Nestled within the snowy rolling hills of the Pennine countryside lies the quaint town of Littleborough.
With Manchester just a short train ride away and an abundance of independent shops, bars and restaurants, it’s no wonder locals are glad to call the flourishing town home.
Located just three miles east of Rochdale, Littleborough can be found set beneath sweeping hills and wild moorland – providing picturesque settings for wintry walks, cycling or horse-riding. In 2001, Littleborough and its suburbs of Calderbrook, Shore and Smithy Bride had a population of just 13,807.
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The Manchester Evening News took a trip to the town on a cold December afternoon to find out what it’s like to live there. While most agreed Littleborough is a lovely place, there’s one downside which “ruins” the area.
Jaqueline Tomasso has lived in Littleborough for 30 years. “Everyone is extremely friendly,” she told the M.E.N . “We’ve got lots of small shops and we’ve got supermarkets.
“If you’re fit, there are loads of walks and activities. There are all sorts of community groups so you can go and do knitting or technology. There’s loads going on.”
However, the 76-year-old says there’s one aspect of the town that lets it down. “The traffic,” Jaqueline added. “It’s like Wacky Races here. You get nutcases flying up and down the main road like idiots. The speeding has got worse, but it’s always been very busy.”
One resident, who did not wish to be named, described Littleborough as an “undiscovered” gem – with homes in the town being more reasonably priced than nearby Saddleworth.
“I like that it’s right on the edge of the countryside right on the Pennines,” he said. “You can walk straight out and be on the edge of it. I can see sheep from my window.
“The town is small enough that everyone knows each other to some degree. It’s very friendly. I grew up in Manchester and none of our neighbours talked to each other.
“It’s convenient in that you can be in Manchester in about 25 minutes and Leeds in less than an hour. It’s a bit undiscovered. It’s cool and urban but it’s also in the countryside.
“I suppose people don’t really know about it, it’s not a place people consider. Everyone knows Saddleworth, but it’s really expensive. Here, it’s reasonably priced.”
According to Zoopla’s 2020 House Price Index Report, demand in the borough of Rochdale was 55 per cent higher than the average recorded in 2019.
Of the 65 cities monitored for the report, Rochdale saw the highest annual price growth increasing by around 10 per cent – higher than anywhere else in the country.
Brenda Fallows, 81, has lived in Littleborough her entire life. “I love the people,” she said. “Because of the size, you have everything on your doorstep. You can also get on a train and get into Manchester very quickly.”
Littleborough is home to attractions including Hare Hill Park, a tranquil garden surrounded by historic parkland. There’s also Hollingworth Lake, a man-made lake built in the 19th century as the main water source for the Rochdale Canal.
Beryl Sweeney, 80, has lived in Littleborough for 48 years, originally born and raised in Manchester. She claims new houses are ruining the local area – having even protested against newbuilds in the past.
“I do like it,” she said. “There’s more to it than you realise. There are so many walking routes, the only trouble is they’re building that many houses and ruining it. The road is busy, but when they build hundreds of houses it’s going to be a nightmare.
“We protested because there’s a field opposite me and it’s ruining the wildlife. But it’s a lovely place to live, the people are very nice and a lot of people have come in from the outside.”
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