Manchester – Weekend Adventures | Hikes

Welcome to our weekend adventure series, where we present a thrilling selection of trails and roads around major European cities. These Tours are easily accessible from the city centre and can be tackled either in a single day or be split to offer a full weekend experience. So pack your gear and start exploring – because adventure starts here.

This Collection features three superb hikes that can be reached by public transport in less than an hour from Manchester’s city centre. The unofficial capital of ‘the North’ may be a buzzing cultural powerhouse but it really doesn’t take long to escape the crowds and find yourself immersed in some of England’s most spectacular landscapes.

The city is cradled by the Pennine hills and moors, while the Greater Manchester region stretches into the glorious Peak District, Britain’s first national park. It was activists from this region that participated in the historic Mass Trespass of 1932, which was so instrumental in the creation of the UK’s national parks and the public’s right to roam.

Two of the hikes in this Collection explore some of the classic landscapes of the Dark Peak, a region characterised by its atmospheric moorland, wide vistas, gritstone escarpments and rock formations. One of these hikes explores Kinder Scout, the moorland plateau that was at the centre of the Mass Trespass.

The third hike discovers a beautiful section of the famous Pennine Way, England and Wales’ oldest national trail and one of its most beloved. Starting in the arty market town of Hebden Bridge in picturesque Calderdale, it traverses the broad spine of the south Pennines before ending in the bohemian village Marsden at the head of the Colne Valley.

If you want to enjoy each of these hikes over a couple of days, there are accommodation options en route, details of which can be found in the Tour descriptions. Another alternative is wild camping which, while technically illegal, is generally tolerated on the moors if you camp high, set up late, pack out early and leave no trace.

You can enjoy these routes at any time of year, though they all take to wild and rugged moorland landscapes that can be rough underfoot and are often exposed to the elements. Winter can be particularly challenging when snowy and icy conditions prevail, while the windchill can be hazardous even when there’s no sign of the white stuff. Sturdy hiking footwear, warm layers and waterproofs are essential, even in the warmer months.

Curious? Sync your komoot account with Suunto and enjoy discovering the natural beauty and tranquillity found just a stone’s throw from Manchester’s urban sprawl.