Greater Manchester

Urban Landscapes, River Valleys, Moorland, and Historic Routes

From the Pennine hills and reservoirs of the region's eastern edge to river valleys, canals, parks, and historic industrial landscapes, Greater Manchester contains a diverse network of routes, landscapes, and places shaped by waterways, industry, and centuries of movement through the land. Trails such as the Pennine Way, Rochdale Canal Towpath, Irwell Sculpture Trail, and sections of the Trans Pennine Trail reveal many of these environments, while landscapes including the South Pennines, Peak District fringe, Saddleworth Moor, and the Mersey Valley showcase some of the region's most distinctive natural environments.

Long-distance routes pass through upland terrain, river corridors, woodland, canals, parks, and historic settlements, linking places that have shaped the character of Greater Manchester for generations. Together, these routes and landscapes reveal the character of the county while providing opportunities to explore at a slower pace through self-guided travel and independent exploration.