“Mersey Rivers Trust and its delivery partners are very excited that the River Mersey has been selected as the first national River Walk,” said John Sanders, Strategy and Development Director at the charity. He spoke as Greater Manchester’s Mersey belt was put on the national map.

Published on 27 December 2025 by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, the decision makes Greater Manchester the pilot for nine new National River Walks pledged for England.

The route is a 21‑kilometre, half‑marathon‑length trail from Stockport through Manchester to Trafford, signed as the Mersey Valley Way. A logo competition for more than 50 local schools and youth groups will be decided in February.

Access Minister Baroness Hayman said the programme is about “boosting opportunities to be in nature and supporting local businesses,” pitching the Mersey as the first of nine regional walks.

On the ground, stretches of riverside path will be upgraded to meet accessibility standards for wheelchair users and mobility scooters, with room for prams, cyclists and horse‑riders. Volunteer days are planned for pond restoration, invasive species clearance and installing bird, bat and insect boxes.

Getting there should be straightforward. Sanders noted that more than three million people live within roughly an hour of the route and that the Bee Network links public transport with walk, wheel and cycle connections.

For traders along the Mersey corridor, ministers argue the trail will grow weekend footfall and dovetail with ongoing regeneration across Stockport, Manchester and Trafford.

Delivery will be led by Mersey Rivers Trust with Stockport Council, Manchester City Council, Trafford Council, City of Trees, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, The Conservation Volunteers and Groundwork Greater Manchester. The next tranche of National River Walks will be selected via a competition opening in 2026.

Crucially, the trail will be shaped with residents, walking groups and local businesses, with guided walks and volunteering built into the plan as works progress. New signs will follow the logo decision, keeping the focus on inclusive, everyday access to the river.