UPDATE: |The ‘forgotten’ village on Manchester’s doorstep that’s popular with walkers and cyclists in the know News

It is located just north of Bolton, Greater Manchester

One Lancashire village close to Greater Manchester that has been “forgotten” about but makes a lovely day out is Edenfield.

Edenfield is a popular spot for tourists, walkers and cyclists alike with its rolling hills, stunning riverbank and breath-taking scenic walks with their hilltop views.

Sitting on the east bank of the River Irwell, the village is surrounded by rolling hills of the valley beyond, and to the east, the landscape of the area is dominated by Dearden Moor and Scout Moor, with Holcombe Moor with the Peel Monument, across the valley of the River Irwell to the west.

Market Street in the middle of the village acts as a thoroughfare for those working or living in some of the bigger parts of the area, including Bury, Rochdale and Rawtenstall.

Edenfield is special because not everyone is aware of the hidden gem of a village. Dan Wilcock is one half of the team behind The Coach pub, a popular spot for foodies in the area. As a huge advocate for the village, he says because of its location as a thoroughfare for major areas such as Manchester and Ramsbottom, it can sometimes be overlooked.

“The village is fantastic and it’s different from everything you’ve got on the doorstep,” he told LancsLive. “You’ve got Ramsbottom, which if you speak to the people there, they’re constantly debating whether they’re a village or a town.

“It’s a huge area, whereas Edenfield which is just on the doorstep, is almost like a hidden secret. It’s like a forgotten bit of the area – which suits us perfectly. We don’t get the hustle and bustle of a large village or a small town.”

On Edenfield as a community, Dan suggested it has it’s own unique charm. He said: “The village is fantastic and it’s different from everything you’ve got on the doorstep. You’ve got Ramsbottom, which if you speak to the people there, they’re constantly debating whether they’re a village or a town.

“It’s a huge area, whereas Edenfield which is just on the doorstep, is almost like a hidden secret. It’s like a forgotten bit of the area – which suits us perfectly. We don’t get the hustle and bustle of a large village or a small town.”

Local butcher, Michael Cook, says the village benefits from high footfall of visitors and villagers shopping in the area, particularly at the weekend. “The ready-to-cook meals are a big part of the business,” Michael told LancsLive.

“You can just buy, take the lid off and cook it at 180 – it’s pure convenience because people don’t have time to cook. I’ve got a lot of younger customers as well, but perhaps the older generation are more likely to go to butchers’ shops.

“I’ve got a younger group now, I’d say between 20-35 who care about what they eat, they want to be a bit healthier, know where their stuff comes from and the convenience of it. You can’t eat well and cook in short times.”

Local pharmacist Rachel Airiey says the shop has been a pharmacy for at least 50 years, around the time her own dad had a pharmacy of his own in Haslingden. “There is nowhere else in terms of healthcare in Edenfield,” Rachel said.

“At one time, they had a doctors’ surgery, which moved out into Rawtenstall. So now for the villagers, we’re pretty much the only place for if someone wants access to a health professional quickly, or if they want a little bit of advice or something that’s worrying them, we’re pretty much the only people here now.

“We get the prescriptions from the doctor’s surgeries, but everything else that we do here, so all the minor ailments consultations and some of the more serious stuff that comes through from Pharmacy First, we do. We do everything from travel clinics, to Covid jabs, flu jabs, we look after ear, throat and water infections.

“We do blood pressure checks and a weight loss clinics – we do pretty much everything.” Rachel says Edenfield has a wide range of people in the village, including families with tiny babies up to the older generation.

She is a third-generation pharmacist and modelled the shop to give off an older, apothecary vibe. Originally from Bury, Rachel was warned about moving over.

“My mum warned me about moving here,” Rachel said. “She said you’re going to get chilled to your bones, so whatever you do, get some good heating if you’re going to work over there.

The village of Edenfield is a popular spot for those in the know. Situated in Rossendale, on the east bank of the River Irwell, it’s surrounded by lush green countryside and rolling hills. Within the village itself, there’s plenty for residents, with it’s very own bakery, butchers, café and pharmacy, as well as an award-winning pub.”