Manchester Hiking & Trekking Guide 2026

Top trails

Routes worth lacing up your boots for.

1. 1

   Kinder Scout from Edale via Grindsbrook Clough

   About 14 km circular5-7 hourshardAbout 600 m of ascent; summit plateau 636 m

   The classic Peak District high-moor walk: up Grindsbrook Clough to the Kinder plateau, across to Kinder Downfall waterfall and back via the Pennine Way.

2. 2

   Mam Tor and the Great Ridge

   About 10 km circular3.5-4.5 hoursmoderateAbout 400 m of ascent; Mam Tor 517 m

   A ridge walk from Castleton over Mam Tor, Back Tor and Lose Hill with views over the Hope and Edale valleys.

3. 3

   Lyme Park and The Cage Circular

   About 6 km circular2-2.5 hourseasyAbout 150 m of ascent

   Deer-park walk up to The Cage hunting tower with views toward the Manchester skyline, starting at the National Trust estate famous as Pemberley in the 1995 Pride and Prejudice.

4. 4

   Rivington Pike and Terraced Gardens

   About 7 km circular2.5-3 hoursmoderateAbout 250 m of ascent; Rivington Pike 363 m

   A moorland climb to Rivington Pike tower, then down through the Lord Leverhulme Terraced Gardens beside Rivington Reservoir.

5. 5

   Dovestone Reservoir and Chew Valley Circuit

   About 8 km circular2.5-3.5 hoursmoderateAbout 250 m of ascent

   A reservoir-side path under the Saddleworth Moor edges, with an optional climb above Chew Reservoir, the highest reservoir in England.

6. 6

   Alderley Edge Woods and Sandstone Ridge

   About 5 km circular1.5-2 hourseasyAbout 100 m of ascent

   Woodland and sandstone-ridge trails with Bronze Age copper mines, the Wizard legend and views across the Cheshire plain to the Peak District.

Trail difficulty levels

Pick a route that matches your fitness and experience.

When to hike

Seasonal conditions in Manchester.

M

a

y

t

o

O

c

t

o

b

e

r

g

i

v

e

s

t

h

e

d

r

i

e

s

t

,

c

l

e

a

r

e

s

t

P

e

a

k

D

i

s

t

r

i

c

t

c

o

n

d

i

t

i

o

n

s

;

P

e

n

n

i

n

e

m

o

o

r

s

a

r

e

b

o

g

g

y

a

n

d

c

a

n

b

e

f

o

g

g

y

f

r

o

m

N

o

v

e

m

b

e

r

t

o

M

a

r

c

h

,

s

o

w

i

n

t

e

r

w

a

l

k

s

n

e

e

d

a

m

a

p

,

c

o

m

p

a

s

s

o

r

o

f

f

l

i

n

e

O

S

M

a

p

s

.

Local hazards

What to watch out for on the trail.