Name: Rooley Moor and Cowpe Lowe
Start: 2025-03-23T10:00:00+00:00
End: 2025-03-23T15:00:00+00:00
Location: Healey Dell Nature Reserve

This Moderate, 9 mile (20km) route, in Rossendale, is steeped in history amid a rugged landscape. The moorland here is littered with historic tramways, old quarries, abandoned farmsteads, and more recently huge turbines, harvesting the wind. Its a majestic place with a rough beauty that inspired the Lancashire poet Edwin Waugh.
We will ascend the Cotton Famine Way (Rooley Moor Road) from Cowpe up to Top of Leach and continue round to the isolated memorial - Waugh's well. From here we'll descend on a rough track before climbing to the flat topped Cowpe Lowe, overlooking the Rossendale Valley
With 1,300ft (390m) of ascent this is best suited to people with moderate to good fitness levels. We will be aiming to walk this in 5 hours, including rest / lunch breaks.
The terrain will be a mix of old quarry roads and farm tracks with some short sections through tussocky moorland grass. There will be some stiles of various levels of awkwardness and some boggy bits (unless the weather dramatically improves), so good, sturdy walking boots are recommended.
Well behaved, friendly (with other dogs and people), agile dogs are welcome (max. 2 per person), but please note we are likely to encounter livestock enroute.
As with all Abigail's Trails, this is a small-group guided walk led by a professional Mountain Leader. Spaces are limited and cost £15 per person.
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Further instructions and kit list will be emailed to you before the date.