From Heath Rugby Club
Five and a half miles – road, some unlit
From Heath Rugby Club (233ft), turn left and at second set of lights, right up Saddleworth Road, stopping at the Branch (1.6 miles, 478 ft). Continue on and up to the foot of Barsey Green Lane (2.3 mile, 582ft possible pause), then right up the Lane, stopping at the top to gather breath (2.74 miles, 775ft).
Turn right along Rochdale Road, then left at junction with Norland Road, continue on and down to junction with Turbury Lane, turn right and back to Rochdale Road (4.05 miles, 631ft). Left down Rochdale Road to lights, left and home (5.5 miles and 542ft of climb).
All on road, with one section, Barsey Green Lane, unlit and steep.
Short cuts: Going straight back down Rochdale Road, not turning off across Norland Road, cuts off .61 mile.
Extensions: Part way up Barsey Green lane turn left up dirt track continue up to Greetland Road Road, then sharp right to top of BGL adds .39 of a mile.
Or
At foot of Barsey Green lane, continue to Barkisland post office, turn right up Stainland Road, then right along Scammonden Road, and right again down Greetland Road to top of BGL adds 1.67 miles.
I ran with Zoe and Tracey – both better-than-me runners recovering from time off for the bad winter.
