Touchstones Rochdale - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

The Rochdale Canal runs for 33 miles between Manchester and Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire, UK. In Sowerby Bridge it connects with the Calder and Hebble Navigation. In Manchester it connects with the Ashton and Bridgewater Canals. The canal was re-opened to navigation along its entire length in July 2002 and forms part of the South Pennine Ring.

Healey Dell is a beauty spot and wildlife sanctuary rich in industrial archaeology, 2 miles from Rochdale town centre on the way to Whitworth and Bacup. The River Spodden has carved its way through the woodlands down thousands of years, creating delightful scenery and spectacular waterfalls which once powered ancient corn, wool and cotton mills.

Hollingworth Lake is a man-made lake which spans 118 acres. It was originally built as the main water source for the Rochdale Canal during the 19th century. The lake was originally built as the main water source for the Rochdale Canal, but developed as a tourist resort from the 1860s, and became known as the Weighver's Seaport.

Gallery Oldham provides a wide range of exhibitions and activities targeted at different audiences of all ages. With no permanent displays and four temporary galleries to fill, Gallery Oldham has one of the busiest exhibition programs in the region. Exhibitions mix touring shows with work from the gallery's own collection of art, social history, and natural history.

Bury Market is an open-air market in the town of Bury, Lancashire, England. The market is one of the largest and most popular in Greater Manchester and home to the Bury delicacy of black pudding. Featuring a meat and fish hall and an indoor and outdoor market, it was named best in the country in 2006 and regularly wins awards. It attracts an estimated 250,000 shoppers a week.

Blackstone Edge is a gritstone escarpment rising to 1549 feet above sea level in the South Pennine hills, surrounded by moorland on the boundary between Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire in northern England. With a summit peaking at 349m, Blackstone Edge is ideally situated to capture the winds that blow across the Pennines, and the three turbines generate enough electricity to power an estimated 4,544 homes.