When most Mancs think of going for a walk around a reservoir, their minds will leap to Dovestones on the edge of the Peak District, or maybe Rivington, or even Ladybower Reservoir just off Snake Pass.
But to anyone who has yet to venture to one of Rochdale’s finest bodies of water, you’re really missing out.
Greenbooth Reservoir is one of Greater Manchester’s most underrated country walks, and it’s got a bit of everything.
There’s the water – obviously – but also a hidden waterfall, easy-to-follow walking routes, and incredible views all the way to Manchester in the distance.
At this time of year, the leaves on the trees burn in a hundred shades of orange, yellow and red, and the golden hour light reflects beautifully off the water.
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Along the walk, you’ll encounter sheep, huge wind turbines, and staggering vistas.
Greenbooth in summer. Credit: The Manc GroupGreenbooth in the autumn
The site is actually made up of four reservoirs – Naden Higher, Naden Middle, Naden Lower and Greenbooth reservoir – sandwiched in the Naden Valley above Norden.
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The working reservoirs are under the care of United Utilities, and there’s a free-of-charge car park for visitors to take advantage of.
From the car park, you can walk in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction – either walking through the trees to the southern-most point of Greenbooth Reservoir, or heading to the point where the Lower and Middle Naden reservoirs meet.
The biggest loop here goes around all four expanses of water, with the footpath essentially carved into the hillside in places and small footbridges leaping over streams.
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In the south-western tip of Greenbooth Reservoir, where there now stands an estate of huge houses, is a waterfall that cascades down the rocks into the water below.
You can see it from the footpath and from the bridges around, but be careful of trying to get too close – it can get a bit muddy and treacherous.
You’ll need to take similar care if you fancy your chances with the sloping patch of grass leading up to Naden Higher, which can get seriously slippy when it’s been raining.
There are secrets hiding beneath the surface of the water too – a sunken 1950s village, which before it was flooded was made up of around 80 cottages, a sweet shop, a Co-op store and a school.
Greenbooth village was abandoned and mostly demolished to make way for the reservoir, which was needed for the booming population in Rochdale.
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If you’re keen to head out for some fresh air, this AllTrails map will help you find your way.
Featured image: The Manc Group
News
Salford Red Devils granted another adjournment over unpaid debts
Danny Jones
Salford Red Devils have been given one more adjournment and yet another stay of execution, being given another two weeks to find the money to cover their unpaid debts.
The local rugby league side, which has been wrapped in all manner of struggles both on and off-pitch over the past year or so, reportedly needs to pay around £700,000 to HMRC alone and still owes roughly £5 million in total to various creditors.
To no surprise, regular matchgoers, neutrals and even rivals alike have expressed their continued disappointment with the club, mainly at the lack of transparency and clarity from the organisation throughout this long, drawn-out process.
This is coming from a wire fan but no club deserves to be left in the dark even longer than they already have done it’s nothing but a disgrace to the sport of rugby those owners and the court should be ashamed of themselves.
Updating fans on social media, this is all the information they have communicated at this time: “Salford Red Devils can confirm that HMRC have granted the club a two-week adjournment, providing additional time in which to secure the necessary funds.
“We would like to reassure supporters that we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure a positive resolution. Further updates will be shared as soon as possible.”
It’s worth noting that the current owners have reiterated that they inheited around £3m in existing debt before they took over the club, but assurances over their own investments have still come to nothing; meanwhile, with many still waiting on wages, players and staff alike have now left.
Having been propped up by loan players and emergency loans, the team is now closer to a skeleton crew than it is an outfit capable of competing in the premier division.
Either way, the outrage remains and is only growing stronger. One user wrote on X: “A good approach by them if they was legit would be to engage and bring in The 1873 to bridge the communication black hole (they created).
“The problem with that is if they did it would expose them for what they are… Extortionists using the club as a vehicle.”
More alarm bells were raised recently when assistant coach and Krisnan Inu – who was also director of the company set up to take over the business – withdrew himself from a key position behind the scenes.
Speaking of The 1873, the outspoken supporters trust took no time at all in issuing a response of their own, adding: “The judge presiding over today’s case has adjourned by 14 days. This adjournment has dragged the uncertainty on even longer.
“Every delay makes planning for 2026 harder and keeps the club stuck in limbo when it desperately needs clarity and direction.
“The fans, the players and the future all deserve better — The 1873.”
You can see the rest of their statement in full down below, but for now, what do you make of this seemingly neverending saga, Salfordians?
‘Christmas chaos’ on the cards as Manchester tram drivers vote on staging strike action next month
Emily Sergeant
There could be major disruption to festive travel in Greater Manchester next month, as hundreds of tram drivers are currently voting on whether to strike.
Almost 320 tram drivers are being balloted over working conditions and fears around fatigue.
The drivers – who are members of the union, Unite – all work for KeolisAmey Metrolink Limited at the Warwick Road South and Queens Road depots in Manchester – and they operate trams on all routes in Greater Manchester.
As it stands, the drivers’ shift patterns currently mean they have to work 450 hours over a 12-week period, which results in some having to work 50 hours on, followed by just two days off, then back into another 50-hour work pattern.
Drivers also have fewer rest days compared to all other operational departments, and this is said to be causing safety concerns around fatigue.
‘Christmas chaos’ is on the cards as Manchester tram drivers are currently voting on staging strike action next month / Credit: TfGM
Drivers say they concerned about operating heavy vehicles while exhausted and unable to have proper breaks, but after raising the issue with management, Unite has been told there is ‘no funding available’ to support any ‘meaningful’ improvements to working patterns.
Instead, management has asked drivers to start work earlier – which Unite says is only ‘adding insult to injury’.
The ballot is set to close on 11 November, and if drivers vote in favour of industrial action, strikes could then begin in late November, causing widespread cancellations and delays throughout the region during the busy festive shopping period – particularly coinciding with Manchester’s world-famous Christmas Markets, known for attracting millions of visitors to the city each year.
“Any strike action will cause a great deal of disruption but it is entirely the fault of Metrolink, which is not taking the issue of driver fatigue seriously,” commented Unite Regional Officer, Colin Hayden.
Daisy Jackson -
25th November 2022 
