First discovering this gem only last year when lockdowns were restricting our walks to the local area, the trail around Haslingden Grane has quickly become one of our favourites.
The circular route spans three glistening reservoirs, dramatic quarries, diverse woodland and open moorlands all in the space of just 9 kilometers – perfect for a weekend ramble!
Parking and starting the Haslingden Grane Walk
While the standard route has you begin at Clough Head Café carpark, we actually prefer to start the trail from The Holden Arms pub.
It’s much easier to find a parking spot here and also means the café is then strategically situated half way around the walk – great for stretching those legs or stopping for a cheeky brew break ☕
Route Info
Route Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 9 km (5.59 miles)
Route Elevation: 111 m
Route Time: 2-4 hrs
Starting Point: Clough Head Car Park, 462 Grane Road, Haslingden, Rossendale, Lancashire, BB4 4AT
*Our Secret Starting Point: Holden Arms Pub, Grane Road, Haslingden, Rossendale, Lancashire, BB4 4PD
The Lost Village of Haslingden Grane
It’s not just the cracking scenery that makes this walk one of our local favourites however; the forgotten history of the area is equally captivating.
In the middle of the nineteenth century before the reservoirs were built, Haslingden Grane actually had a flourishing community, with many of the inhabitants living in a place known as Grane Village.
Grane Village was notorious for its illegal whisky distilling (known locally as ‘whisky spinning’). These tax-evading distillers became so widespread around Haslingden that an excise officer even had to be permanently stationed in the area between 1834-1848!
Sadly, all that remains of Grane Village today are several ruins dotted along the trail, one of these being the Hartley House pictured below:
Haslingden Grane Quarries
Along the walk, you’ll also be taken around the local quarries, renowned for producing a unique form of flagstone named Haslingden Flag. Railways transported huge quantities of this all over the country in the nineteenth century. The stone was was even used in the paving of London, most notably Trafalgar Square.
How long is the Haslingden Grane circular walk?
Coming in at just 9 kilometers in length, the walk isn’t particularly difficult or long and should be fine for most walking abilities. At a leisurely pace, we can usually finish in around three hours.
The paths are relatively flat and clearly marked for most part, although there are a few sections where you have to traipse through fields which can get quite muddy – so be sure to pack those walking boots.
If you fancy trekking around Haslingden Grane, you can find all the route info here.
Calf Hey Reservoir Walk
For those who fancy a less strenuous stroll, it’s also really easy to cut this route short.
The Calf Hey reservoir walk is perhaps the most popular shorter variation – a pleasant 3.7km circular ramble that takes you around the reservoir and through the surrounding forest.
This allows you to take in many of the spectacular views without having to loop around the whole of Haslingden Grane. Great for families or those who struggle with longer distances.
If you opt for this trail, the best parking spot would be the Clough Head carpark. The parking here is free, but the gates do shut at 5:00pm so make sure you’re back in time!
Alternatively, there’s also the Calf Hey carpark, but this doesn’t have too many spots and also charges a small fee.
*£1 for first 2 hours or £1.50 for over 2 hours
Starting Point: Clough Head Car Park, 462 Grane Road, Haslingden, Rossendale, Lancashire, BB4 4AT
For full route info on the Calf Hey reservoir walk, you can click here.
More resources
For more great reservoir walks, be sure to trawl through our list of the very best reservoirs in the Manchester & Lancashire area here.
Likewise, if you’re after more outdoor wonder in Haslingden, why not head on over to the Haslingden Halo sculpture?
Resembling the uncanny resemblance of a flying saucer and lighting up in a bright blue hue above the Rossendale valley at night; you’d easily mistake the thing for a UFO if you didn’t know any better!
Happy walking 🚶🚶