Surrounded by rolling hills and rugged moorland, Greenbooth reservoir feels as if it’s a world away from the urban sprawl of Greater Manchester. Yet despite its rural location it offers incredible views of the city.
A 15 minute drive from the centre of Rochdale, Greenbooth is one of four linked reservoirs - which also include Naden Higher, Naden Middle and Naden Lower, in the Naden Valley. It’s the largest of the four and has an interesting history to it.
Hidden in the depths of the reservoir is the remains of the village of Greenbooth, which was submerged during the 1960s. The village was built around a mill in the 1840s to accommodate workers, with around 80 homes in total.
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But when the mill ceased to operate in 1911, many locals moved away from Greenbooth to find jobs elsewhere. Heywood and Middleton Water Board took the decision to construct another reservoir to supply the growing population of Rochdale, and Greenbooth was chosen as the site.
In 1955 plans were confirmed to submerge the valley, when the village was demolished there were just 46 houses remaining. The reservoir was completed in 1963 and officially opened in August 1965.
Today there’s a plaque on the side of the reservoir dam wall which commemorates the village. There are paths you can follow around Greenbooth and the other three reservoirs.
For a more challenging walk you can circle all four of them, which takes around two hours. You can enjoy the gorgeous scenery along the way and you may even spot some sheep roaming around.
There is parking at the reservoir although it can get busy on weekends. It’s also important to wear suitable clothing and footwear as it can be windy on the moors, and muddy underfoot after recent rainfall.
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