Godley Hill

The walk up Godley Hill from Greenfield is deceptively short but gains height properly. You're looking at a steep push through farmland and moorland that takes maybe forty minutes if you're moving at a steady pace. The summit itself is modest - a trig point on open moorland rather than dramatic peaks, but the views across the Pennines are genuinely strong. On a clear day you see right across to Kinder Scout and into Derbyshire. It's the kind of place where clouds can roll in fast, so check the weather first.

This works well for families with older kids who don't mind a bit of effort, and for walkers using it as a leg of a longer Pennine route. Younger children might find the steep bits a slog without much to see when they get there - just moorland and sky. Photographer types will like the late afternoon light here; there's something about how it hits the ridge.

It's free and takes the best part of an afternoon once you factor in the walk down. The gradient matters more than the distance, so don't underestimate it. If you're staying at Dovestone Holiday Park, which sits at the foot of the hills six miles away, this is a natural extension to a park break. Godley Hill works as a morning or early afternoon outing, leaving time to explore Greenfield itself or tackle longer walks in the Saddleworth area. Worth doing once, though it's not the sort of summit you'll rush back to immediately.