The omnipresent Knowl Hill

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When I first moved to Heywood in 2018, I said to my partner (a Heywood lass born and bred) that the place had little to offer on the walking front … boy, how wrong I was!

To atone for my ignorant comment, I have put together a series (not exhaustive) of summer walks that circumnavigate the town … each one is around 7 miles and is laced with a heavy dose of history!

I have followed a familiar Blue Fox format … the routes are on 1:25k maps (enlarged x 2 for ease of identifying specific details) or ‘Streetmaps’ where appropriate. Each one is accompanied by several points of interest and supporting pictures.

Oh yes … every walk has a suggested pic-nic/break stop and, of course, pub-stop factored into it!

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Heywood can trace its roots back to the Anglo Saxon period. The Saxons cleared thickly wooded areas into ‘heys’ or fenced clearings in which wild animals were driven for easy capture … likely giving the area its name. The Anglo-Saxon word “haga” means a hedge, thus Heywood possibly means ‘the wood surrounded by a hedge.’ At one time Heywood was spelt as ‘Eywode’ which points strongly to its derivation being from the Anglo Saxon ‘ea’ meaning water … thus ‘the wood surrounded by the stream’ is another possible source of the name.

Originally part of the township of Heap, Heywood grew to be the town we know and love due to the Cotton Trade. With excellent transport links, thanks to the M62 and M66, Heywood to-day has become the centre for the distribution of goods.

It’s not known exactly when Heywood first got the nickname “Monkey Town” but the term was being used as far back as 1857. Bob Dobson in “Lancashire Nicknames & Sayings” states that the nickname originated from Irish immigrants pronouncing ‘Heap Bridge’ as ‘Ape Bridge,’ and believes that the name ‘Monkey Town’ derived from this. With the nickname came the stools with holes in them … supposedly for the monkey’s tails. In reality the holes were for carrying the stools!

The railways are inextricably woven into the area’s industrial past, providing vital links to the country’s network of import, export, raw material, and, most importantly, workers. The East Lancashire Railway is now a 12.5 mile heritage steam line, running between Heywood and Rawtenstall, with stations at Ramsbottom and Bury in between.

WALK No.1 –

Simpson Clough & Bamford ~ 6.8 miles / 850 feet ascent

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Start/finish point: St.Luke’s Church, town centre (Parish of St.Luke)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Denise Miller

PUB: Grapes, Bamford

WALK No.2 –

Roch Valley & Birtle ~ 7.5 miles / 800 feet ascent

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Start/finish point: Sports Village, Back o’th’ Moss (Parish of St James)

PUB: Pavilion, Birtle

WALK No.3 –

Castle Hawk & Crimble ~ 7.9 miles / 500 feet ascent

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Start/finish point: St. Luke’s Church, town centre (Parish of St Luke)

PUB: Hare & Hounds, Crimble

WALK No.4 –

Ashworth Valley & Deeply Vale ~ 7.5 miles / 1100 feet ascent

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Start/finish point: ‘Tractor’ blue plaque, town centre (Parish of St Luke)

PUB: Packhorse, Birtle

WALK No.5 –

Rochdale Canal & Hopwood Woodlands ~ 7.5 miles / 400 feet ascent

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Start/finish point: East Lancashire Railway, Hopwood (Parish of St John)

PUB: Hopwood Arms, Slattocks

WALK No.6 –

Summerseat to Heywood ~ 7.9 miles / 1100 feet ascent

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Start/finish point: East Lancashire Railway, Hopwood (Parish of St John)

PUB: Bird, Birtle

WALK No.7

Hollins Vale Nature Reserve & Pilsworth ~ 7.3 miles / 500 feet ascent

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Start/finish point: St. John’s Church, Heap Bridge

PUB: Queen Anne, Unsworth

WALK No.8

Springfield Park & Queen’s Park ~ 7.4 miles / 650 feet ascent

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Start/finish point: Queen’s Park, Heywood North (Parish of St Luke)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Rochdale Local Studies Centre

PUB: Success To The Plough, Marland

WALK No.9

Walmersley & Chesham Woods ~ 7.1 miles / 1000 feet ascent

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Start/finish point: St. John The Baptist Church, Bircle

PUB: Towler, Limefield

WALK No.10

Healy Dell & Pennine Bridleway ~ 7.1 miles / 1200 feet ascent

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Start/finish point: Catley Lane Head hamlet

PUB: Red Lion, Whitworth

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WALK No. 11

Norden & Greenbooth Reservoir – 7.1 miles / 1000 feet ascent

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Start/finish point: Norden village

PUB: Horse & Farrier, Norden

The maps for all the above are on the next website page >>>

NOTE: These walks were researched and reconnoitred in beautiful sunshine! … when the paths were bone-dry and streams a mere trickle. Please be aware that large areas could be prone to heavy mud and it is highly inadvisable to attempt any riverside sections in times of spate. Although much of each routes are mere strolls, there are still some parts only suitable for the sure-footed. Every walk includes a DIFFERENT pub for you to enjoy along the way, or an alternative pic-nic/break stop if preferred(?). You can alter the start and finish points to suit yourselves (eg if you want the pub at the end). Good knowledge of map-reading would be advantageous to yield the most from these walks.

I have been asked to lead local groups for these walks. My leading days are limited (time) nowadays, but I am prepared to impart the routes and their stories to another prospective leader.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Graham Lord

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The Rochdale Way

This 49 miles / 6500 feet ascent long distance beauty is a route around the Borough of Rochdale … over moorland, through wooded valleys and passing historic urban sites. Blackstone Edge, Healey Dell, Knowl Hill, Queens Park, Tandle Hill and Piethorne Valley are visited or viewed along the Way.

Although waymarked throughout, it does have its shortfalls … particularly in places where you could really do with a helpful pointer! There is a contentious section near to Birch to negotiate too. All in all … this will test your navigational skills.

It is unlikely you will be able to do this in one hit, so in order to segment it, reliance on someone to drop you off and pick you up will be required. Alternatively, careful planning of public transport will be necessary.