GREATER MANCHESTER | Pathfinder hiking guide

HIKING GUIDE

Explore 28 Outstanding Walks Across Greater Manchester with OS Pathfinder Guides.

Uncover the hidden gems of Greater Manchester’s countryside with this carefully curated collection of 28 outstanding walks. Whether you’re new to the region or a seasoned explorer, you’ll be amazed by the remarkable variety of landscapes waiting to be discovered. This guidebook showcases routes that wind through picturesque country parks, tranquil nature reserves, and historic estates. Enjoy scenic journeys along river valleys and canal towpaths, wander through lush mosslands and wetlands, and traverse the dramatic moorlands of the West and South Pennines, as well as the fringes of the Peak District.

Best of all, every walk is easily accessible by train, tram, or bus—making it simple to embark on your next adventure without a car. Let OS Pathfinder Guides lead you to the very best of Greater Manchester’s great outdoors.

What’s Inside the Greater Manchester OS Pathfinder Guide

• 28 Outstanding Walks: Carefully selected routes suitable for all abilities, from beginners to seasoned hikers.
• Diverse Route Options: Choose from family-friendly strolls, half-day rambles, or full-day hikes, with distances ranging from 3 to 11 miles.
• Graded Walks for Easy Selection: Each walk is graded by time and difficulty, helping you quickly find the perfect route for your schedule and experience level.
• Effortless Planning: Every walk includes a handy information panel detailing distance, estimated duration, elevation, parking, terrain, GPS waypoints, and the relevant Ordnance Survey maps.
• Comprehensive Mapping: Benefit from clear OS Explorer mapping for each route, ensuring you have all the details you need for a safe and enjoyable walk.
• Turn-by-Turn Guidance: Follow straightforward, step-by-step instructions and route overlays for confident navigation throughout your adventure.
• Enriching Experiences: Discover fascinating historical and local stories along the way, with highlights to look out for and insights that bring each walk to life.

About the Walks

The guide begins with easy, family-friendly circuits around Moses Gate Country Park and Heaton Park, with routes starting at 3 miles and 1½ hours. Walks gradually increase in length and challenge, culminating in 10- to 11-mile rambles such as the Watergrove Horseshoe, Winter Hill, and Saddleworth Moor. The book is organized by difficulty: ten short ‘green’ walks, ten half-day ‘blue’ walks, and eight longer ‘orange’ outings.

Highlights include the scenic Broadbottom circuit through the Etherow Valley, tranquil paths in Didsbury along the Trans Pennine Trail and River Mersey, and an exciting crossing of Marple Aqueduct on the Peak Forest Canal. Nature lovers can spot wildfowl at Pennington Flash and explore RHS Bridgewater in Salford. Other notable routes feature panoramic views from Tandle Hill, historic deer parkland at Dunham Massey, Greater Manchester’s only surviving windmill from Hindley, a station-to-station walk at Werneth Low, lowland peat bogs at Chat Moss, and stunning vistas from Mellor Moor and the Piethorne and Crompton circuit.