Mersey Valley Way

Mersey Valley Way
Length13 miles (21 km)
LocationGreater Manchester, England
UseWalking, cycling
SeasonAll year
HazardsSevere weather

The Mersey Valley Way is a proposed 13-mile (21 km) National River Walk in Greater Manchester, England. It would run along the River Mersey from Stockport through Manchester to Trafford. The scheme was announced in December 2025 by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and is presented as the first of nine new National River Walks outlined in the government's manifesto. The project aims to improve public access to riverside landscapes, support local regeneration initiatives, and enhance walking infrastructure by upgrading sections of existing paths, including parts of the Trans Pennine Trail.

History

Plans for the Mersey Valley Way emerged from long‑running initiatives to improve public access to the River Mersey corridor in Greater Manchester.[1] Since the late 20th century, local authorities in Stockport, Manchester, and Trafford have undertaken regeneration and environmental projects intended to restore the Mersey Valley as a continuous green space.[2][3] Multi‑agency partnerships involving Trafford Council,[4] Manchester‑area organisations, and environmental groups supported coordinated conservation work and measures to expand public recreation along the river.[5][6]

During the 2000s and 2010s, incremental upgrades to footpaths, bridges, and wayfinding – often linked to the Trans Pennine Trail and local cycling initiatives – contributed to the development of a more coherent long‑distance walking route.[7] Proposals for a formalised river walk gained momentum within wider regional strategies promoting active travel,[8] biodiversity enhancement, and the creation of connected blue‑green corridors, including initiatives such as Greater Manchester's CyanLines programme.[9]

The concept of a dedicated Mersey Valley Way was formally advanced in the mid‑2020s, when national policy – supported by a government manifesto commitment[10] to create nine National River Walks – included an emphasis on long‑distance routes centred on rivers and waterways. The route was formally announced on 27 December 2025 by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which identified the Mersey corridor as the first candidate for National River Walk designation.[11][12] Delivery is to be led by the Mersey Rivers Trust in partnership with Defra,[11] together with a coalition of local councils and environmental bodies, among them Stockport Council,[13] the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, The Conservation Volunteers, Groundwork UK, and City of Trees, supported by Manchester and Trafford councils.[14]

Initial upgrades and wayfinding for the Mersey Valley Way are expected to be completed by spring 2026, according to early local reporting, although no formal completion date has yet been issued by Defra or the Mersey Rivers Trust.[15]

Proposed route

The Mersey Valley Way will follow the River Mersey for approximately 13 miles (21 km) between Stockport and Trafford,[16] making use of existing riverside paths[17] and upgraded sections of the Trans Pennine Trail. The eastern trailhead is planned near Stockport town centre, close to the confluence of the Goyt and Tame, where the Mersey begins.[15] From here, the route will follow established riverside paths westwards.

Beyond Stockport, the trail is expected to continue through Didsbury, passing near Fletcher Moss Park and its adjacent nature reserve, before entering the wider green spaces of the Mersey Valley. It will then follow long-standing riverside tracks through Chorlton-cum-Hardy and Chorlton Water Park, linking with local walking and cycling routes.[18]

West of Chorlton, the proposed alignment will pass Sale Water Park,[19] connecting with the Trans Pennine Trail near Jackson's Boat Bridge, a well‑used crossing point on the Mersey.[18]

The western end of the route is planned to terminate in Trafford, close to existing public transport links and recreational areas. Along its length, the Mersey Valley Way is intended to provide continuous, waymarked access to the riverbank, with improved surfacing, signage and accessibility features at key points.[15]

See also

  • GM Ringway, a long-distance walking trail in Greater Manchester

References

  1. ^ "Engaging Stakeholders About the Future of Manchester's River Valleys". Groundwork UK. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  2. ^ Trafford Countryside Management Partnership (PDF). Trafford Council (Report). Executive Member for Highways and Environment. 29 April 2013. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  3. ^ Cathy Delaney, ed. (December 2021). Exploring Greater Manchester | a fieldwork guide (PDF). Manchester Geographical Society (Report). Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 March 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  4. ^ Trafford Local Plan | Regulation 18 Consultation Draft - Policies | Policy GI4: Mersey Valley (PDF). Trafford Council (Report). April 2025. pp. 206–208. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  5. ^ "The Mersey River Walk project". Groundwork UK. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Rewilding Trafford". Amey. December 2022. Archived from the original on 21 October 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  7. ^ "NCN 62 – Trans-Pennine Trail". Cycle Travel. Archived from the original on 18 November 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Greater Manchester's Active Travel Mission". Transport for Greater Manchester. Archived from the original on 13 October 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  9. ^ Davies, Ethan (14 September 2025). "Plans for 100-mile city centre walkways". BBC News. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Inland Waterways: Rights of Way | Question for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs". UK Parliament. 1 April 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  11. ^ a b "First new National River Walk announced". Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. 27 December 2025. Archived from the original on 28 December 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  12. ^ Horton, Helena (26 December 2025). "First of nine new river walks in England announced for north-west". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  13. ^ "First new National River Walk announced along the River Mersey". Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council. 31 December 2025. Archived from the original on 1 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  14. ^ "Mersey Valley Way". Mersey Rivers Trust. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  15. ^ a b c Perry, Alasdair (5 January 2026). "New designated walking route along River Mersey to connect Stockport with Manchester". Stockport Nub News. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  16. ^ Richardson, Hannah (8 January 2026). "Greater Manchester's new 21km 'Mersey Valley Way' walk". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 13 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  17. ^ "New River Mersey walk planned by government". BBC News. Manchester. 26 December 2025. Archived from the original on 26 December 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  18. ^ a b Slater, Chris (26 December 2025). "'I found a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle and people should go there more'". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 7 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  19. ^ "Plans for brand-new National River Walk through Trafford are unveiled". Trafford Council. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
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