Greater Manchester, a region in Northwest England, presents a varied landscape for outdoor activities. Despite its urban core, the area features extensive natural environments, including the rugged moorlands of the Pennines and West Pennine Moors, tranquil river valleys, and numerous green spaces. The region is crisscrossed by rivers such as the Mersey, Irwell, and Tame, alongside an extensive canal network. This diverse geography supports several sports like hiking, road cycling, touring cycling, jogging, and more.
234
Routes
4.6
(3218)
Average rating
35761
People visited

4.7
(132)
804
hikers
20.5km
06:00
540m
540m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(145)
656
hikers
6.69km
02:08
270m
270m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(102)
283
hikers
10.3km
02:55
230m
230m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(29)
324
hikers
11.2km
02:51
30m
30m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.6
(19)
196
riders
93.9km
03:55
440m
450m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

3.9
(11)
66
riders
48.3km
02:33
790m
790m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.6
(10)
90
riders
46.0km
01:56
260m
260m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.3
(3)
51
riders
87.3km
03:50
500m
500m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.6
(23)
136
riders
49.4km
03:08
190m
190m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(18)
56
riders
55.0km
03:12
170m
170m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(11)
23
riders
72.0km
04:37
530m
530m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
14
riders
73.5km
04:25
320m
320m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(10)
37
riders
41.4km
04:02
1,060m
1,060m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.7
(13)
22
riders
24.3km
01:41
140m
140m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
14
riders
6.80km
00:28
90m
100m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(5)
15
riders
23.1km
01:26
50m
50m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
25
runners
10.8km
01:10
40m
40m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

24
runners
8.06km
01:00
210m
210m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

17
runners
5.11km
00:32
10m
10m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
11
runners
12.2km
01:34
300m
300m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.9
(7)
41
riders
48.1km
03:01
330m
330m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(22)
55
riders
31.0km
01:43
110m
110m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(4)
22
riders
36.1km
02:08
240m
240m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(9)
46
riders
76.1km
03:45
220m
220m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5
hikers
7.30km
02:23
280m
280m
Hard mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

3
hikers
13.2km
04:04
450m
450m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
1
hikers
11.1km
03:05
200m
200m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
11.2km
03:26
390m
390m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Greater Manchester offers a diverse range of outdoor activities, including hiking, road cycling, touring cycling, jogging, mountain biking, gravel biking, and mountaineering. The region features over 11,000 routes across these sports. These activities take place across varied landscapes, from rugged moorlands to tranquil river valleys.
Hiking opportunities in Greater Manchester range from rugged Pennine moorlands to tranquil river valleys. Popular areas include the eastern side of the region bordering the Peak District, with spots like Kinder Scout and Dovestone Reservoir. The West Pennine Moors also offer varied terrain for hikers. For more options, consult the Hiking around Greater Manchester guide.
Yes, Greater Manchester provides many family-friendly walking routes. These often follow river valleys, canal networks, or pass through urban parks and nature reserves. Heaton Park offers extensive green space suitable for families. Komoot offers a dedicated guide for Family-friendly hikes around Greater Manchester.
Many trails in Greater Manchester are suitable for dogs, particularly those in open moorland areas, woodlands, and along canal paths. It is advisable to keep dogs on leads in areas with livestock or protected wildlife. A guide for Dog-friendly hikes around Greater Manchester is available.
Greater Manchester offers extensive cycling routes, including canal towpaths, reclaimed railway lines, and quiet country roads. These cater to road cycling, touring cycling, mountain biking, and gravel biking. Guides like Road Cycling Routes around Greater Manchester and Cycling around Greater Manchester provide detailed information.
Easy hiking routes in Greater Manchester can be found along river valleys, canal networks, and within numerous parks and nature reserves. These paths often feature gentler gradients and well-maintained surfaces. Komoot provides a guide specifically for Easy hikes around Greater Manchester.
The highest point in Greater Manchester is Black Chew Head, located within the parish of Saddleworth. It rises to an elevation of 1,778 feet (542 meters) above sea-level. This area offers expansive views and is part of the rugged moorlands of the Pennines.
Yes, many outdoor areas in Greater Manchester are accessible via public transport. Routes can be found that start near bus or train stations, particularly for areas bordering the Peak District. Komoot offers a guide for Hikes from bus stations around Greater Manchester.
Popular outdoor spots include Dovestone Reservoir, known for its serene waters and surrounding trails, and parts of the Peak District like Kinder Scout, accessible from the eastern side of the region. Heaton Park also offers extensive green space within the urban area. River valleys and canal networks are also widely used.
Greater Manchester features more than 11,000 routes across various sports on komoot. These routes have been explored by over 654,000 visitors, with an average rating of 4.53 out of 5 stars. This indicates a high level of satisfaction among users.
Komoot offers several guides for Greater Manchester, including those for Hiking, Family-friendly hikes, Easy hikes, Road Cycling Routes, Dog-friendly hikes, Cycling, Running Trails, Hikes from bus stations, MTB Trails, and Traffic-free bike rides.
Greater Manchester features some trails that are wheelchair accessible, particularly along well-maintained canal towpaths, urban parks, and designated accessible paths in nature reserves. These routes typically offer flat surfaces and wider paths. Specific route details should be checked for accessibility information.
Greater Manchester boasts diverse natural features, including the rugged Pennine moorlands, the West Pennine Moors, and river valleys formed by the Mersey, Irwell, and Tame rivers. Notable water bodies include Dovestone Reservoir and Hollingworth Lake. The region also contains woodlands, such as Gale Clough and Shooterslee Wood SSSI, and extensive green spaces like Chat Moss.
The official website for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk. This website provides information on various aspects of the region.
A general contact number for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is +44 161 778 7000. This number can be used for general inquiries related to the region.

