Information board installed in Uppermill marking completion of GM Ringway walking trail

As a final stage in the creation of the GM Ringway, Greater Manchester’s walking trail, ten information boards are being installed on the 200-mile route including one in on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal in Uppermill.

They are designed to show walkers where all 20 stages are, and how to get there by public transport.

The panels will be on permanent display at ten heritage or countryside sites, one for each borough of Greater Manchester.

Manchester – Castlefield

Stockport - Etherow Country Park

Tameside - Werneth Low Country Park

Oldham -  Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Uppermill

Rochdale - Hollingworth Lake

Bury - Burrs Country Park

Bolton - Smithills Hall

Wigan - Pennington Flash

Salford - Irlam station

Trafford - Sale Water Park

Providing an overview of the entire GM Ringway route, the panels detail the 20 stages of the trail, which can each be walked in one day. 

In addition, the main public transport points are illustrated with train, tram and bus symbols, showing how easy is to get to the trail by public transport from anywhere in Greater Manchester.

In addition, the trail has now been completely signposted with 3,200 waymarkers including 1,600 specially designed discs on posts, pillars, gates and stiles which are also believed to be the first roundels installed on footpaths in the UK to include a QR code.

When scanned with a mobile phone, it guides users to the GM Ringway website.

Andrew Read, GM Ringway’s project lead, said: “Getting the information boards installed is the final stage of the work on this project and marks its completion.

"We hope that the panels inform even more people about the trail, which is designed to benefit all of Greater Manchester’s residents and visitors.

“Over the summer, more than 5,000 people have tackled at least one stage of the route or one of our ten GM Ringway short walks.

"We are hearing that more and more people have now walked the whole trail, which is fantastic. 

"In addition we’ve organised more than 100 walking events over the last two years.

“Longer-term, more than 50 volunteers have agreed to support the trail in different ways including a network of ‘stage guardians’ assigned to each section of the route including those that go through Oldham.

"They form part of a newly created ‘Friends of the GM Ringway’ group to help ensure that the GM Ringway remains accessible for the enjoyment of everyone.”

Any keen walkers who would like to volunteer for the GM Ringway and become a stage guardian or join the Friends group should email: info@gmringway.org

The GM Ringway project is led by two charities – CPRE, the countryside charity, and Ramblers, (Greater Manchester & High Peak Area) – and is supported by a £250,000 Heritage Fund grant.

In addition, the project has received a £2,000 grant from Ramble Outdoor Worldwide Trust and £10,000 from TfGM’s Cycle & Stride for Active Lives initiative.

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