Greenfield is one of seven villages nestling amongst the 18,000 acres of moorland hills, open fields and scenic valleys that comprise the Saddleworth area. These Pennine villages have a wool spinning and agricultural heritage dating back to the Industrial Revolution, but today Saddleworth has evolved into an attractive South Pennine and Peak District National Park area with breathtaking views and glorious stone-built buildings. Greenfield is a thriving little village with a good range of amenities, and well placed to explore the South Pennine region. Greenfield has Saddleworth’s largest park in Churchill Playing Fields, which includes a skateboard park and tennis courts. It also has the canal marina and Saddleworth’s train station, which is an extremely popular stopping off point on the ‘Real Ale Rail Trail’ and offers easy access into Manchester for a city visit. Live entertainment at local pubs includes folk, rock, jazz and classical guitar concerts, and the ‘Off the Rails’ comedy club.
Saddleworth is home to a wide range of festivals and community events, the most famous of which is the Whit Friday Band contest, which attracts the UK’s and Europe’s top brass bands and was the backdrop to the film ‘Brassed Off’. Another well loved film ‘Yanks’ was set in Saddleworth and is also commemorated by a major weekend festival.
Almost every weekend features a visitor attraction, be it a canal festival, vintage car rally, the Saddleworth Rushcart procession, real ale festival, morris dancing competition or the well regarded Farmer’s Market. Nearby attractions include Dovestones Reservoir for boating and walks, and the Castleshaw Valley with an interpretation trail for a Roman fort, the highest of a series built on the Roman military road from Chester to York.
