Oldham and Bury sections of the GM Ringway, Greater Manchester’s walking trail, are the first of the 20 stages to be signposted.
They have been waymarked with small white discs – also known as ‘roundels’ – that point walkers in the direction of travel. They also include a QR code that guides users to the GM Ringway website.
The first stage to be completed was Stage 9 from Greenfield to Newhey, just over the border in Rochdale, with volunteers painstakingly marking out the 20-km (12.4-mile) stretch. The three-man team took over eight hours to complete the task in dry but chilly conditions. The following weekend they tackled Stage 13 from Bury to Bromley Cross, carefully signposting the 18-km (11.2-mile) stretch taking a further seven hours in wintery weather. In total more than 200 roundels were nailed to existing structures along the route.
Andrew Read, GM Ringway’s project lead said: “It’s very exciting to see the GM Ringway roundels start to go up on wooden posts, gates and stiles. It will make Greater Manchester’s walking route a lot easier to follow. We’re working hard to make sure anyone who wants to get out in nature and explore Greater Manchester’s great outdoors can do so without getting lost, by adding helpful waymarks with a handy QR code along the route.”
Designed around existing footpaths, parks and open-access land, the walking trail is divided into 20 stages starting and ending in Manchester city centre.
Green in every way, the entire 200-mile (323-km) GM Ringway is designed to be accessed by public transport. Covering all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester, the trail explores an astonishing variety of landscapes, including parks, waterways and beautiful countryside. In addition to its natural beauty, the GM Ringway also allows residents and visitors to explore Greater Manchester’s rich cultural heritage.
In addition, Go Jauntly – a free walking and wellness app – guides users along on the 20 stages of the trail, using pictures and route maps. The app also includes ten shorter GM Ringway jaunts, including several step-free routes, enabling everyone to sample the trail.
Download the free-of-charge Go Jauntly app and own a pocket-sized encyclopaedia of urban walkshere: https://www.gojauntly.com/download-1
