‘Get Out This May’ in Oldham with the Greater Manchester Walking Festival
Date published: 26 April 2021
Join in between May 1 - 31
As we emerge from a lockdown restrictions, Oldhamers are being urged to #GetOutThisMay by the Greater Manchester Walking Festival (GM Walking Festival).
No matter whether you’re a stroller, roamer, shuffler, moocher or a marcher the festival has something for everyone, with guides for those new to walking as well as regular striders!
Back for the seventh year, it runs from Saturday 1 - Monday, May 31 during National Walking Month, and offers ideas and inspiration to inspire everyone to get outside and explore towns, cities, the countryside, canals, riversides and parks across Oldham and beyond.
The GM Walking ambition is to make Greater Manchester the first ‘Walking Region’ in the UK and this this year the message of the festival is simple: to encourage residents of Greater Manchester to enjoy reconnecting with the great outdoors, their friends and neighbours and to get out and about more.
A selection of challenges, activities and ideas have been put into three daily calendars, (beginner, intermediate and experienced walker) and are available as a handy resource to download from www.gmwalking.co.uk/festival/
The calendars can be used by individuals and in small groups.
The links between walking and helping to create a sense of wellbeing are strong so during Mental Health Awareness Week (Monday 10 - Sunday, May 16) the walk ideas featured focus on ways to help wellbeing.
There are also ideas to incorporate walking into your family time with your children during Walk to School Week (May 17 - 21).
Helen Lockwood, Deputy Chief Executive of Oldham Council, said: “The last 15 months have been challenging for everyone.
“While many residents have enjoyed walking and being outdoors, some people are only just coming out of isolation and shielding.
“The festival is the perfect excuse to kickstart an active lifestyle and to get outdoors more with your family or a group of friends.”
Those looking to explore new places in Oldham and its glorious countryside can download our Let’s Go for a Walk booklets.
These handy little maps and guides can be downloaded, printed out, or kept on your phone, and help you discover new places across the borough.
This could be with family, a group of 6 friends, or even on your own - just stick a podcast on or some music and be on your way.
To download a booklet visit: www.oldham.gov.uk/letsgoforawalk
Join the conversation and share photos and your experiences of walking in Oldham and beyond using #KeepOldhamMoving or #GetOutThisMay on social media.
For the most up to date information, follow @GMWalks and @oldhamcouncil on Twitter.
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