From the historic town centre and iconic viaduct to the open countryside of Marple and Mellor, the festival walks offer a chance to see Stockport and the Greater Manchester region differently while enjoying fresh air, friendly company and gentle movement.
The festival is coordinated by Greater Manchester Moving and brings together community groups, charities and local partners to offer free group walks for people of all ages and abilities.
This year’s theme, Celebrating Connected Communities, encourages people to discover neighbourhoods new and old while walking together.
The festival offers a wide range of walks to suit different interests and abilities. You can search for walks by day or date and by distance and difficulty. It is also easy to find walks that are dog friendly, near a cafe or pub, buggy or wheelchair accessible and close to public transport. Walks range from gentle confidence boosting and wellbeing walks to more active options such as Nordic walking, helping everyone find a way to walk more that suits them.
Jilla Burgess-Allen, Director of Public Health for Stockport
We are delighted to be involved in the GM Walking Festival again and to offer such a diverse range of walks. Walking is one of the simplest ways to support our physical health, mental wellbeing and connection with others. By working together with community partners, we are developing accessible walking opportunities, improving walking routes and supporting schemes that allow people to walk more and in ways that suit their lives. These small everyday steps help people across Stockport to live well.
Louise Robbins, Strategic Lead for GM Walking
This May we’re encouraging everyone to get walking and wheeling and explore their local area, discovering new places to walk, socialise, and have fun. There’s something for everyone this year, so come and join us.”
Featured Stockport walks
A selection of this year’s walking opportunities in Stockport:
Social Stroll with Life Leisure
Tuesday 5 May at 11:45Walk Together for Wellbeing with Heaton Mersey Village Conservation Group CIC
Sunday 24 May at 11amLGBT Foundation Wellbeing Walk
Wednesday 13 May at 12:00Rehab Fitness Walk with Rehab Fitness CIC
Wednesday 6 May at 11:30African Ladies Get Active Walk with Siyanda African Ladies Get Active
Saturday 23 May at 11:00
For a full list of festival walks and to book on visit the GM Walking Festival website and search for routes in Stockport. All walks are free and open to everyone.
Can’t join the festival but still want to get active? Discover walking routes, great green spaces, local groups and events across Stockport