A new river walk will be created along the River Mersey between Stockport and Manchester – the first of nine National River Walks promised by the government for locations nationwide. The Mersey Valley Way will help to meet the Government manifesto commitment, and work began in September 2025 to transform a 21.5km stretch of riverside path from Stockport into Manchester.
The project includes upgrading and improving 4km of existing river path to meet accessibility standards suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, prams, cyclists and horse-riders, and installing signage, waymarking and branding across the full route.
What is a ‘National River Walk’?
The Mersey Valley Way will have National River Walk status which brings community engagement benefits, such as guided walks and opportunities to volunteer on nature recovery work along the route with pond restoration, invasive species removal, tree planting and installation of bird, bat and insect boxes all planned.
Community engagement is a major aspect of the project, and the River Walk will be developed in consultation with community representatives and local businesses to ensure that the project benefits the local economy and people.
Where will the Mersey Valley Way go?
The existing Mersey path goes through the centre of Stockport, where the river disappears from view and flows underground, before joining a riverside bridleway that will become the start of the Mersey Valley Way.
The Mersey Valley Way will stretch from here in Stockport, through Manchester and over to Trafford, where volunteers are already contributing much of the work underway to improve access, restore nature and improve water quality.
Highlights include habitat restoration and enhancement, pond restoration and invasive species removal, tree planting and bulb planting. 4,000 bulbs have already been planted in Stockport town centre, and work has begun to install bird, bat and insect boxes, a sand martin wall and a swift tower.
Who will it help?
Work on the Mersey Valley Way will improve access to nature in an area where it’s very much needed. Like other areas of Greater Manchester, Stockport has areas of severe deprivation, it’s estimated over 36,000 people are living in poverty.
Evidence shows that people from lower income groups are less likely to access the benefits of spending time in nature. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) also suggests that people are more likely to visit green and blue spaces close to where they live – by improving paths and adding features like lighting and signage, they aim to make it easier for everyone to enjoy the outdoors.
Why Stockport?
One of the other reasons this part of the River Mersey was chosen is that Stockport is midway through a £1billion investment programme. The town centre has already been transformed by regeneration including a flagship new bus interchange with beautifully landscaped green areas.
The first National River Walk comes as part of a broader effort to improve access to nature, including at least £17 million this year to make access more inclusive in forests, alongside the announcement of two new National Forests, with a third to follow next year.
John Sanders, Strategy and Development Director at Mersey Rivers Trust, said: “Mersey Rivers Trust and its delivery partners are very excited that the River Mersey has been selected as the first national River Walk.
“Over 3 million people live within a 1-hour journey of the Mersey Valley Way, which is accessible by the Greater Manchester public transport Bee Network as well as walking, wheeling and cycling routes. Designating the Mersey Valley Way will encourage more people to access nature as well as enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of spending time by the river”.