Heywood can trace its roots back to the Anglo-Saxon period. The Saxons cleared thickly wooded areas into ‘heys’, or fenced clearings where they drove wild animals for easy capture, likely giving the area its name. The Anglo-Saxon word “haga” means a hedge; thus Heywood may mean ‘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 into the town we know and love thanks 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! Or could it be from a cageful of monkeys escaping from a travelling zoo (parked in what is now the Remembrance Gardens)? … travellers passing through the town thought it was inhabited by apes!

The railways are inextricably woven into the area’s industrial past, providing vital links to the country’s network for imports, exports, raw materials, 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.

This 49-mile / 6500-foot ascent, long-distance beauty, circles the Borough of Rochdale … over moorland, through wooded valleys, and past historic urban sites. The route takes you past Blackstone Edge, Healey Dell, Knowl Hill, Queens Park, Tandle Hill and Piethorne Valley.

Although it is waymarked throughout, it has its shortfalls … particularly where you could really do with a helpful pointer! There’s also a contentious section near Birch that you’ll need to negotiate. All in all … this will test your navigational skills.

You’re unlikely to do this in one go, so to break it up, you’ll need someone to drop you off and pick you up. Alternatively, you will need to plan public transport carefully.

Cycle Route ~ North

15.4 miles circular / 2200 feet ascent

Ashworth Valley > Shuttleworth > Nangreaves > Birtle

Cycle Route ~ East

16.0 miles linear / 900 feet ascent

Hebden Bridge > Castleton via the Rochdale Canal

Cycle Route ~ West

16.0 miles circular / 1400 feet ascent

Prestwich > Radcliffe > Moses Gate > Ringley