Mossley is a town in Greater Manchester 9 miles East of Manchester City Centre. Mossley is an increasingly popular place to live thanks to it's close proximity to the Peak District whilst maintaining good transport links into Manchester City Centre.
Things to do in Mossley
Sitting at the foothill of the Pennines, this compact town packs a lot in, popular for its countryside living, amazing views and proximity to Saddleworth, Manchester and Huddersfield.
Mossley is most famous for its walks. For waterside lovers, there is both the River Medlock and Huddersfield canal, and you’re also only moments away from Dovestone Reservoir at Saddleworth Moor, on the edge of the Peak District National Park.
Follow one of five different heritage trails around the town that bring its rich industry past to life, or hop on your bike to explore the different cycling trails in and around Mossley.
Things you didn’t know about Mossley
Did you know that at one particular point in Mossley, you can stand with one foot in Lancashire, and the other in Cheshire and Yorkshire? So in the time-honored War of the Roses, you can decide which county your loyalties lie with!
Schools
Mossley is home to a number of Ofsted-rated Good primary schools, and an Outstanding secondary school in Mossley Hollins High School, which is why it’s always a popular choice for young families.
Transport
Mossley train station connects you to Huddersfield and the centre of Manchester in just 20 minutes, making it a bustling commuter hub and ideal for weekend city trips.
The nearest motorway is the M62, joined at Junction 22 at Rishworth Moor, and Junction 23 of the M60 is only a 15-minute drive away.
History
In the eighteenth century, Mossley was a scattered farming community with a strong woollen industry. It gets its name from the words moss, meaning a boggy area, and lea, meaning a clearing in a wood.
Buckton Castle sits above the ancient road on the eastern skyline. It was thought to be an iron age fort, but recently stone walls and 12th century pottery have been found by archaeologists from Manchester University.
Mossley became a borough in 1885 and was part of Lancashire until 1974, when it was made part of Tameside.
Wool production was the chief industry in the village in the 1700s and 1800s, and was full of weavers’ cottages with weaving rooms.
Eating & Drinking
The town, which is split into two sections, remains very rural, but now has a bustling centre, with shops, pubs, a community centre and cafes lining the main streets in both Top and Bottom Mossley.
If you’re looking for traditional country pubs, you’re spoilt for choice in Mossley. The Dysarts Arms was recently voted the best pub in Tameside, and then there’s also The Roaches Lock Inn and The Gillery, serving cocktails, coffee, and live music as a side dish.
For the best views over the valley, you can’t beat The Rising Sun, especially when accompanied by a stone baked pizza and pint of the best real ale. Travel a little further along to Saddleworth and you’ll find a growing foodie scene.
Shopping
There are two high streets - through Bottom Mossley and Top Mossley - with small shops, a Co-op supermarket, post office and other amenities such as a DIY shop, nail bar, barbers and takeaways. And with the town’s easy rail link into Manchester city centre, you’re only 20 minutes away from major shopping centres, designer boutiques, quirky independents and charming indoor markets.
