Bolton Lever Rotary Club will be hosting free public guided walks along the Rotary Way as National Walking Month kicks off in May, as part of the Greater Manchester Walking Festival.

The GM Walking Festival 2024 has more than 300 walking and wheeling events throughout the month of May, to align with National Walking Month, for the local community to get stuck into.

Immediate Past President of Bolton Lever Rotary Club, Christopher Hill, said: “May is a time to promote the benefits of walking for physical health, mental well-being, and enjoying the fresh air outdoors.

“By leading these walks, we are showcasing the Rotary Way Bolton and facilitating access to it. In doing so, we hope to improve people’s health and confidence to enjoy the great outdoors.”

The Rotary Way is a long-distance circular footpath that closely follows the boundary of Bolton and is just over 50 miles long. The route includes industrial heritage sites, reservoirs, historic estates, memorials and country parks and was created by the seven Rotary Clubs in Bolton to commemorate 100 years of Rotary in 2005.

Almost 20 years later, the route is still widely used and enjoyed by ramblers and walkers. The route now features interactive QR codes that hikers can scan with their smartphones that will take them to a dedicated web page with informative facts about the area in which they are standing.

As part of the 100 years of Rotary in Bolton celebrations in 2023, the Rotary Way Bolton Challenge was created. Anyone wanting to take on the 50+ miles. can apply for a certificate of completion at the Rotary Way Bolton website and join the the “50+ Mile Legends Club”.

The Rotary Way can be completed in one go, over two days or in stages over longer periods. There are eight stages to the route, with the official start being at The Pack Horse pub at Affetside.

Christopher Hill added: “Participants can join in individually, as part of a group or even to raise money for charity. Whatever way you want to participate, just get in touch and get involved.”

Bolton Lever Rotary Club is hosting two walks on Saturday May 4th. These walks are the first two stages of the Rotary Way Bolton and can be booked onto by emailing chris@rotarywaybolton.org or visiting the following website.