A group of lost hikers attempting a walking route in the Dovestones area that’s been popularised by social media had to be rescued over the weekend.
This has prompted mountain rescuers to issue a warning urging walkers to be wary of the “potential risks that may be encountered” on the route, and encouraging people to do their research and ensure they’re up to the challenge before setting off.
The hikers had been attempting the so-called ‘Trinnacle Trail’, an eight-kilometre route in the Dovestones and Saddleworth area of Oldham, when they got into difficulty.
Just after 6pm this past Sunday evening (27 August), the group managed to contact Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to say they had “made an error” and were lost on the trail, before police contacted Oldham Mountain Rescue Team and a two-hour rescue mission supported by police helicopters begun.
The group were located by Phonefind technology as being in Middle Edge Moss, in between Birchen Clough and Holme Clough, and after mountain rescuers found them and established they were “ok, but cold”, some were escorted down on foot while others were flown down to the vehicles for “a more thorough check”.
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They then returned to Oldham Mountain Rescue Team’s base for “a brew, biscuits, and a warm up.”
Mountain rescuers issue warning after saving lost walkers on ‘popular social media route’ in Dovestones area / Credit: Oldham Mountain Rescue Team | Pxfuel
The trail – which has been popularised by social media, and has become a favourite of those wanting to take selfies with the impressive three-pronged gritstone pillar known as the ‘Trinnacle’ – has often been called one of the best walks in the UK, and as such, has seen a huge surge in walkers attempting to make their way around in recent months.
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But Oldham Mountain Rescue Team is keen to warn that “some parts that are more than a walk”.
Issuing a warning following this past weekend’s rescue mission, Oldham Mountain Rescue Team wrote on Facebook: “Although the Trinnacle Trail has always been a popular destination for those in the know, exposure on social media, along with local and national news outlets, has meant the number of people tackling the trail has surged.
“Whilst we always encourage people to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, it is important that they understand the potential risks that may be encountered.
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“It may be advertised as one of the best walks in the UK, but it must be understood there are some parts that are more than a walk – the section up Birchen Clough past Greenfield Waterfall is a scramble that often requires the use of hands and feet to make progress up the rocky steps; it is not for the faint hearted.
“As well as the challenging terrain, even on the brightest of days, the weather in the hills can change in an instant.
“What may be shorts and t-shirt weather down in the valley, can soon become a very different prospect at higher levels on the edge of Saddleworth Moor – [with] rain, high winds, and poor visibility frequently encountered.”
The Trinnacle, where the so-called ‘Trinnacle Trail’ gets its name / Credit: Trevor Harris (via Geograph)
Oldham Mountain Rescue Team says more than 25% of its incidents are now in the Dovestones and Saddleworth area, with people “usually following some iteration of the Trinnacle Trail”, and on the worst of occasions, incidents involve “serious and / or potentially life-changing injuries”.
The team then went on to issue advice, and urge curious walkers to take “appropriate precautions beforehand” to ensure they have an “enjoyable and memorable outing” in the beautiful surroundings.
Featured Image – Oldham Mountain Rescue Team
News
The Tour de France is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
It’s official: both the male and female Tour de France are coming to Greater Manchester and nine other destinations across the UK in 2027.
As one of the biggest locations on the list, it’s another big sporting landmark for us Mancs.
Confirmed on Thursday, 15 January, the men’s race and the Tour de France Femmes (TdFF) will be passing through our region next summer.
Revealing the news in an exciting announcement video on social media, you can see the other cities and towns that the world-famous endurance event will be hitting here:
With Greater Manchester boasting not only the National Cycling Centre, but having already hosted the Tour of Britain – which has passed through Altrincham on multiple ocassions – we’re well-versed when it comes to the sport.
It’s been more than a decade since the Tour de France last took place in the UK, with London and Yorkshire hosting three stages of the biggest date on the annual cycling calendar back in 2014.
Fast forward a dozen years, and not only will they both be participating again, but Great Britain will see dual Grand Départs for men and women for the very first time.
Not only are we buzzing that the racing will be returning to our friends in Leeds and Sheffield, but also nice to see other Northern regions lending their roads and stunning landscapes, such as the Lake District and wider parts of Cumbria.
You can see the full route map broken down below.
🇬🇧 Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, London 🇬🇧
💛 Grand Départ Great Britain 2027: in the footsteps of the pioneers!
— Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (@LeTourFemmes) January 15, 2026
Speaking in an official press release, race director Christian Prudhomme said: “The UK has always welcomed the Tour with passion and pride, and the route details we are revealing today reflect the beauty and diversity of Britain’s terrain.”
“Bringing both Grand Départs here is a testament to the strength of our partnership with British Cycling and the enthusiasm of the UK.”
TdFF counterpart, Marion Rousse, added: “The UK has played an important role in the history of women’s cycling, with champions such as Lizzie Deignan.
“Starting the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in Leeds is a strong choice, closely linked to this heritage and to the enthusiasm of a public that knows and loves the Tour. These stages clearly reflect the race’s ambition: to continue growing women’s cycling and to inspire future generations.”
Manchester Airport to launch seven new ‘exciting’ routes across the world in 2026
Emily Sergeant
Mancs will soon get the chance to travel to some of the most beautiful and underrated places on Earth for the first time.
Now that 2026 is here and well underway, the new year is shaping up to be ‘groundbreaking’ for Manchester Airport – especially with its decade-long, £1.3 billion transformation of Terminal 2 due to be completed in a matter of weeks, and a project to redesign and improve other areas and terminals also rapidly progressing.
But if that wasn’t exciting enough as it is, the promise of seven new flight routes to destinations across the world being added into the mix should do it.
Four of the destinations are even completely brand-new to the Airport too.
Manchester Airport has launched seven new routes for 2026 / Credit: Daphne Richard | Denilo | Henrique Ferreira (via Unsplash)
Already described as being ‘the UK’s global gateway in the North’, Manchester Airport offers a route network that’s unparalleled outside London, with more than 200 destinations served by 50 airlines – but that network is set to widen again this year, with seven new services already confirmed from the likes of easyJet, Jet2.com and Ryanair.
From stunning French cities and Italian islands, to Greek landscapes and even the chance to see one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, there’s so much to choose from on the roster of new destinations.
easyJet’s service to Montpellier – one of the biggest cities in southern France, offering an array of cultural and archaeological sites, museums, galleries, beaches, and more – launches on Monday 30 March, while Jet2 begins flying to the Canary Island of La Palma form Friday 3 April, and the first direct service from Manchester to Palermo, the largest city on the island of Sicily, starts on Friday 1 May.
2025 has brought exciting developments for our airfield and Terminal 2! ✨
Manchester Airport is looking better than ever and there is still more exciting improvements to come.
Preveza and Samos, both in Greece, the Spanish city loved by locals, Castellon, and the ancient Turkish gem of Bodrum round out the list of new destinations.
More routes are also expected be confirmed over the course of this year too, so keep your eyes peeled for announcements.
“Our route network is unrivalled, with more than 200 destinations across the planet,” commented Chris Woodroofe, who is the Managing Director at Manchester Airport.
“Here we have a list here of what we refer to as our biggest unserved destinations – that’s the destinations that we don’t have direct flights to but have the greatest demand, demonstrated by people from the region travelling to them either on connecting flights or from other airports.”
Emily Sergeant -
29th August 2023 
