Haslingden

Haslingden is a small town in the Rossendale Valley in Lancashire, lying just 19 miles north of Manchester. The name means 'Valley of the Hazels', though the town is in fact set on a high and windy hill.

Sitting atop of Haslingden is the iconic Halo Panopticon structure, a magnificent orb like structure that lights up blue at night. Take a walk up to the Halo and take in all the stunning scenery of the Valley. It’s the perfect spot for watching the sun set, having a picnic or taking some sensational photos. 

Rossendale Valley is famed for its iconic skyline being lines with wind farms. Haslingden provides a fantastic vantage point to view the wind turbines which really are spectacular, take a ride down Grane Road and revel in the scenery. Snighole is another famous beauty spot in Haslingden.

The Grane Valley to the West of the town is popular with walkers. It a lovely place for a relaxing walk and taking in the sites of the Valley, an ideal spot for keen photographers.

Rossendale is host to lots of wonderful homemade, Lancashire cooking , and in Deardengate, Haslingden, Cissy Green's pie shop can be found. People visit from across Lancashire to sample the handmade pies which are still made to the original 1920's recipe. To the north of the town is the Hollands Pie factory, nationally known.

Haslingden boast a successful town centre, with lots of independent shops selling excellent local produce and products. It’s also host the award winning Ruby and Daisy boutique shop.

Winfield's, a large warehouse-style retail development selling footwear and clothing, and promoting itself as a family day out, is also in Haslingden, just off the A56. It houses a large classic motorbike collection, as well as a café and homemade ice cream parlour. Once you’re all stocked up there is lots of outdoor activities in the Rossendale Valley for you to try out.

Haslingden grew from a market town - a market was established in 1676 - and later a coaching station to a significant industrial borough during the period of the Industrial Revolution. In particular with the mechanisation of the wool and cotton spinning and weaving industries from the 18th to the 19th centuries, and with the development of watermills, and later steam power. If you’re interested in discovering more about Rossendale’s textile industries, don’t miss the award winning nearby Helmshore Textile Museum, where a series of interactive exhibits shows you how raw wool and cotton was transformed into yarn. For those interested in heritage and history the whole of the Valley doesn’t disappoint.

Haslingden town centre is home to the famous Big Lamp from where all distances in Haslingden are measured, although the original lamp has been replaced by a replica it is still an iconic spot in Haslingden. While you’re there visit the Big Lamp Chippy for their smashing fish and chips.
Haslingden is also notable for its quarrying, and Haslingden Flagstone was exported throughout the country in the 19th century, where it was widely used, including the paving of Trafalgar Square, London.