Dame Sarah Storey joins Brinnington residents for Stockport community walk: practical information

Mark Higgins Author 2026-05-22 06:15 4 min read

A group of senior citizens walking together along a paved British high street with historic architecture.

Contents

Sustainable travel from Stockport Interchange to Brinnington
Reconnecting with Reddish Vale Country Park
Local heritage and the path to Paralympic success
Accessing the Greater Manchester Walking Festival

Dame Sarah Storey, Britain’s most decorated Paralympian, arrived in Brinnington not by private car, but by a combination of train and bus. After traveling to Stockport Interchange, she boarded a local service to join residents for a morning stroll through Reddish Vale Country Park. This choice of transport was a deliberate nod to her role as Greater Manchester’s Active Travel Commissioner, highlighting the connectivity of local green spaces via the region’s expanding public transport network.

On arrival, the 17-time gold medalist was met with a warm reception from a diverse group of walkers. The event, held as part of May’s Walking Month and the wider Greater Manchester Walking Festival, served as a practical demonstration of how active travel can be integrated into daily life. The group set off from the heart of the community, moving toward the expansive trails of the nearby country park.

Sustainable travel from Stockport Interchange to Brinnington

The journey undertaken by Dame Sarah reflects a core pillar of the Greater Manchester transport strategy. By using the bus from Stockport Interchange to reach Brinnington, she emphasized that residents do not always need a vehicle to access the borough’s natural assets. This approach to travel is central to her work as a commissioner, where the goal is to make walking, cycling, and public transport the natural choices for short journeys.

During the walk, participants of all ages shared the path with the champion, discussing the barriers and benefits of staying active in the local area. The presence of a national figure in a local setting like Brinnington provided a platform for residents to voice their experiences with the local walking infrastructure. The route through Reddish Vale Country Park showcased the accessibility of the terrain, which is designed to accommodate various fitness levels and mobility needs.

Reconnecting with Reddish Vale Country Park

Despite her international career and extensive travel, Dame Sarah revealed that the walk offered her a fresh perspective on her home borough. Although she spent years training as a swimmer in Stockport, many of the specific trails and waterways in Brinnington remained undiscovered to her until this event. She noted the impressive blend of architecture and natural greenery that defines the Reddish Vale area.

“It was fantastic to explore this morning and see the waterways, the green spaces and even the architecture around us,” she remarked during the event. For many residents, the park serves as a vital ‘green lung,’ providing a space for mental clarity and physical exercise. The walk highlighted how these local nooks, often overlooked, are essential for community wellbeing and social connection.

Local heritage and the path to Paralympic success

Dame Sarah’s connection to the area is deeply rooted. Born in Cheadle Hulme, she is a proud Stopfordian who spent a significant portion of her early career training at local facilities, including the Grand Central baths. This return to Stockport was more than a professional duty; it was a reconnection with the environment that shaped her athletic foundations.

She reflected on how walking was a constant thread throughout her childhood, citing family holidays focused on climbing and exploring the outdoors. This personal history informs her current advocacy, as she seeks to ensure that children growing up in Greater Manchester today have the same opportunities to explore their surroundings safely and easily on foot.

Accessing the Greater Manchester Walking Festival

The Brinnington walk was coordinated through the Stockport Moving Together partnership, which involves local organizations such as Life Leisure and Age UK. These groups utilize the ‘Live Well’ approach, focusing on making physical activity inclusive and community-focused rather than purely competitive. By partnering with established local charities, the initiative ensures that even the most isolated residents have a gateway to social exercise.

As the Walking Month of May continues, the Greater Manchester Walking Festival is offering a variety of guided routes across the region. These events are designed to help residents find groups near their homes, fostering a long-term habit of active travel. Information regarding local routes and walking groups is being distributed through community hubs to encourage sustained participation beyond the festival period.

Source: Stockport Council