Heritage Open Days 11–20 September 2026
Discover Rooley Moor – And Why It Needs You Now
Rooley Moor is one of Greater Manchester’s last intact upland peat landscapes – a place where centuries of working lives, craft, community and care are written directly into the land. This September, as part of the Heritage Open Days Festival, we invite you to explore that story through our self‑guided walk – Please click on the link to see the route:
Working Lives on the Moor
A 3.8‑mile circular route uncovering shepherding traditions, quarrying, upland farming, the iconic Cotton Famine Road, and the shared stewardship that has shaped this moor for generations.
It’s a chance to step into the past – but also to understand why Rooley Moor’s future hangs in the balance.
Why This Year Matters
Rooley Moor is facing an unprecedented threat from the proposed Scout Moor II industrial wind farm, a development that would fundamentally alter the landscape the Heritage Open Days Festival celebrates.
The current iteration of the wind farm proposal would:
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- Excavate and remove over 100,000 tonnes of peat, destroying a nationally significant carbon store.
- Introduce tens of thousands of tonnes of concrete and steel into a fragile acidic moorland ecosystem.
- Cut 15 km of new access tracks, opening up wider areas of the moor to disturbance.
- Permanently damage the historic Cotton Famine Road, an irreplaceable heritage asset.
This is not responsible renewable energy – it is the industrialisation of protected upland landscape and common land.
The next iteration of planning application and consultation is expected soon.
Walk the Moor. Understand Its Story. Help Protect Its Future.
Our Working Lives on the Moor trail is more than a walk – it is a living exhibition of the heritage now at risk. Along the route you’ll encounter:
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- The Cotton Famine Road, built by mill workers during the American Civil War, a symbol of resilience and solidarity.
- Cat Stones Quarry, where generations of quarrymen shaped the gritstone used across the region.
- Peat landscapes identified as among the most resilient in the UK, vital for biodiversity and climate stability.
- Moorland habitats that support skylarks, hares, and other upland wildlife already under pressure.
Every feature you see on this walk is part of a landscape that could be permanently changed if the wind farm goes ahead.
Join the Heritage Open Days Festival
Heritage Open Days is the UK’s largest celebration of history and culture – and Rooley Moor’s story is one of the most powerful examples of how heritage, environment and community intertwine.
Whether you’re a walker, a rider, a local resident, or simply someone who values open landscapes, this is the perfect moment to:
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- Explore the moor
- Learn its history
- Share its story
- Stand up for its future
How You Can Help
RMNF is raising funds for independent ecological and heritage reports, legal representation, and public campaigning to oppose Scout Moor II.
If you value Rooley Moor – its heritage, its wildlife, its open skies – please consider supporting the campaign.
Take the Walk. Spread the Word. Protect the Moor.
Rooley Moor has been shaped by working lives for centuries. Today, it needs help from all of us – walkers, residents, heritage lovers and conservationists – to ensure its story continues.
Start with the walk. Share the message. Help safeguard this extraordinary landscape. Please click on the link to see the route: