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.