Rossendale Valley

Location map
Lancashire
lat=53.70308
long=-2.28928
width=180
float=right
caption="Rossendale Valley shown within Lancashire"
(gbmapping|SD8123)

The Rossendale Valley is part of the "Forest of Rossendale", an upland area of North West England, principally in Lancashire. Most of the area is within the Borough of Rossendale. It consists of the steep-sided valleys of the River Irwell and its tributaries, which flow from the Pennines southwards to Manchester and cut through the open unwooded moorland, which is characteristic of the area, despite the ancient designation of "forest".

The Forest contains two Marilyns; Hail Storm Hill and Freeholds Top, as well as the summit of Great Hameldon. Geographically, it is sandwiched between the West Pennine Moors to the west and the South Pennines to the east.

The valley bottoms are characterised by four main settlements, each with a number of villages and hamlets around them. These settlements are Bacup, Haslingden, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall. Most of the development in the area has been built since the time of the Industrial Revolution although the sites of some buildings date from agricultural uses and the activities of landowners in earlier times, in some cases as far back as the 13th century.

Most Rossendalians consider themselves to live in 'The Valley' and this is still locally a commonly used term to describe the district.