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Who is Peak & Northern Footpaths Society (PNFS)?

Peak & Northern Footpaths Society (PNFS) is a members-driven charity committed to protecting the rights of users of rights of way and public access land. Our vision is that all lawful users of public rights of way can exercise their rights without hindrance throughout our region.  To this end, we monitor, protect and improve public rights of way such as footpaths and bridleways.

The PNFS story began in 1894, when a group of enthusiasts for the outdoors created the Society in order to defend public access to the Snake Path over Kinder from Hayfield. PNFS continues to defend the rights of everyone to use all rights of way and holds landowners and local councils to account for maintaining them.

Without our energetic campaigning and actions many routes would fall into disrepair.

PNFS signpost on the GM Ringway

What does PNFS do?

We seek to influence councils and other public bodies to encourage and support those wishing to enjoy the outdoors, including walking, cycling, riding and running for people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds and interests.

PNFS is a regional organisation working to protect rights of way in all the authorities through which the GM Ringway passes.  We also operate in Derbyshire, Lancashire, West and South Yorkshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire and Merseyside.

Our volunteer Footpath Inspectors monitor the rights of way in this area. We report faults and obstructions to the local authority and work with them to reach a satisfactory result. Although we prefer negotiation to confrontation, we do take court action when necessary to protect the network for all users.

As a user of the GM Ringway you can contact us if you find any problems on the route. You can do this via our free to download app called Path Checkers, or contact us via our website www.pnfs.org.uk.

PNFS also funds improvements, including footbridges, to public rights of way  and erects and maintains PNFS’s own distinctive signposts. There are 20 PNFS signposts on the GM Ringway route which you can look out for.

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