Crompton Moor

Crompton Moor is a stretch of wild upland on the edge of Shaw and Crompton in Greater Manchester. It sits in the South Pennines, rising to 391 metres at Crow Knowl. The moor covers about sixty-five hectares and is managed by Oldham Countryside Service. It holds common land rights and has been a Site of Biological Importance since 2003. Purple moor grass and heather cover most of the open ground, while pine woods grow in parts. Red grouse, golden plover and meadow pipit live among these habitats. Evidence of Bronze Age visitors comes from a palstave axe found on the moor. In the 18th century farms spread across the land, leaving dry stone walls still visible today. A major fire in 1995 burned large areas of vegetation and peat for more than two weeks. Another wildfire in 2007 left further scars. Old quarries at Brushes Clough and Pingot were filled with water after quarrying ended in the 1970s. Crow Knowl summit has a telecommunications mast and an Ordnance Survey triangulation station. From this point the moor overlooks Rochdale, Manchester and Denshaw across Greater Manchester. A small waterfall drops from the moor into the disused Pingot Quarry, feeding the Old Brook which joins the River Beal. Reclaimed quarry land now offers paths for hiking, cycling, horse riding and orienteering. Brushes Clough Reservoir, built in the 19th century, lies at the edge of the moorland.