Photo: Tim Green from Bradford, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Rochdale Canal runs between Manchester and Sowerby Bridge in Northern England, named after the town of Rochdale through which it passes. Sowerby Bridge, Walsden, Mills Hill (Manchester) and Deansgate stations give train access to the towpath.
There are 13 stations within reach of the Rochdale Canal: within 2 miles of it, or half a mile in towns.
The Rochdale Canal runs about 33 miles in our route data, including any river sections it follows. The stations below are in order along it.
Rochdale Canal train stations
- Deansgate
- Littleborough
- Smithy Bridge
- Castleton (Manchester)
- Walsden
- Manchester Oxford Road0.1 mi (about 0.1 mi on foot)
- Todmorden0.1 mi (about 0.1 mi on foot)
- Mills Hill (Manchester)0.1 mi (about 0.1 mi on foot)
- Hebden Bridge0.1 mi (about 0.1 mi on foot)
- Sowerby Bridge0.1 mi (about 0.1 mi on foot)
- Mytholmroyd0.1 mi (about 0.2 mi on foot)
- Manchester Piccadilly0.1 mi (about 0.2 mi on foot)
- Rochdale0.3 mi (about 0.4 mi on foot)
Walking distances are estimates from the straight-line distance and the type of ground, not a measured route. Check a map before you set off.
Station-to-station walks
Walk the towpath from one station and catch the train back from another. Each station is shown with its nearest walk in each direction along the Rochdale Canal, from 4 to 20 miles. Miles include the walk to and from each station.
| From | To | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sowerby Bridge | Hebden Bridge | 5.5 mi | about 2 hours |
| Mytholmroyd | Todmorden | 6.5 mi | about 2 hours |
| Hebden Bridge | Todmorden | 5 mi | about 1.5 hours |
| Hebden Bridge | Walsden | 6 to 6.5 mi | about 2 hours |
| Todmorden | Littleborough | 6 mi | about 2 hours |
| Walsden | Littleborough | 4.5 mi | about 1.5 hours |
| Walsden | Smithy Bridge | 5.5 mi | about 2 hours |
| Walsden | Rochdale | 8.5 mi | about 3 hours |
| Littleborough | Castleton (Manchester) | 5.5 mi | about 2 hours |
| Smithy Bridge | Castleton (Manchester) | 4.5 mi | about 1.5 hours |
| Rochdale | Mills Hill (Manchester) | 5.5 mi | about 2 hours |
| Castleton (Manchester) | Manchester Piccadilly | 10.5 mi | about 3.5 hours |
| Mills Hill (Manchester) | Manchester Piccadilly | 7 to 7.5 mi | about 2.5 hours |
| Mills Hill (Manchester) | Manchester Oxford Road | 7.5 mi | about 2.5 hours |
| Mills Hill (Manchester) | Deansgate | 8 mi | about 2.5 hours |
Walks onto other canals
Start on the Rochdale Canal and finish on another canal, changing at the junction where they meet.
| From | To | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mills Hill (Manchester) | Fairfieldon the Ashton Canal | 11.5 mi | about 4 hours |
| Manchester Piccadilly | Navigation Roadon the Bridgewater Canal | 9 mi | about 3 hours |
| Mytholmroyd | Brighouseon the Calder and Hebble Navigation | 11 mi | about 3.5 hours |
Times use Naismith's rule and don't include stops.
Canal routes and towpaths © OpenStreetMap contributors.