Friday 28 August 2026 - GM Ringway Trail Stage 11 - Littleborough to Norden

This was a 'catch-up' walk for Jeanette, who missed our first visit to this stage on 2 September 2025. On that occasion we enjoyed superb weather and I penned a detailed diary entry here.

Today was showery, with a five minute spell of heavy rain.

We started with a short walk from Littleborough station to 'Coffee on the Corner', where in the absence of Sheila, who I think knows the manager, the welcome was a little less friendly than before and we were shoo'ed to a cramped outside table that just about protected us from the drizzle, on account of Rufus being an unwelcome visitor to the cosy inside of the premises.

As before, we started down an alternative route that short-cut the published route due to some paths across the railway being closed (we assumed they are still closed).

That meant we passed the lovely old building that was home to a local MP for Rochdale, Gordon Harvey (1858 - 1922) - he was MP from 1906 to 1918.

On leaving the conurbation, we rose steeply past a couple of farms. This was my view ahead, after the sharp shower during which I hadn't noticed the others hiding behind a wall!

The rain soon stopped and we splish-sploshed our way as far as Dobbin Hill, before descending to Watergrove Reservoir where we paused for a coffee and cake break.

The crenellated drystone walls hereabouts are some of the most substantial I've seen.

The reservoir seems to have a little more water than on our visit last September, despite the recent paucity of rain showers. Last winter was wet at times.

Leaving the reservoir, we passed the ruins of 'Little Town' before rising then descending to cross Higher Slack Brook by way of a slippery wooden bridge, then rising on the Pennine Bridleway to pass a number of artefacts by way of reminders of the industrial landscape of the past.

Lunch was taken by a small reservoir below the flanks of Rushy Hill, as on our earlier visit.

After that we proceeded to the spectacular gorge of Healey Dell. Rufus was a bit miffed to find a poorly stocked library.

The path through the gorge eventually released us onto a narrow lane that passes Healey Dell Heritage Centre & Tea Rooms. Coffee (etc) and cake all round (mostly).

From there, the GM Ringway route rises to the disused railway that crosses a splendid viaduct. Sadly, that route is currently completely blocked by repair work to the viaduct. So we had to return to the point at which we had earlier entered the gorge in the other direction.

It wasn't too difficult to find a route back to the other end of the viaduct, soon after which we rejoined the GM Ringway route by a pond that was being guarded by a large goose.

After that our route rose gently to cross Rooley Moor Road at a point where new hardware has been installed in an effort to dissuade mechanised vehicles and bikes. That road is on the bike route I take from Timperley to my daughter's house in Bacup. It's a horrid descent over boulders into Bacup, and the road is also used by the Pennine Bridleway on the Mary Towneley Loop.

It was then a pleasant descent to the Greenbooth Reservoir's dam, and a stroll down a woodland path to reach the lane leading to the A680 road at Norden.

Jeanette summoned a Uber taxi (I'd never before used one) which soon deposited us at Rochdale railway station where we had two minutes to buy a ticket (Sue - the other three of us travel free of charge), jump on the train to Clitheroe via Victoria, from where its an easy tram ride home.

A lovely day out despite a bit of drizzle and a five minute deluge. It was a shade over 19 km with 450 metres ascent, taking five and a half hours.

Monday 24 August 2026 - Pots and Pans from Greenfield

Having walked past the foot of the War Memorial and 'Pots and Pans' during our GM Ringway walk, Sue and I wanted to further explore the area. We chose what may be the last day of this summer when waterproofs and spare clothing could be safely left at home - it was a lovely 'warm but not too warm' summer's day around Greenfield, to where we caught the 10 o'clock train from Piccadilly.

On arrival at Greenfield some twenty minutes later we were disappointed to discover that 'Platform 13', the excellent café, was closed on Mondays. Never mind, we had plenty of supplies and we could enjoy our drinks breaks outside in the sunshine.

After passing back over the railway line we headed north up a well graded path bordered by bright purple heather, with views across the valley to our afternoon's objective.

The War Memorial obelisk was clearly visible beyond the suburbs of Uppermill.

We passed above Moorgate Quarry and declined the further 70 metres of ascent to the mast at Wharmton. Onwards along Colt Hill Lane through the grounds of Saddleworth Golf Club where a good number of folk were testing their skills.

The golf course has isolated stones that look loike gate posts from long forgotten fields. Martins and Meadow Pipits kept us company and a gentleman hidden by Sue in the next picture was rummaging in the undergrowth for a lost item that was a crucial accompaniment to his particular type of outing.

Mountain Ash trees were laden with red berries.

Just beyond the golf course, there was nobody around so we commandeered a stone stile on which to enjoy some coffee and cake.

Then a huge stile released us onto Burnedge Lane.

Our path soon left the tarmac and descended steeply via a thin, waymarked route, to reach a muddy lower path that soon passed a small fishing lake.

After a brief exploration of the area we entered a large field occupied by a sole, shyly attentive, pony that seemed happy to be fussed over by Sue.

We soon arrived at a rather convoluted site of rivers, railways and artifacts before emerging at the Limekiln Café that we remembered from our GM Ringway walk on 7 August 2025. My report here details much about the 'Pots and Pans' and other matters of local interest that I won't repeat here, but I have included a couple of information boards that readers can click on if they want to read them properly.

Making our way beside an unkempt beech (and nettle) hedge between a barbed wire fence and the narrow footpath was a tight squeeze. There was more room here, lower down where the foliage had been cut back.

After a steep ascent to St Chad's church we paused to admire some splendid peacocks outside the Church Inn. The family included some chicks that ran away before I could get the camera out.

At the front of the church a barrow piled high with rushes was labelled 'Saddleworth Rushcart Longwood Thump'.

Our path now ascended confidently towards the ridge at the end of which the Obelisk is situated.

Views opened out over the Wharmton mast, with the centre of Manchester in the background. Our views on this clear day extended to the hills of North Wales as well as into the Yorkshire Dales.

A derelict house was passed. It didn't really look that old.

After pausing for lunch in the shelter from the breeze afforded by a dry stone wall, the good path came to the junction shown below with a good path along the ridge.

 

We made our way to the viewpoint on Alderman's Hill, before heading to the Obelisk and War Memorial.

Sue explored some of the jumble of rocks.

The Obelisk is a feature of the landscape for miles around.

I don't know about their likeness to Pots and Pans, but these rocks look to me like an ogre, with Sue standing on its left ear.

From there it was steep at first, then easily through a parched field, past masses of blackberries - they are having a very good year, with views to Wharmton through a mass of rosebay willowherb, and eventually down to the disused railway we had passed earlier, where we turned left and strolled along the Tame Valley Way footpath.

After a stretch beside the river, the Huddersfield Narrow Canal was crossed, and we were soon up at the station, beyond the still closed 'Platform 13', where a train was waiting ... and waiting. We were lucky to catch it, but it was delayed by illness to a passenger that meant the train crew had to wait for an ambulance to arrive before the train could continue its journey. An announcement telling passengers how they should obtain a refund as they were delayed by more than 15 minutes was played several times. It didn't affect us, as I travel free in Grater Manchester, and Sue was booked on the following train, so we were home earlier than expected anyway. It brought back memories of a sad day nearly thirty years ago when my boss at the time, at the peak of his successful career, suffered a fatal stroke on a Monday morning journey from his home near Liverpool to his office in London.

 

This was a lovely route that could easily be shortened or lengthened. 13.7 km with about 500 metres ascent, taking a shade over 5 hours. A lovely day out.

Next - this Friday, 28 August:
GM Ringway Trail Stage 11 - Littleborough to Norden (20km). Meet at 10:24 at Littleborough, arriving on 10:04 from Victoria. Return by bus or taxi to Rochdale then regular train to Victoria.