Black Chew Head

Black Chew Head stands on the moors of Saddleworth, a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham. It is the highest point in Greater Manchester, rising 542 metres above sea level. The hill sits on the edge of the Peak District, close to the Derbyshire border. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it became a county top in 1974. The landscape around it is wild and open, with no nearby settlements. The hill overlooks two valleys: the Chew Valley to the east and north, and Crowden Great Brook to the south. Dovestones Reservoir lies at the foot of the Chew Valley, providing a striking contrast to the moorland. The Pennine Way passes just east of the summit, linking Crowden to Black Hill. Walkers can reach the top from several directions, including from Dovestones Reservoir or the A635 road. The summit itself was untouched by the 2018 wildfire on Saddleworth Moor. Visitors find a simple trig point marking the highest point of Greater Manchester. The surrounding moorland stretches in all directions, offering wide views across the Peak District. The air is often fresh and clear, with few distractions from modern life. The landscape changes with the seasons, from purple heather in late summer to frosty expanses in winter. The silence is broken only by the wind and the occasional birdcall. It is a place where the scale of the land feels both humbling and inspiring.