| Page Views: 3,316 Last Visit to Saddleworth: June, 2004 | Saddleworth- Much More than a Moor! by suvanki - last update: Jan 21, 2008 |
Walking with Llamas!! | Sadleworth Llama Trekking |
Saddleworth Moor can be wild and rugged. On the day I visited it was hot n sunny with blue skies and views for miles around!
About 1.30 hours from Manchester, just over 2 hours from Sheffield. Oldham, Rochdale and Huddersfield being nearby towns. Car or foot being the easiest way to arrive. Not sure yet of the bus times/frequency etc (but I'll try and find out!)
Saddleworth Moor is vast, the area I visited was around the villages of Denshaw and Delph.
The purpose of my visit? To join an organised Llama trek! I'd read about Llama treks in other areas of Britain, and had fancied the idea for a while. So when the opportunity arose, I didn't hesitate.
Saddleworth Llama Trekking is the company, details can be found by emailing-
saddleworth@llamatrekking.demon.co.uk
See my must see tips for more details
I thoroughly enjoyed my day out, and it's prompted me to return again, to explore more of the countryside, and the villages. |
| Delph village, Llama rest |
|  | Saddleworth-Location and History Saddleworth is a group of small villages that borders both Yorkshire and Lancashire, with over half of its vast uninterrupted 18,000 acres of Moorland being over 1,000 feet above sea level.
Historically, this area was seen as a township in the Agbrigg Wapentake of The West Riding of Yorkshire, it was also a Chapelry in the Parish of Rochdale until 1869, when it achieved Parish status. Rochdale, being in Lancashire! Saddleworth is now administered by the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham (Lancs.)
Interestingly, the boundaries were never formally abolished, and until recently Saddleworth was in the unique position of providing players for both Yorks and Lancs cricket clubs!!
The area has traditionally had more of an industrial than agricultural background.
With the industrial revolution, weavers cottage industries made way for the cotton and woolen mills, as water supplies were sought for production purposes, followed by canal and road building for transportation of goods to the cities and ports.
Following the decline of the wool and cotton industries, many of Saddleworths inhabitants have returned to home run or office based businesses.
Saddleworth has some of the best examples of English industrial villages to be seen |
Community activities The villages of Saddleworth have a feeling of a strong community. You only have to glimpse at notices posted in the shops to see an array of clubs and organisations advertising their upcoming events.
The day I visited, there had been a sponsored fancy dress walk around Delph, and later that afternoon there was to be a duck race!
Whilst looking at a Saddleworth website, I found out that the area holds quite a few annual festivals, including a beer walk, a folk festival and the Whit Friday Walk, Rushcart festival and a large Brass Band Contest, as well as many folk dances.
Hopefully I'll get to see at least one of these events next year. I've put details of these on my local customs tips.
The people of Saddleworth are justifiably proud of their heritage and traditions, along with the stunning countryside, of this area of Northern England. | | |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "Stunning Scenery, Llamas!!, History and traditions." | | Cons: | "Weather can be rough!" | | In A Nutshell: | "A chance to try something different!" |
suvanki's Saddleworth Travel Tips
 Comments for suvanki about Saddleworth | | | | |
mickeyboy07 Tue Aug 25, 2009 18:18 UTC
Ah Saddleworth,just 5 mins away,been to many a band contest and beer walks,great fun....hic | adelaidean Wed Mar 28, 2007 23:58 UTC
Hi Sue...what a great page...I want to do the beer walk!!!!! lol | tini58de Sat Oct 9, 2004 17:23 UTC
Lllamas in the middle of Great Britain????? hmmmmmmm - looks like an interesting destination! Thanks for sharing, Sue! | sue_stone Fri Oct 8, 2004 20:59 UTC
Hi Sue. Really interesting page! Gotta love the Llamas!!! |
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