Manchester named the UK’s best city for outdoor adventures with over 360,000 hiking routes – including nearly 112,000 accessible by public transport

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Emmeline Banks

 –  Staff Writer

 ·  September 26, 2026

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Autumn is a time when we start to hunker down and get cosy, but what makes that so much more satisfying is first going for a big old crunchy walk. Come rain or shine, we’ve got some stunning nearby spots for rambling, strolling or just enjoying nature and now Manchester has been named the UK’s most accessible city for hiking.

Blacks has teamed up with Ordnance Survey to analyse how many campsites, wild swimming spots, and walking routes sit within 90 minutes of the UK’s most populated cities and towns, travelling both by car and by public transport.

A 90-minute radius can hold very different kinds of adventure, including an after-work trail circuit, a high-mileage day on exposed ground or a night under canvas. This research shows what sits within reach, so you can choose a route or stay that matches your time, experience and appetite for a challenge.

Manchester named the UK’s most accessible city for hiking

Manchester wins the ranking, and not by a narrow margin. Within 90 minutes by car, the city has access to 195 campsites, 99 wild swimming spots and 363,552 walking routes on the OS Maps app, the highest combined figure of any city or town assessed.

Scoring a whopping 9.75 out of 10, Manchester also boasts 111,998 campsites, wild swimming locations and OS Maps hiking routes within 90 minutes by public transport, meaning there’s still plenty to explore if you’re leaving the car at home.

If you’re thinking of heading out in Manchester, Blacks has suggested a few options:

• Crossgate Farm Campsite
• A potential wild swimming spot: Salford Watersports Centre
• A hiking route to try out: Clayton Vale Local Nature Reserve

Sheffield, Leeds, Huddersfield and Warrington are also included in the top 10, meaning we really are very lucky here in the north to have such rich countryside within reach.

The most accessible UK cities for hiking

Hiking accessibility score/10

1. Manchester (10)
2. Sheffield (9.59)
3. Warrington (9.17)
4. Huddersfield (8.96)
5. Slough (8.96)
6. Leeds (8.65)
7. Watford (8.23)
8. Bradford (8.23)
9. Swindon (8.13)
10. London (8.02)

Find the full study here.