Stockport Gets Moving: Join 26 Free Group Walks This May!

A celebration anyone can join. With over 300 free group walks across the city region, there’s something for everyone.

The Wheelie Good Walk and Wassail, delivered by partners Manchester Fruit Tree Coop, is a great way to try something wacky and fun. This is an all-age walk for families that is buggy-friendly and accessible to wheelchair users.

Those who join will be in for a fruity treat as the walk leads to the community orchard at Reddish Vale Country Park. Once there, you will hear about what happens there and how the Coop and community plant, restore, and make use of the orchard, as well as take part in a Wassail ceremony, an age-old tradition of blessing an orchard with songs, sounds and sips of apple juice.

Weekly community walks run by Life Leisure and Age UK will start from Stockport Sports Village. There are indoor Confidence Walks for those starting out on their walking journey and/or with long-term health conditions, available in Avondale, Bramhall, Brinnington Park, Offerton and Woodley.

The first weekly community walk of the month takes place on Wednesday, 1 May, at 1 pm. This walk provides residents the opportunity to be in nature with a peaceful woodland walk.

Manchester Inter Varsity Club will be hosting a social 3–5-mile walk, starting in Woodley, travelling through the wonderful Haughton Dale Nature Reserve along the Peak Forest Canal, and ending in Romiley.

Jilla Burgess-Allen, Director of Public Health, said: “Walking is a great way to meet new people, improve your mood, and connect to nature, all while helping you to stay healthy. So, we want to encourage people of all ages and abilities to walk this May and join the festival.”

Louise Robbins, Strategic Lead GM Walking, added: “GM Walking supports everyone to walk regularly in their neighbourhoods and we hope to inspire everyone to do a little bit more by taking part in this year’s festivities. We’re lucky to live in such a beautiful region - enjoying the great outdoors is just one of many reasons people may wish to get walking this month.”

The GM Walking Festival walk finder is simple to use and will help you find a walk that suits you. Discover the full programme of free, group-led walking and wheeling events on the GM Walking website https://gmwalking.co.uk/festival-routes/

If you can't join an organised walk, there are plenty of local walking routes that you can walk on your own or with family and friends. For local walking routes, visit our walking in Stockport page.

Stockport Walks in the GM Walking Festival:
Confidence walk Avondale – Tuesday 7th May, 14th May, 21st and 28th May at 1 pm
Starting point: Life Leisure Avondale, SK3 OUP

Weekly Nordic Walking – Tuesday 7th May, 14th May, 21st May and 28th May at 1 pm
Starting point: Pure Café on Turncroft Lane, SK1 4AR

Confidence Walk Bramhall – Thursday 9th May, 16th May, 23rd May, and 30th May at 1.30 pm
Starting point: Bramhall Village Club, 2 Melbourne Road, Bramhall, Stockport SK7 1LR

Confidence Walk Offerton – Monday 13th May and 20th May at 1 pm
Starting point: Offerton Community Centre, SK2 5NX

Monthly Wellness Walk – Saturday 4th May at 9.45 am
Starting point: Houldsworth Village Life Leisure, SK5 7AT

Confidence Walk Brinnington Park – Wed 1st May, 8th May, 15th May, 22nd May, 29th May at 10.30 am
Starting point: Brinnington Park Leisure Complex, SK5 8LS

Wellness Walk for Mental Health – Wednesday 15th May at 10.30 am
Starting point: Brinnington Park Leisure Complex, SK5 8LS

Confidence Walk Woodley – Fri 3rd May, 10th May, 17th May, 24th May and 31st May at 11.30 am
Starting point: Woodley Civic Hall, Woodley, SK6 1QG

A Wheelie Good Walk and a Wassail – Sunday 5th May at 2 pm
Starting point: Reddish Vale Road, SK5 7HE

Weekly Community Walk – Wednesday 1st May, 8th May,15th May, 22nd May and 29th May at 1 pm
Starting point: Stockport Sports Village, SK6 1QX

Woodley and Haughton Dale – Sunday 12th May at 1.30 pm
Starting point: Corner of Hyde Road/Smithy Green (near the Navigation pub), SK6 1NL