Ramsbottom - Harden Moor - Nangreaves - Ramsbottom

alec jackson

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This walk is near the northern boundary of Greater Manchester, between Bury and Rochdale. It takes you out of Ramsbottom up to and across moorland towards an old pub. The return route is along green lanes, rural roads and footpaths, passing several stretches of water and an old tower. A perfect walk for those looking for great views with easy access from the city.

This walk can be split into two sections as follows:
Section 1) It starts in the town of Ramsbottom, which has easy access for both driving and public transport. It starts with two steep climbs up to the heights above Ramsbottom. There are excellent views towards Bury, Manchester and across towards Winter Hill (TV transmitter station). Other landmarks to look out for include Peel Tower, Chill Factor (indoor ski slope) and the Beetham Tower (Manchester), the tallest residential building in Europe. It crosses the moor (well-defined track) and then along rural roads to 'Owd Betts' for a refreshment break. There is usually a burger van parked on the rough ground just past the pub.
Section 2) After leaving the pub area the walk continues back along the road for a short distance, then drops down and along the banks of a stream past the ruins of two old mills. After passing two ponds it follows a green lane towards the outskirts of Nangreaves Village. The last stretch continues along a rural road, past a ruined tower and then passes above a babbling brook along a tree-lined footpath before dropping down to cross the motorway (M66) and back to the start via a woodland track.

Because there are a number of places where it is boggy or very muddy, it is recommended this walk is only done in walking-boots or wellingtons. The general picture is the view from near Waymark 10.

England - North England - Manchester - Countryside

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Flowers, Great Views, Industrial Archaeology, Moor, Pub, Public Transport, Restaurant, Waterfall, Woodland
1/1/2022 - alec jackson

Towards the end of the walk between WM25 and WM26 (near to WM26) there is a fallen down tree across the path. It can be passed by ducking under. Reported to Bury Council today (01/01/22).

8/23/2020 - alec jackson

In answer to the previous comment regarding Navigation for WM07 to WM09 I walked the route today. There is no need to cross into the trees. The path follows the fence, keeping to the left of the fence. The kissing gate at WM09 is on the corner of Edenfield Road and Croston Close Road. There is a kissing gate on the road , about half-way between WM08 and WM09. This is not the correct kissing gate.

8/19/2020 - Simon Worrall

Walked August 2020. Pleasant walk from Nuttall Park (free car park), close to Ramsbottom, up onto the moors giving a near 360 degree view from the trig point on Harden Moor followed by some interesting industrial relics on the return leg of the walk. There are some good restaurants, pubs and cafes in Ramsbottom so we ate in town after the walk (it's about 15 minutes walk through the park and into the centre from the car park.) NAVIGATION NOTE: Navigated the walk OK but like the previous review we struggled with the section from WP7 to WP9 - there are no public footpath signs between these WPs and it's very overgrown but once over the ladder stile at WP7 we turned left through the reed grass up the hill in the direction of the Edenfield Road, turned right at the fence corner and followed the fence line to a gate, then over the small stile opposite which takes you through a plantation of small trees. Keeping the fence close to your right, the path being overgrown and indistinct, you will come to another stile at the end of the small plantation and then left through more dense reed grass to pick up WP 8. The kissing gate at WP9 and path close to it is very overgrown but you will see the public footpath sign marking the kissing gate location as you walk away from the stile at WP8 and fight your way through the undergrowth towards it to join the track. NOTE WP21 - Grant's Tower, privately owned, has now been partially restored incorporating a zinc roofed room with wood burning stove.

5/1/2020 - Mark Ziprin

An excellent route. We did this late April 2020 and it was perfect for social distancing, seeing only 2 or 3 people the whole way round and plenty of space to keep apart. A lovely, warm sunny day with great views. I particularly enjoyed the part downwards along the river by the old mills. We lost the trail just after 7 but it was easy to follow a path to the road and get back on route. Would be nice to do this again once the pub at the top is open again.