Going ahead this Saturday
No cancellation listed for Saturday 31 October.
Parkrun
Watergrove parkrun, Rochdale
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it's up to you! Nearby Sunday 2k junior parkrun events for 4 to 14 year olds and their families can be found here.
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United Kingdom
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England
- 5 kilometres
- Watergrove Reservoir
Meeting point: 53.65703, -2.13178. The interactive map loads with JavaScript. Open the same point in OpenStreetMap.
Coordinates 53.65703, -2.13178.
The course
Course description
The start is at the bridge adjacent to the “History Wall” on the smooth broad track on the east side of the Reservoir. Keep the main reservoir on your left, passing the Tree for Life plantation on your right. Stay on the main track round the bend; past the Sailing Club on your left. At the junction turn right through the open gate and head up the gently ascending cobbled road, between the stone walls and woodlands. Pass the picnic area at Little Town on your left and keep climbing. Pass through the open gate heading out onto the open moorland with the hills of Crook Moor in front of you. The track changes surface at this point from cobbles to a rough, uneven, stoned surface.
As the track levels out at Steward Barn (a reminder of the area’s history) fork left through another open gate. The track now descends steeply with views to your left of the reservoir and, on a good day, Manchester beyond. Continue downhill passing through an open gate and enter Higher Slack Bank Nature Reserve. The track continues to descend steeply, keep left with the brook on your right. At the bottom of the descent take the far open sided bridge across the stream, keeping left, climb the hillside and out of the Nature Reserve through an open gate. Bear left and follow the gravel footpath as it climbs up and once again out onto the open moorland, with views to your left across Watergrove Reservoir to the Peak District hills in the distance. Keep to the left, following the footpath which climbs steeply then descends towards the closed gate at which point you turn around. Return along the path, keeping to the left, descending to the Nature Reserve and admire the view of the Wardle Moor skyline ahead of you.
At the bottom of the descent take the first bridge to cross the stream (with handrails on either side), keeping right, climb the hillside and out of the Nature Reserve through an open gate. Bear left and follow the gravel footpath as it climbs up and once again out onto the open moorland, with views to your left across Watergrove Reservoir to the Peak District hills in the distance. Keep to the right, following the footpath which climbs steeply then descends towards the closed gate at which point you turn around. Return along the path, keeping to the right, descending to the Nature Reserve and admire the view of the Wardle Moor skyline ahead of you. At the bottom of the hill, re-enter the Nature Reserve and, keeping right, follow the track down towards the stream. Cross the far open sided bridge and turn left to climb steeply out of the valley.
Due to the terrain, parts of the course may make it harder for people with buggies & pushchairs - please contact the team in advance for further information.
On the course
The course is 5k long. The course is at Watergrove Reservoir, Wardle, Rochdale . The course is run on a mixture of loose and stony bridleways and cobbles. Some sections of the course may accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain. Dependent on availability, marshals will be at key sections of the course, or signs will be in place.
Please remember that the parkrun uses shared paths. For the continued success of the event, please give way to other park users. This won't hurt your time, it won't stop you from getting a PB and it will make sure everyone continues to enjoy the event.
Please, wherever possible walk, jog, cycle or use public transport when attending the event. If you do have to drive, please consider car-sharing to reduce our impact on both the environment and other park users. Please also watch out for other park users when arriving and leaving. Parking may be limited so try to arrive early.
Facilities
- Please note there are no toilet facilities.
- Picnic areas
More details
Public transport
The nearest train station is Smithy Bridge. Bus service 456 (Bu-Val Tel. 01706 372787) runs to the top of Wardle Village. You can then walk (1/4 mile) to the reservoir. Alternatively train to Rochdale then bus service 458 (Bu-Val Tel. 01706 372787) from the bus station in Rochdale town centre. See the TfGM website
On foot
Watergrove can be accessed via the many bridleways which connects it to the surrounding areas.
By road
From Rochdale follow signs for A58 (signposted Halifax / Littleborough). Turn left at the lights at Birch Road. From Littleborough follow signs for the A58 and turn right at the lights at Birch Road. Continue up Birch Road, turn right at the first mini roundabout by the library onto Ramsden Road and follow the road straight through the village, passing the Globe Inn on the right OL12 9NU, continue straight ahead to reach the reservoir, approx 1 mile. There is very limited parking at the reservoir, please allow time to use one of the alternative parking areas if it is full. Runners must not park in Wardle village or on the cobbled reservoir access road after the village.
If car park is full alternative parking is available on the wider roads before the village e.g. Birch Road or Wardle Road. It is approximately 1 mile from these areas to the start, providing an excellent opportunity for a warm up and down. There is limited parking behind Wardle Library OL12 9LH, go past the Hare and Hounds on the right, turn first right into East Street, car parks on the right. There are a few spaces at the Conservative club OL12 9JU, which is further up Ramsden Road, just beyond the mini roundabout, again on the right, turn right into lodge Street, which is just past the club.
Coffee
Every week we grab a post-parkrun coffee: Charlie's Coffee and Cakes, 135 Ramsden Road, Wardle, OL12 9NX . Please come and join us!
We're friendly
Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee in Charlie's Coffee and Cakes, 135 Ramsden Road, Wardle, OL12 9NX - please come and join us!
Course safety
Watergrove parkrun, Rochdale is a fun, free event organised by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. We wish to make the event as safe as possible, so participants, spectators and helpers are asked to take care about the following:
- Please be considerate to the park and other park users at all times.
- Children under the age of eleven must be accompanied (within arm's reach) throughout the event by a parent, guardian or appropriate adult of the parent's choice.
- Please arrive by foot, by pedal-power or by public transport if you can - your efforts help to reduce our impact on the park and the planet.
- We invite everyone to consider volunteering at parkrun. Your support helps your parkrun events remain sustainable and free for all in your community, and it’s also a wonderful way to improve your own health and happiness. Please visit the volunteer page for more information.
- Take care near roads and car parks – some vehicles drive very quickly. Please congregate away from the cars and be careful in particular if you have children. If you’re driving to the event, please drive carefully.
- Take care on uneven surfaces – whether on grass or on tarmac. Watch out for cyclists, other participants, pedestrians, children, dogs, wildlife, park animals, vehicles, park maintenance work, falling branches, bollards, posts and other obstacles around the course.
- Please ensure that you are fit enough to walk, jog, run 5k (3.1 miles) with us.
- If you see someone with a serious problem, please stop to help them out and get help as soon as possible.
- If you’re watching, keep clear of participants on the course, and look after any children and dogs you may have with you.
- Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. Consider protecting yourself by wearing repellent when at parkrun events in grassy or wooded areas. See lymediseaseuk.com for further details.
- You are welcome to take part with one dog by your side, within reach at all times, on a short, handheld, non-extendable lead. The use of waist harnesses is prohibited. Please also see this Support Site entry for further details about parkrunning with dogs.
- Due to the terrain, parts of the course may make it harder for people with buggies & pushchairs - please contact the team in advance for further information.
We hope these tips help to ensure that Watergrove parkrun, Rochdale is fun and safe for everyone.
Age grading
All parkrun events use Age Grading to help parkrunners compare results.
parkrun events use Age Grading to help parkrunners see progress and compare results.
For more information, please see our Support page.
Volunteering
All parkrun events are organised by volunteers - email watergrove@parkrun.com to help.
Safeguarding
parkrun is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. For our full safeguarding processes and policies please see our Safeguarding Hub.
To report a safeguarding concern please email safeguarding@parkrun.com.
Event stats
- 544
- Events
- 8,854
- Finishers
- 34,373
- Finishes
- 816
- Volunteers
- 4,406
- Personal bests
- 716
- Groups
- 00:31:50
- Average finish time
Nearby parkruns
- Falinge Park junior parkrun Falinge Park juniors · 4.3 km
- Stubbylee Moorlands junior parkrun Stubbylee Moorlands juniors · 6.0 km
- Milnrow Memorial Park junior parkrun Milnrow Memorial Park · 6.2 km
- Centre Vale parkrun Centre Vale Park · 7.1 km
- Queen’s Park junior parkrun, Rochdale Queen’s Park · 8.3 km
- Chadderton Hall parkrun Chadderton Hall Park · 12 km
- Clarence parkrun Clarence Park · 12 km
- Ramsbottom junior parkrun Nuttall Park · 12 km
Challenges this parkrun helps with
- Alphabeteer Challenge Starts with W
- UK Postcode Areas Postcode area OL
- Periodic Table Matches symbols: W
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High quality prints
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Check out our awardsPark5K is not affiliated with parkrun. - last updated 26 October 2026