GM Ringway – Stages 2 & 3
Stage 2: Distance: 6.29 miles; Walking Time: 2 hours 40 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 13 minutes
Stage 3: Distance: 8 miles; Walking Time: 2 hours 55 minutes; Total Time: 3 hours 25 minutes
Over the recent Bank Holiday weekend I tackled the next two stages of the GM Ringway; Sale Water Park to Didsbury on Saturday and Didsbury to Bramhall on Sunday. I was planning to do Stage 4 on Monday too, but when I woke up to the sound of rain hammering on my bedroom window, the call of watching films from the comfort of my sofa was too much to ignore.
The whole weekend was meant to be a washout, so I was pleasantly surprised to only need my waterproof twice across both days. It was mostly overcast on Saturday but the sun made an unexpected appearance halfway through Stage 3, which gave me a welcome energy boost.
Stage 2 – Sale Water Park to Didsbury Village
A Quiet Start (and a Questionable Gym Decision)
With no half marathon nearby this time, the tram ride to the start was much quieter, and there was no soundtrack accompanying my walk. This might explain why I was a bit slower on this leg… though more likely, it was the 8am cardio class I’d done earlier. (Pro tip: maybe don’t schedule a full-body workout before a long walk.)
River Rambles and Chorlton Temptations
Most of this leg hugs the River Mersey, which did get a bit repetitive after a while.
There was a nice change of scenery when I hit Chorlton Water Park, with its picturesque lake, tons of dogs on their daily walks, as well as a tempting ice cream van. I just about resisted a Mr Whippy, and headed back on to the river for a few more miles.
Watch Out for Flying Golf Balls
After a while the trail heads straight through Withington Golf Course – literally at the edge of a fairway – so I was on the lookout for any stray balls. Having successfully avoided a golf ball induced concussion, I was back on the river for one final stretch.
Finishing Strong at Fletcher Moss Gardens
The last few miles of the walk took me through some playing fields and into one of my favourite parks in Manchester – Didsbury’s Fletcher Moss Gardens. With tennis courts, botanical gardens, and a fancy-looking cafe that I’ll definitely be heading back to at some point, it’s always worth a visit.
After exiting the park, the official end point was in a slightly different direction to the bus stop I needed to head to, so I took a diversion in order to jump on the double-decker home and rest up for Stage 3 the next day.
Stage 3 – Didsbury Village to Bramhall
I met a friend for breakfast at Levante in Didsbury Village — I highly recommend the poached eggs, mushrooms and hash browns. This was perfect fuel for one of the easier stages of the GM Ringway walk.
Tracks, Parks, and a Mini Waterfall
The route starts alongside the tram tracks, weaving past a few speedy cyclists, then reconnects briefly with the River Mersey for the last time. After a short road section, I entered Abney Hall Park, home to a lovely woodland trail and a nice little waterfall. It doesn’t quite match up to the ones I saw in Yosemite, but it was a nice surprise in the middle of Greater Manchester.
A Town Centre Detour
There’s a nice little pond before you exit the park for another stint of road walking, this time through Cheadle town centre. This was probably my least favourite part of the route – I much prefer to be walking in parks or countryside than alongside busy roads.
I was glad to swap traffic noise for trees again when I reached Brookfields Park. I did end up in a bit of a loop here as the directions on the Jauntly app weren’t too clear. I’ve since realised that there is a map function on the app, not just written instructions – this would have helped a lot here!
Ice Cream, Woodland, and a Sunny Finish
After eventually finding my way out, the rest of the walk was very simple. After a mile and a half walking along the Ladybrook Cycleway, I entered Bramhall Park. I’d never been before, but there is a historic hall (unfortunately currently covered in scaffolding), plenty of green space and a restaurant. As the sun had come out, I took the opportunity to take a seat with an ice cream (I couldn’t resist 2 days in a row) and get a bit of a tan!
After my break in the sun, I walked through Carr Wood. Again, this is a nice, easy path through woodland and a pleasant way to end the walk, as once you leave it’s not long until you reach the train station – the end point for this stage.
Final Thoughts: What I Learned from These Stages
I enjoyed both legs – they were mostly quiet, relaxing, and perfect for catching up on podcasts. Stage 2 did feel a bit repetitive, especially with so much river walking, but Stage 3 mixed things up more with parks, woodlands, and the occasional surprise.
They’re good “warm-up” stages for what will be more challenging walks later on. I think I’ll try to walk with a friend next time to break up the monotony — or maybe I’ll just bribe myself with more ice cream.
Next Up
Stage 4 is on the horizon, come rain or shine! Fingers crossed for dry socks, varied scenery, and maybe a new park to fall in love with.
Have you walked any of the GM Ringway yet? What is your favourite part?
