If you were to look at pictures of Saddleworth Moor, you’d likely think the rugged landscape with its deep valleys, streams, and rocky hills looked beautiful.
But it seems actually stepping foot in the area in the North West of England can feel rather different, given it’s grim history.
A recent social media post even went as far as to claim that being there feels akin to ‘entering the doors of hell’.
Writing on X (formerly Twitter) a user named @PippyBing said: ‘I really don’t think there is a more disquieting, haunting or frankly frightening location than Saddleworth Moor. It feels like entering the doors of hell. Even driving through it is a horrible experience. A dreadful energy about the place.’
More than 472,000 people have viewed the post, with almost 2,000 liking it and dozens commenting to share their thoughts, and it seems the sentiment is shared by many.
@Sidsmith438031 replied: ‘You drive over there from Manchester on a bright sunny summer’s morning and the temperature plummets, goes darker and actual fog engulfs you. I’m not a lover of it.’
And @PSchweizer478 commented: ‘I had a relative who used to drive alone through those parts. She would always gradually get the feeling someone was in the back seat but be too terrified to turn around until she was home. We always laughed about it but then I went there. Genuinely creepy vibe.’
@therealbigjonno described it as an ‘evil, hopeless place’, while others thought it was ‘bleak’, ‘eerie’ and ‘desolate’.
But not everyone felt this way, especially those who live in the area who were able to separate it from its history. @opensout wrote: ‘I walk across it quite often. It’s beautiful.’ As @nopenothappy claimed it had a ‘Wuthering Heights vibe’.
A user known as @louiemack20 also didn’t see an issue, saying: ‘I lived there for years. It’s a stunning place. I lived in the edge of Dove Stone. Beautiful especially on a sunny day.’
‘I live in Saddleworth. It’s a beautiful place. All this mean, moody atmosphere stuff is a joke,’ added @theoldbloke.
Located in the Dark Peak area of the Peak District National Park, Saddleworth Moor is perhaps most commonly known for being the burial site of victims of the Moors Murders – a series of five child killings committed by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley in and around Manchester between 1963 and 1965.
The killings are referred to as the Moors Murders because three of the children were buried there. A fourth, Keith Bennett, is also suspected to have been buried at Saddleworth Moor, but his remains have never been found, despite many searches.
These aren’t the only tragedies to have taken place on the moorland, as it was also the site of a plane crash in August 1949, when a BEA Douglas DC3 crashed into a hill near Oldham, killing 24 passengers and crew members.
Most recently, in 2018 and 2019, a record number of wildfires broke out on the moors in scenes which were described as ‘apocalyptic’.
While there is a lot of negativity associated with the area, it’s not all doom and gloom. There’s plenty of natural wonder to be enjoyed at Saddleworth Moor thanks to its iconic landmarks and abundance of wildlife – especially, birdlife.
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Visitors may be able to spot red grouse, merlin, pipits, short-eared owls, curlew, dunlin and golden plovers. The area is also home to frogs, toads, mountain hares and voles, and various plants.
Those walking or hiking in the area can check out notable landmarks including the obelisk and Pots and Pans Stones above Uppermill and Greenfield. Local legend claims the stones are left behind from a battle between two giants, named Alphin and Alder who were fighting over the love of Rimmon, a water nymph.
There’s also the Trinnacle, a remote rock formation near the town of Oldham, that stands at approximately 30ft high. (It’s not recommended to climb on the rocks).
And after your walk there are a number of picturesque villages in the surrounding area, such as Delph, Diggle and Uppermill, where you can swing by a cafe or pub for refreshments, or browse shops.
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