Circular dog walks

Circular dog walks near Irlam

310 or more of the walks within 5 km of the middle of Irlam are loops: 24% of the 1,300 or more we measured, against 30% across Greater Manchester.

A loop brings you back to where you started without walking the same way twice.

StockportBoltonSaleRochdaleIrlam10 km
Irlam and the 5 km around it, on Greater Manchester. Ordnance Survey boundary data.

Where they differ from every walk near Irlam

  • 57% of the loops near Irlam pass a pub, against 41% of every walk near Irlam.
  • 98% of the loops near Irlam start where you can park, against 84% of every walk near Irlam.
  • 72% of the loops near Irlam run beside crop fields for a third or more of the way, against 84% of every walk near Irlam.

Measured on 12 October 2026 from the map. A difference is listed only when it is ten points or more and larger than chance would make it. How these figures are made

What the loops are like

Each bar is the share of the loops near Irlam that the sentence is true of. The upright mark on each bar, and the small number beside it, is the same share for every walk near Irlam.

How far they go

Walks thatShare of walks measuredEvery walk near Irlam
Under 3 km
32%
35%
3 to 5 km
19%
21%
5 to 8 km
16%
18%
8 to 12 km
12%
12%
Over 12 km
18%
12%

What is beside the path

Walks thatShare of walks measuredEvery walk near Irlam
Under trees for a third or more of the way
26%
34%
Beside water for a tenth or more
59%
66%
On open access land for a third or more
<1%
1%
Through a park or green space for a third or more
29%
27%
Beside crop fields for a third or more
72%
84%
Beside farm grassland for half or more
45%
56%
No farm grassland at all
4%
4%
Off road for four fifths or more
2%
3%
On roads or lanes for half or more
94%
86%
Through built-up streets for half or more
16%
7%

What might stop you

Walks thatShare of walks measuredEvery walk near Irlam
Never beside a fast road
86%
85%
Never beside a busy road
51%
57%
No busy road to cross
53%
57%
No stile, gate or cattle grid
74%
81%
No steps
75%
84%

What is on the way

Walks thatShare of walks measuredEvery walk near Irlam
Start where you can park, at a car park or on a minor road
98%
84%
Pass a pub
57%
41%
Pass a dog-waste bin
45%
34%
Pass a public toilet
20%
11%
Pass a drinking-water tap
<1%
<1%
Pass a busy beauty spot
13%
20%
Trekosa, free

Loops near Irlam, chosen for your dog

If you live in Greater Manchester, it is your home county, and every walk in it is free, for good. Tell the app about your dog and it finds loops near Irlam checked against what your dog finds hard, and names them.

Walks beyond your home county come with Further, the Trekosa subscription. What Further adds

Questions people ask

Are there circular dog walks near Irlam?
Yes. 310 or more of the walks within 5 km of the middle of Irlam are loops, 24% of the 1,300 or more we measured there. The app shows them by name once you have an account, checked against what your dog finds hard.
What counts as a circular walk?
One that comes back to its start by a different way. A walk that turns round and comes back the way it went is a there-and-back, and is not counted here.
Can I ask the app for loops only?
Yes. When you search you choose the shape: a loop, there and back, or one way. There and back lets you turn round whenever you like, which a loop does not.

Everything we measured near Irlam

Circular dog walks in the towns nearest Irlam