Greenfield

The Saddleworth Moors spread endlessly beyond this former mill town, where Victorian terraces climb steep hillsides towards proper Yorkshire countryside. Greenfield sits in a valley where the industrial past meets wild moorland - you'll find working mills alongside rambling routes that stretch for miles.

White Hill and Dean Head Hill offer cracking views across the Pennines, though you'll need proper walking boots for these climbs. The moors here are serious business, with peaks like Black Chew Head and Featherbed Moss marking ancient boundaries between Lancashire and Yorkshire. It's walking country at its finest.

Marsden station connects you to Manchester in under an hour, making this spot surprisingly accessible despite feeling properly remote. The Lime Kiln stands as a reminder of the area's industrial heritage, while the Memorial Cross for James Platt tells local stories worth knowing. Still Life gallery brings a bit of culture to the valley, though most visitors come for the outdoor pursuits.

Shops and cafes cluster around the main road, but midweek it's fairly quiet. The real draw lies beyond the town boundaries - those rolling moors that seem to go on forever, dotted with stone walls and crossed by ancient paths.

Staying at one of the nearby parks like Dovestone Holiday Park puts you right at the heart of walking country, with multiple peaks within easy reach. You're also well placed for day trips to both Manchester and the Yorkshire Dales, though once you're up on those moors, you might not want to come down.