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Moderate Hiking Trails near Rochdale

We track 45 routes that match this search near Rochdale. They average 11.3 km and 248 m (814 ft) of ascent.

That is 28 percent of the 163 routes we map near Rochdale. They are shorter than the local average, 11.3 km against 17.7 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 248 m (814 ft) against 390 m (1,280 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Moderate routes are the sweet spot for most regular walkers: enough climbing to feel like a proper day out, never enough to turn into an ordeal. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Moderate

GM Ringway Stage 1

England · United Kingdom

Distance
11.9 km
/ 7.4 mi
Elevation gain
263 m
Typical duration
2 hr 53 min
Moderate

GM Ringway Stage 19

England · United Kingdom

Distance
15.1 km
/ 9.4 mi
Elevation gain
332 m
Typical duration
3 hr 38 min
Moderate

GM Ringway Stage 2

England · United Kingdom

Distance
10.7 km
/ 6.7 mi
Elevation gain
236 m
Typical duration
2 hr 35 min
Moderate

GM Ringway Stage 20

England · United Kingdom

Distance
12.9 km
/ 8.0 mi
Elevation gain
283 m
Typical duration
3 hr 6 min
Moderate

GM Ringway Stage 3

England · United Kingdom

Distance
12.0 km
/ 7.5 mi
Elevation gain
265 m
Typical duration
2 hr 54 min
Moderate

GM Ringway Stage 4

England · United Kingdom

Distance
13.1 km
/ 8.2 mi
Elevation gain
289 m
Typical duration
3 hr 10 min
Moderate

GM Ringway Stage 5

England · United Kingdom

Distance
13.3 km
/ 8.3 mi
Elevation gain
292 m
Typical duration
3 hr 12 min
Moderate

GM Ringway Stage 6

England · United Kingdom

Distance
14.1 km
/ 8.8 mi
Elevation gain
310 m
Typical duration
3 hr 24 min
Moderate

GM Ringway Stage 7

England · United Kingdom

Distance
14.9 km
/ 9.2 mi
Elevation gain
327 m
Typical duration
3 hr 35 min
Moderate

Pen-Den Trail

England · United Kingdom

Distance
8.5 km
/ 5.3 mi
Elevation gain
186 m
Typical duration
2 hr 3 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Railway Children Walk

England · United Kingdom

Distance
8.0 km
/ 5.0 mi
Elevation gain
176 m
Typical duration
1 hr 56 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

The Steel Cotton Rail Trail

England · United Kingdom

Distance
8.0 km
/ 5.0 mi
Elevation gain
176 m
Typical duration
1 hr 56 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Calverley Millenium Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
12.0 km
/ 7.5 mi
Elevation gain
264 m
Typical duration
2 hr 54 min
Moderate

Cown Edge Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
7.1 km
/ 4.4 mi
Elevation gain
157 m
Typical duration
1 hr 43 min
Moderate

Etherow - Goyt Valley Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
10.9 km
/ 6.8 mi
Elevation gain
241 m
Typical duration
2 hr 39 min
Moderate

Huncoat Trail

England · United Kingdom

Distance
14.7 km
/ 9.1 mi
Elevation gain
322 m
Typical duration
3 hr 32 min
Moderate

Lyme South Perimeter Walk

England · United Kingdom

Distance
10.9 km
/ 6.8 mi
Elevation gain
240 m
Typical duration
2 hr 38 min
Moderate

Manchester Green Trail 1

England · United Kingdom

Distance
8.1 km
/ 5.0 mi
Elevation gain
179 m
Typical duration
1 hr 58 min
Moderate

Manchester Green Trail 14

England · United Kingdom

Distance
10.6 km
/ 6.6 mi
Elevation gain
234 m
Typical duration
2 hr 34 min
Moderate

Meltham Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
14.0 km
/ 8.7 mi
Elevation gain
309 m
Typical duration
3 hr 23 min
Moderate

The Tolkien Trail

England · United Kingdom

Distance
10.9 km
/ 6.8 mi
Elevation gain
240 m
Typical duration
2 hr 38 min
  • Lake
Moderate

Medlock Valley Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
7.8 km
/ 4.8 mi
Elevation gain
171 m
Typical duration
1 hr 52 min

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Pennine Bridleway Interim Route for WalkersEngland13.0 km287 m3 hr 9 minModerateApril to October
Pennine Way (Standedge to Warland Reservoir)England12.8 km281 m3 hr 5 minModerateApril to October
Pennine Way (Warland Reservoir to Calder Valley)England8.7 km190 m2 hr 5 minModerateApril to October
Peak District Boundary Walk Stage 3England13.8 km304 m3 hr 20 minModerateApril to October
Peak District Boundary Walk Stage 6England13.7 km302 m3 hr 19 minModerateApril to October
Derwent Valley and Reservoir Walk,England7.4 km163 m1 hr 48 minModerateApril to October
GM Ringway Stage 1England11.9 km263 m2 hr 53 minModerateApril to October
GM Ringway Stage 19England15.1 km332 m3 hr 38 minModerateApril to October
GM Ringway Stage 2England10.7 km236 m2 hr 35 minModerateApril to October
GM Ringway Stage 20England12.9 km283 m3 hr 6 minModerateApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Pennine Bridleway Interim Route for Walkers, Pennine Way (Warland Reservoir to Calder Valley), Pennine Way (Standedge to Warland Reservoir). Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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