Section 4 of 5, Rochdale Way
Birch to Thornham
10.2 miles (16.5 km). About 4 hours, moderate.
Start: SD 851 077. Finish: SD 914 097. OS grid.
Take it with you: download this section's GPX file (it opens in OS Maps, Komoot, Outdooractive or a GPS unit) or open the start in OS Maps.
Up and down
About 311 m of climbing and 210 m of descent; highest point 212 m.
Getting there
The section starts at Birch.
- Bus stops
- Heywood Old Road/Langley Lane, 50 m from the start. Directions SD 851 077Heywood Old Road/The Cottages, 200 m from the start. Directions SD 852 079Heywood Old Road/Greenhill Farm, 380 m from the start. Directions SD 849 073
- Car parks
- Car park, 20 m from the start. Directions SD 851 077Car park, 90 m from the start. Directions SD 851 076Car park, 140 m from the start. Directions SD 851 078
Getting back
The section finishes at Thornham. Stations and bus stops near the finish:
- Bus stops
- Castleton Road/Turks Head, 100 m from the finish. Directions SD 914 096Summit, Rochdale Road / outside Thornham Summit, 340 m from the finish. Directions SD 910 096Springfield Lane/Rochdale Road, 360 m from the finish. Directions SD 911 094
Planning the Rochdale Way
- Planning the whole trail: gmwalking.co.uk.
What to expect
Underfoot: paved or flagged 45%, earth, rock and mud 16%, gravel and tracks 13%; the rest (24%) isn't recorded.
About 43% on roads with traffic.
On the way: 5 stiles, 4 kissing gates, 2 gates, 1 flight of steps.
Steepest climb: about 52 m in a kilometre (1 in 19), starting 5.6 miles in.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
Pubs and cafés
- Pubs
- Britannia Inn, Middleton: 4 miles in.The Harbord Harbord, Middleton: 4 miles in. Real ale.New Inn, Middleton: 4.2 miles in.Olde Boars Head, Middleton: 4.3 miles in. Real ale.Ring O Bells, Middleton: 4.4 miles in.The Cotton Tree, Stanycliffe: 4.8 miles in.Ship Inn, Slattocks: 8.1 miles in. Seats outside.The Hopwood, Slattocks: 8.2 miles in. Food, seats outside, step-free.Tandle Hill Tavern, Thornham Fold: 9.2 miles in.Summit Inn: 10 miles in.And 5 more within a quarter of a mile.
- Café
- Amigos Coffee Bar, Middleton: 4 miles in.
As OpenStreetMap records them. Opening times change, so check before you set off.
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