Oldham Way
A 40-mile long-distance path in Greater Manchester circling the historic market town of Oldham, visiting places of interest and natural beauty. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: SE 017 044
Distance: 40 miles (64 km)
Time: 15–20 hours
Duration: 2–4 days
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (1:25,000):
OL1 The Peak District – Dark Peak Area
OL21 South Pennines – Burnley, Hebden Bridge, Keighley and Todmorden
277 Manchester and Salford
Summary
The Oldham Way is a circular long-distance footpath encircling the historic Lancashire mill town. The walk begins at Dove Stone Reservoir nestled in the Pennines, from where it travels north toward Dick Hill, Running Head Hill, Diggle, Diggle Edge, Standedge, and Hind Hill on Castleshaw Moor, the northernmost point of the walk.
The Oldham Way then continues west through Denshaw and to the north of Shaw before turning south at Tandle Hill Country Park. The route continues south through Chadderton and Failsworth before turning east toward Littlemoss, passing through the Medlock Valley to cross the Tame Valley north of Mossley, and finally returning to Dove Stone Reservoir. The Oldham Way offers a diverse mix of moorland, valley trails, canal towpaths, and urban greenways.