Rawtenstall

1MISSING WIKILINK Haslingden in the 14th century was a Royal Hunting Park, the "Forest of Rossendale". Parts of the park's boundary are still clearly visible around Helmshore, which lies a mile or so south and west of Haslingden. The town includes the suburb of Acre.

Haslingden became a mill-town during the Industrial Revolution, but few signs of its textile heritage are now immediately apparent. However, on closer inspection the visitor will find a number of cotton mills remaining, mostly without their chimneys, and either derelict or taken over by other businesses. The town has a slightly neglected air, although improvements to Higher Deardengate where the original cobbled road setts were restored, and a replica Big Lamp erected, have smartened up parts of the town centre.

It is the birthplace of the composer Alan Rawsthorne (1905–1971).

2MISSING WIKILINK Bacup is a textile mill-town community that developed rapidly during the Industrial Revolution. However, in the late 20th century it suffered from serious economic decline from chronic depopulation and urban decay. Great efforts have been made to regenerate the town, with some success. Bacup's historic character, culture and festivities have encouraged the town's development as a commuter town. English Heritage has proclaimed Bacup as the best preserved cotton town in England, and its town centre is designated as a conservation area for its special architectural qualities.

Bacup is the base of the Britannia Coconut Dancers, a unique folk dance group of uncertain origin, who appear on Easter Saturday to dance around the town, attracting large crowds.

By bus:

The x43 is a frequent bus service to Manchester and Blackburn.

The 464 is a frequent local bus running from Rochdale to Accrington, via Haslingden, passing through Bacup.

By car:

The M65/A65 runs directly to Rawtenstall from the M62. Rawtenstall is a little over 30 minutes drive from the centre of Manchester. A regular and high-quality bus service, the X43 and X44, or the Witch Way, runs from Manchester to Rawtenstall and on to Burnley and Nelson.

By train:

Rawtenstall and Rossendale generally suffers from the lack of rail links, although there are steam and heritage trains running at the weekend (and at other times, but infrequently) from Bury, via Ramsbottom.