Alderman’s Hill Walk (+ Saddleworth Trig) From Greenfield | 3 or 5 Mile Route

A lovely short walk from Binn Green car park, Greenfield near Dovestone Reservoir in the Greater Manchester part of the Peak District.

Whilst most walkers head off towards Dovestone Reservoir, this walk takes you in the opposite direction for a quieter route with equally spectacular views. It’s a circular 3-mile walk, however, if you are visiting all 88 Peak District trig points in our challenge you can add a 2-mile out and back to Saddleworth Trig Point on the walk.

From Binn Green car park, you cross the road, heading along a track round to the Obelisk (WWI + WWII memorial) then via the Oldham Way to Sugar Loaf hill, (where you can add the 2-mile detour to Saddleworth Trig) before looping back for amazing views from Alderman’s Hill then down to the start.

Here you will find details on how to get to the start of the walk at Binn Green, route information, a map, a GPX file, plus a detailed step-by-step guide of the walk.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve done this walk and what you think!

Buy a printable/downloadable PDF route guide for the walk here.

Alderman’s Hill from Greenfield

gpx file

Alderman’s Hill walk map

© Crown copyright and database rights (2024) OS 002572460

Walk start point

Start grid reference: SE 01773 04466

Car parking address: Binn Green car park, off Holmfirth Road, Oldham, OL3 7NN

This is a small free car park on the A 635, which can get pretty busy at weekends if it’s full there are lay-bys along the road where people park. There is also a second car park at Dove Stone Reservoir, Greenfield which is a paid car park.

Public transport

Unfortunately, there are no suitable public transport options for this walk. From Manchester, it’s approximately 15 miles/45 minutes taxi drive.

Facilities on the walk

Unfortunately, the public toilets are now permanently closed at Binn Green car park, due to vandalism. There are no other facilities on the walk.

Water on your walk – I recommend a filter water bottle for your Peak District walks, it saves you from carrying extra weight and you can fill up safely and drink water from the streams on your walk.

Other useful information

Once away from the car park, you are up high for the majority of this route so warm layers are handy to take as it can be cold at the top.

Would you know what to do in an emergency situation?

We have a guide with what to do, who you need to call and also some useful kit that should be in your backpack. Ask us any questions in the comments or via our social media.

Happy hiking + stay safe

read here

Peak District weather

Check the weather for your walk location and hills. We’d recommend that you check a few resources and for hill walks look at the weather conditions in the valley and on the hilltop as they can greatly vary.

• BBC Weather for Greenfield
• Met Office weather and/or MWIS (Mountain weather information service) for the Peak District
• Met Office weather for Alphin Pike (Greater Manchester)

Ordnance Survey walk map

The map for this walk is the Ordnance Survey OL1 – Peak District (Dark Peak Area).

View the different prices here with Ordnance Survey or Amazon. If you’re hiking in all weather the Active OS maps are good to have as they are laminated so better on rainy days.

And don’t forget your compass, I recommend the Silva Expedition or the Silva Classic compass.

For online maps, I recommend OS Online App (I have been using it for many years and it is worth getting if you want to start walking more). Check prices here for the one-month or annual option with OS Online App. All the walks on the website are created using OS Online + you can download them to the App.

See both maps that cover the Peak District here.

Want to learn more map skills? Check out our Guided Walks with map reading skills here.

Alderman’s Hill Walk Route

Stage 1 – Binn Green to Obelisk

Distance: 1.3 miles/2 km

Grid reference SE 01772 04421

From Binn Green car park, walk back up towards the entrance by the road. Cross the road and you’ll see a small metal gate next to a wider one. Go through here and walk up the track. Remain on the track as it heads upwards then flattens out with stunning views of the reservoir on your left.

The track narrows between two stone walls and then bends around to the right. Keep walking until you see another track on your right, with a wooden fence with a green sign for the Peak District Boundary walk heading uphill. Take this track heading uphill, which turns into a grassy path, and you’ll see the Obelisk on the hill in the distance.

Go through the two stone pillars and follow the path between two more stone walls until another gap in the wall with a green sign. Take either narrow path heading uphill, they both meet up, and follow it round. You’ll bear round to the left before the last uphill section to the rocks known as Pots n Pans and the Obelisk.

Stage 2 – Obelisk to Sugar Loaf

Distance: 0.4 mile/0.7 km

Grid reference SE 01020 05114

Once you’ve explored the Obelisk, maybe stop for a rest on the bench, and you’ll continue your walk. The path continues on the opposite side of the Obelisk where there’s a metal fence. Head towards the end of the fence and a large stone signpost (Oldham Way).

Take the path on the right heading down to a wide metal gate. Go over the stile next to the gate and continue on the track for about 300 m. You’ll then see a tall post with a reflector on top (no idea what it’s for!). In front is Sugar Loaf Hill- not as impressive as the one in South Africa!

Here’s where you can detour to Saddleworth Trig point or continue on to Alderman’s Hill.

Even if you don’t want to detour, it’s a pretty view from Shaw Rocks, in the photo above.

Optional extra – Sugar Loaf to Saddleworth Trig

Distance: 2 miles/3.2 km

Grid reference SE 01493 05500

Turn left down the path, it goes between two large boulders (little and large) towards an outcrop of rocks (Shaw Rocks). Follow the path along, you’ll come to a wooden fence to climb over* (no stile here) and the green signpost for the Boundary Walk.

Keep walking and the path dips, but keep heading in the same direction, alongside a stone wall. There’s another fence to cross, but this was broken at the time of my walk, and then there’s another one to climb over* further down.

Then as the wall ends, you’ll see two faint tracks (higher or lower) but they both end up in the same place. From here you should be able to see the Saddleworth trig point ahead of you on Broadstone Hill.

*Both fences are on Open Access land so it’s fine to climb over.

Once you’ve reached the trig, retrace your route back to Shaw Rocks and the two large boulders.

Stage 3 – Sugar Loaf to Alderman’s Hill

Distance: 0.6 miles/1 km

Grid reference SE 01493 05500

If you’re continuing the walk, you’ll turn right here. Or if you’re returning from the detour, you’ll continue walking straight on.

You’ll head over another bump, known as Dick Hill, a rather large flat hilltop. Keep walking until you reach the edge on the other side of the plateau, where there’s a group of rocks, perfect for some shelter on a windy day.

Turn right here and follow the path alongside the edge, it dips down, then back up again towards Alderman’s Hill. From here you have stunning views of Dovestone Reservoir below, and you’ll even see the car park!

Stage 4 – Alderman’s Hill to Binn Green

Distance: 0.4 mile/.7 km

Grid reference SE 01545 04590

After enjoying the beautiful views from Alderman’s Hill, pick up the path behind the rocks continuing along the edge heading gradually downhill. You’ll then turn left to intercept the path heading downhill towards the reservoir.

Follow this path down alongside the stone wall all the way to the end where there’s a wooden stile over the fence taking you back onto the track.

Turn left down the track, go through the gate, across the road and you’re back at the car park!

Ask me questions about the route in the comments below.

Other options for this walk

Extend the walk

See the option included for adding the 2 miles to Saddleworth Trig. Click here for the online map or GPX file for this extended route.

More walks in the Peak District

Love the short walks in the Peak District? You might like these circular walks.

• Magpie Mine Short Walk From Ashford-in-the-Water | 5.5 Mile Route
• Higher Shelf Stones Circular Walk (+ Plane Crash Site) | 6-Mile Walk
• Lathkill Dale Walk (+ Waterfall) From Monyash | 4-Mile Route

Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here

View walks directory here

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