be ready to start the walk at the right time. PLEDGE TO Health and safety All walks are undertaken at your own Walks may also be cancelled or modified risk. Walk leaders take every care to due to adverse weather conditions, so ensure that the walk is undertaken in please ring the contact telephone listed to make sure the walk is taking place. #TRY20 a safe manner. Transport for Greater Manchester and walk leaders are not Please check the meeting location in responsible for any accidents or injuries advance with the organiser. that might occur. Walking is the easiest and cheapest way to improve your health. Walk 20 minutes a day this May during National Feedback and contact Walking Month and we’ll add you into a draw to win a £50 shopping voucher. Let us know what you think – we are keen to hear your feedback on this year’s festival. Please send your comments to us at: Take the pledge at [email protected] www.livingstreets.org.uk/nwm 4 What’s on Walk name Walking group Page Sunday 1 May 2016 meet our girls... Breightmet walk Bolton Walk This Way 18 Monday 2 May 2016 Summerseat District Community Bury Sport and Physical Activity Service 20 Health walk – Bury ‘Walk with Me’ Tuesday 3 May 2016 Macmillan Cancer support Bury Sport & Physical Activity Service 20 community health walk – Bury ‘Walk with Me’ 30-minute miracle Lunchtime Strollers, University of Manchester 22 A stroll around Hollingworth Lake Link4Life 33 Tabsum sonia & georgia Cutgate, Bamford and Norden Living Well Rochdale 33 Littleborough library Living Well Rochdale 33 Health walk on Salford Quays Salford Community Leisure 38 Walkaday – Bramall Hall – Cheadle Stockport Metropolitan Council 43 Walk and talk – Anthony Seddon Active Tameside 47 Walk and talk – Denton Pool Active Tameside 47 Walk and talk – Oxford Park Active Tameside 47 Bridgewater medical centre walk Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles 56 charlOtte Kylie ann Wednesday 4 May 2016 Castleton Living Well Rochdale 33 Hollingworth Lake Living Well Rochdale 35 we know women and girls face barrieRs which sTop them being Wednesday walk Salford Ranger Team 38 active. six local women have shared their story with i will if Ashton health walk – Park Bridge Tameside Health Walks 47 Fair Daisy Nook – Ashton to You will to show how they overcame theirs. Tameside Ramblers 48 Woodhouses via Daisy Nook circular Meadow bat walk Red Rose Forest 53 join in @ i_will_if Thursday 5 May 2016 For the love of Chorlton Beginners’ Walking Group 22 6 7 What’s on (continued) Walk name Walking group Page Walk name Walking group Page Green health walk – Clayton Manchester Community Giants 22 Bottoms up to the Hague – Broadbottom and Hurst Clough Tameside Ramblers 48 Green health walk – West Didsbury Manchester Community Giants 23 circular Thursday tread Lunchtime Strollers, University of Manchester 23 Sale Water park nordic walk Ramblers Trafford Group 54 Walk and talk Heaton Park Red Rose Forest 23 Spring forage Red Rose Forest 54 Blackleach Country parks Salford Ranger Team 38 Sunday 8 May 2016 health walks Breightmet walk Bolton Walk This Way 18 Walkaday – High Lane Stockport Metropolitan Council 43 Historic hunting ground – Dunwood Park Nordic Walkers 29 Walk and Talk – Dukinfield library Active Tameside 47 Crompton Moor Pennington Flash country park Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles 57 Parks of Sale Red Rose Forest 55 Three Sisters Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles 57 Monday 9 May 2016 Pennington Flash country park Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles 57 Summerseat District Community Bury Sport and Physical Activity Service 20 Health walk – Bury ‘Walk with Me’ Friday 6 May 2016 Talk a walk on the wild side The friends of Blackley Forest 24 Macmillan short walk Macmillan Cancer Information and Support 18 Hollin, Boarshaw and Living Well Rochdale 36 Foot it Fridays Lunchtime Strollers, University of Manchester 23 Hopwood woods Up the Ashton Canal and down Blackleach Country parks Lunchtime Strollers, University of Manchester 24 Salford Ranger Team 40 the Rochdale Canal toddler walks Alkrington wood Living Well Rochdale 35 Woodbank/Vernon park walk Walk Stockport (Walking for Health) 43 Mindfulness walk introduction Red Rose Forest/Rochdale Rangers 35 Hyde health walk Tameside Health Walks 49 Bridgewater bat walk Est. 1761 – The Bridgewater Canal 39 Walk and Talk – Sunnybank Vale Active Tameside 49 Tiny Tots ramble Salford Ranger Team 40 Tuesday 10 May 2016 Sale Water park nordic walk Trafford Leisure 53 Macmillan Cancer support Bury Sport & Physical Activity Service 20 community health walk – Bury ‘Walk with Me’ Saturday 7 May 2016 30-minute miracle Lunchtime Strollers, University of Manchester 22 Prestwich District community Bury Sport & Physical Activity Service 21 health walk – Bury ‘Walk with Me’ Kill or cure Manchester Guided Tours 26 Navigation walk: Learn to use Alexandra Park walk Active Oldham Outdoors 29 Map & Compass: Walk your own way 24 a map and compass Cutgate, Bamford and Norden Living Well Rochdale 33 Both sides of the valley Rochdale Ramblers 35 Littleborough library Living Well Rochdale 33 Leisurely Saturday walk in Rochdale Ramblers 36 Littleborough Littleborough area Manchester and Salford Ramblers 36 8 9 What’s on (continued) Walk name Walking group Page Walk name Walking group Page Walkaday – Northumberland Road Three Sisters Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles 57 Stockport Metropolitan Council 43 – Romiley Pennington Flash country park Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles 57 Walk and talk – Anthony Seddon Active Tameside 47 Friday 13 May 2016 Walk and talk – Denton Pool Active Tameside 47 Foot it Fridays Lunchtime Strollers, University of Manchester 23 Walk and talk – Oxford Park Active Tameside 47 Waterhead park walk Active Oldham Outdoors 30 Bumblebee walk Red Rose Forest 55 Bridgewater bat walk Est. 1761 – The Bridgewater Canal 39 Bridgewater medical centre walk Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles 56 Tiny Tots ramble Salford Ranger Team 40 Wednesday 11 May 2016 Sale Water park nordic walk Trafford Leisure 53 Wonder-ful Wednesday Lunchtime Strollers, University of Manchester 26 Saturday 14 May 2016 Tandle Hill park Active Oldham Outdoors 29 Prestwich District community Bury Sport & Physical Activity Service 21 Castleton Living Well Rochdale 33 health walk – Bury ‘Walk with Me’ Hollingworth Lake Living Well Rochdale 35 Tree Goblin Hunt Red Rose Forest 40 Wednesday walk Salford Ranger Team 38 Bridgewater Discovery walk Est. 1761 – The Bridgewater Canal 41 Walkaday – Woodley Shopping Spring into Medlock Valley Tameside Ramblers 49 Stockport Metropolitan Council 44 centre Stamford health walk Tameside Health Walks 50 Whats it all about Alphin? – Alphin Tameside Ramblers 49 Pike from Carrbrook Sunday 15 May 2016 Pennington Flash country park Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles 57 Breightmet walk Bolton