Take Noble route to get delights of countryside
COVERING a distance of 300km, the GM Ringway is Greater Manchester’s newest walking trail, which takes you through all 10 boroughs.
Along the way it passes through woodland, runs beside canals and snakes around reservoirs.
As well as gorgeous countryside, the route also takes in more than 40 Grade I and Ii*-listed buildings, 13 accredited museums and 14 scheduled ancient monuments, including Blackstone Edge Roman Road.
The GM Ringway is divided into four broad sections: the Southern Start-up, the Exhilarating East, the Noble North and the Western Wind-down.
Each section is then split up into five one-day stages.
Many of the routes offer easy access with step-free and hard-surfaced paths.
The different sections can be accessed via public transport, too.
To make it even easier, GM Ringway has collaborated with the free app Go Jauntly, which guides you through all 20 stages of the trail using pictures and route maps.
If you want to try out a section of the GM Ringway and fancy a challenge - but aren’t sure which route to choose - then give stage 11 of Noble North a go.
The 12.3mile-long route from Littleborough to Norden takes in canals, reservoirs and waterfalls, with a tea room along the way and a pub at the end.
And if it sounds a bit too long, there’s always the option of selecting a shorter section instead.
The route begins at Littleborough train station and from here it picks up the Rochdale Canal heading north.
After passing Greenvale Business Park it bears west, leaving the canal towpath and crossing the railway line.
From here the route continues westwards, passing through moorland to Watergrove Reservoir.
Crossing Higher Slack Brook the trail then heads south towards Rochdale, passing Lobden golf course along the way.
Reaching Rochdale, the route then takes you along Healey Dell, a beautiful nature reserve along the River Spodden.
It’s a magical place with woodlands, waterfalls and the remains of old mills be sure to check out the Healey Dell Viaduct, too.
Here you can stop off at Healey Dell Tearooms to enjoy a quick drink and a snack.
After looping around Healey Dell, it then picks up Station Road and Knacks Lane, heading westwards to Greenbooth reservoir.
From here you’ll walk along the length of the reservoir, eventually arriving in Norden via Greenbooth Road.
Conveniently this takes you right to the front door of The Bridge Inn, a warm and friendly pub where you can have a welldeserved rest and refuel after your walk.
Or for the ultimate postwalk treat, The Bridge Chippy & Restaurant is just a few doors down where you can sit down for fish and chips or greedily gobble them up at the side of the road.