Pub Walks with Chris Morris
Saddleworth Circular

PLEASE REMEMBER: Details accurate at time of writing

January and February are great months for a pub walk. The weather might be cold, but wrapping up warm and going on a brisk stroll to some excellent pubs is guaranteed to lift any winter gloom. This walk is along a lovely stretch of the Huddersfield Canal.

Train Information

Purchase a return ticket to Greenfield. A good connection from Manchester Piccadilly means it often only takes 50 minutes to get to Greenfield from Stockport. There are one or two trains every hour from Piccadilly all week. For full timetable information visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.

The Walk

This is an easy three mile canal walk with an optional extra half mile. The OS Map is OL1 The Peak District (OS app also available).

Turn right on exiting Greenfield Station and walk down the hill. As the road bends sharply to the left, cross over to the opposite pavement and carry on down Chew Valley Road. After 100 yards, the canal will pass underneath. To avoid crossing the busy road, walk down the steps on the right to the canal path and under the bridge (number 80). Continue along the path keeping the canal on your left for half a mile. When the path reaches a main road, cross over to the other side via the traffic island and continue along the canal path, now with the canal on your right. At bridge 77, cross over the canal and continue along the path with the canal on your left again. After walking under the impressive Saddleworth viaduct, some public toilets can be found just before bridge 73. After a further 100 yards, the canal path passes through a car park. Keep to the left side and rejoin the canal path. Just before bridge 70, climb up the path almost behind your to the right. At the top, turn left and walk over the cobbled bridge. The Navigation Inn can now be seen ahead of you.

The Navigation Inn

Navigation Inn - Dobcross Built in 1806 to quench the thirst of canal-building navvies, it still offers a welcome pint today. Listed in the Good Beer Guide, there is always a good selection of cask beers here. These were from Millstone, Adnams and Timothy Taylor’s when I last visited. Good food is also available. Opening hours are noon to 3pm and 5pm onwards during the week, noon to 11pm on Saturdays and noon to 8.30pm on Sundays.

After leaving the pub, there is a decision to make. You can retrace your steps back along the canal to bridge 77 and explore Uppermill (continue to Uppermill paragraph below). Alternatively, if it is a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, you are feeling energetic and the weather is kind, there is the option to climb up to Dobcross Square and the impressive Swan Inn. For this route, turn left out of the pub and walk along the pavement for 100 yards, then around to the left and up Sugar Lane. Dobcross Square is at the top of the hill with the Swan Inn on the right.

Swan - Dobcross

The Swan Inn

Built in 1765, this handsome stone pub has a rich history and is well worth seeking out. Up to five cask beers are available from the Marston’s stable. Food is also a speciality. The pub is open all day Friday to Sunday but only from 4pm Monday to Thursday.

After the pub, retrace your steps down Sugar Lane but when the road bends to the left, take the path signed Nicker Brow to the right and then go left down the hill. Carry straight on down the lane through metal bollards until it meets a road at the bottom. Cross here and take the pavement to the left, over the canal, right at the road junction and right again back to the public toilets and down the steps to rejoin the canal.

Uppermill

Whichever route you took, you now walk back under the viaduct towards Uppermill and bridge 77. Here there is the option of exiting the canal to the left, along Moorgate Street, to explore the delights of Uppermill with its numerous cafés, restaurants, bespoke shops and a number of excellent pubs. The Albion Tap is in the Good Beer Guide and is recommended, having an excellent selection of up to four cask beers – usually from Donkeystone, Millstone and other local breweries.

After you have finished exploring, it is simply a question of rejoining the canal back to Greenfield, where, if further refreshment is required, the Wellington Inn on Chew Valley Road is highly recommended. A range of up to eight cask beers is available, always in great condition and justifying its Good Beer Guide status. The reasonably priced food is also highly regarded.

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