Tandle Hill

Tandle Hill was used as a meeting place for political activists in the 19th century, and woodland was planted to discourage gatherings.

The land was donated to the people of Royton in 1919 as a peace offering following the First World War.

A war memorial was unveiled in 1921 at the highest point of the park. On clear days, views extend as far as the Welsh Mountains.

The park consists mainly of beech woodland and open grassland, offering a range of walking routes on both formal paths and informal woodland trails.

Much of the surrounding area is agricultural, with public footpaths providing access. In winter, the hill is popular for sledging.

Download a map of Tandle Hill

Facilities and recreation

• Café and toilets (open most weekends and school holidays - weather permitting)
• Children’s play area with sand play and basket swing
• Orienteering (Greater Manchester Orienteering Activities website)
• Walking

How to get there

Tandle Hill Country Park is located in the north east of Oldham near Royton. It lies about half a mile from Rochdale Road (A671) at the end of Tandle Hill Road, with additional access from Oozewood Road.

Bus routes

• 24 – Rochdale to Manchester (via Rochdale Road)
• 402 – Royton to Oldham (via Tandle Hill Road)
• 409 – Ashton to Rochdale (via Rochdale Road)

Car parks

The main car park is at the park entrance.

Toilets and refreshments

A café and toilets are available at the Countryside Centre.

Let's go for a walk

Green Walk

From the Countryside Centre, walk past the play area and turn right down the hill along the main tarmac path into the woodland.

Continue along the path toward the road, then uphill through the woodland until you reach a crossroads. Turn left and continue along the tarmac path until you emerge onto open grassland at the top of the hill.

Take in views across the valley towards Manchester. Walk down the hill and, at the bottom, turn left and cross the grassland to rejoin the tarmac path.

Follow the path back to the starting point near the Countryside Centre.

• Steps: 2,200
• Distance: 900 m
• Calories: 55
• Time: 45 minutes

Blue Walk

From the Countryside Centre, walk past the play area and turn right, heading downhill along the main tarmac path into the woodland.

Continue through the woodland and uphill until you reach a crossroads. Turn right and follow the path up the hill, then take a sharp left toward the monument.

At the viewpoint, look across the Pennine hills and towards Manchester. From the monument, descend the 101 steps and turn right through pine woodland, emerging onto grassland.

Follow the path across the grassland until you reach a tarmac path near a pond. Turn left and follow the path uphill into beech woodland.

Continue downhill through the woodland, turn right over a bridge, and rejoin the tarmac path. Follow this path back to the Countryside Centre.

• Steps: 3,200
• Distance: 1,300 m
• Calories: 79
• Time: 60 minutes

Map