Tuesday 2 September 2025 - GM Ringway Trail Stage 11 - Littleborough to Norden

On another lovely day, ideal for a walk, Sue, Rick and I got a 9:15 tram from Timperley and met Paul at Victoria station.

He had clearly been there for some time!

We were joined by Alan and Sheila in Littleborough, where we gravitated to 'Coffee on the Corner' for pre-walk refreshments.

We started around 11am by way of a diversion due to the paths crossing the railway from the canal towpath being closed. This took us along Sale Street and past Hare Hill Park, where there's a lovely bandstand.

We soon turned left along Town House Road, before reaching Carriage Drive by a fine old stone house.

Inevitably, the start of this stage of the GM Ringway trail involves a climb. This time we rose fairly gently up Ratcliffe Hill. Behind us, parts of the route of Stage 10 came into view.

 

The path took us through a farm and up the hill towards Turn Slack Dam.

Soon we joined the solid surface of the Pennine Bridleway. Behind us, a small reservoir was just about visible (see top picture) despite being almost dry at present.

The skyscrapers of Manchester came into view.

Our path descended into woodland, a portion of which is given over to a 'Life for a Life' Memorial Forest.

On reaching Watergrove Reservoir, we admired the view from the sadly closed Visitor Centre.

Fishing is allowed up to a certain point, but no fishermen were available for comment.

Soon after leaving the environs of the reservoir, we passed the ruins of 'Little Town', where a  picnic table provided a good location for a coffee and cake break.

'Little Town' is part of the remains of this area's civilisation before it was drowned by the building of the reservoir that was opened in 1938. The village dates back as far as the 1600's. There's a very readable account here.

A little further on, beyond where Sue is standing, our path descended to Higher Slack Brook Nature Reserve, where Higher Slack Brook was crossed by way of a wooden bridge.

Back on the Pennine Bridleway, yet another lovely cobbled path.

Across the valley towards Wardle, some strange constructions in the foreground.

Our next landmark was the corner of a small reservoir, Brown House Wham Reservoir, above Whitworth, where some horizontal slabs provided good lunchtime seats.

Alan was distracted by the distant view of a rare David Brown tractor, (not - see Alan's comment) manufactured in France. Can you spot it in the previous picture?

A little further on, after a sumptuous lunch, at a junction of many paths, we passed an inscribed rock near Nar End and White Hill.

'If you don't know where you're going, Any road will take you there'

After a while we left the Pennine Bridleway for the time being, and passed through the settlement of Broadley before passing under a short tunnel below a crenellated footbridge.

Back in woodland, we eschewed a scenic bench.

Descending into Healey Dell, an information board provides the story behind Fairies Chapel. Click on the image if you want to read it.

An excellent bench marks the start of our walk through the gorge that is bisected by the River Spodden.

An impressive disused railway viaduct towered above us as we reached the southern end of the gorge.

Below us, there was an old arched bridge across the river.

Healey Dell tearooms 'serve food and drink in a lovely sheltered garden'. They were closed today.

An assortment of information boards tell of the industrial past of this coal mining area, including the difficult background surrounding two bridges.

We made our way over the impressive viaduct. Alan scanned the gorge for fallen 'jumpers'.

There were similar views to the wooded valley in all directions.

Before ascending to Broadley Fold we passed a fishing pond and rejoined, yet again, the Pennine Bridleway.

This section of the Bridleway is a cobbled track that is part of the 'Cotton Famine Road'.

Here's an extract from a reference to the Cotton Famine Road - the full story is here.

The ‘Cotton Famine Road’ section of Rooley Moor Road is of national and international importance. It is a reminder of the harsh times cotton workers had to endure during the Cotton Famine in their support of the abolition of slavery and is unique in linking the American Civil War to social changes in our own country at a time when John Bright, the Rochdale Pioneer Movement and Chartism influenced social thinking throughout the UK.

Sue spotted a cherry tree that is nearly 200 years old. It has seen a lot!

We passed more nice cottages at Prickshaw.

Near Rooley Moor Road, where we deserted the Pennine Bridleway for good, a capped coal mine was passed.

Soon before our final ascent of the day, we passed a lady with what initially looked like a large dog. Small horse?

Greenbooth Reservoir came into view to our right.

Beyond the reservoir, we descended to a pond where a heron was busy hunting.

Soon after this, Edenfield Road in Norden was reached soon after 5pm, across which was the Bridge Inn and a fish and chip shop.

The nearby bus stop yielded a choice of three buses, all of which required a wait of more than 30 minutes. So we ordered a couple of taxis. Alan and Sheila went home; the rest of us went to Rochdale railway station and a quick journey home for Rick and to Hale for the rest of us, where Jeanette, still too injured to walk, had a lovely meal waiting for us.

Here's our route - around 20km with 450 metres ascent, taking us a little over 6 hours.

We will walk the next stage on Thursday 25 September and hope that once again Alan and Sheila may join us as well as the other three absentees. Here's the flier:
GM Ringway Trail - Stage 12 - Norden to Bury. Meet on 9:04 from Victoria to Rochdale, then taxi or 468 bus to Norden for this twelfth 21km stage of the 20 stage circuit of Greater Manchester. Or meet around 10:00 in Norden as per GM Ringway website.
Return by Metrolink from Bury.