Saddleworth one of the nicest places around

Picturesque Saddleworth. Picture courtesy of Google Street View

Saddleworth residents can feel proud of themselves today after the area came out as one of the nicest places to live in the whole of the north-west.

That’s according to the Sunday Times’ annual ‘Best Places to live’ survey which ranks areas of the country across a number of criteria in a bid to crown the best place.

The survey, which is split into regions, names Altrincham as the best place to live in the north-west, claiming the area is ‘jumping’ and ‘this must be the first time this slice of suburbia has ever been cool.’

Altrincham fought off stiff competition from the likes of Castlefield in Greater Manchester and Ramsbottom to take the title, while Saddleworth made the list of runners up.

Judges said the Oldham Parish’s “Northern charm and an easy route to Manchester has turned Saddleworth into an unlikely new commuter destination.

“The stone houses are as rugged as the scenery, and there are canals, brass bands and quirky traditions galore in villages with names like Dobcross, Diggle and Grotton.

“There’s a nice old-fashioned spirit, too, best seen in the annual Saddleworth Olympics, when the villages compete against each other.”

However, despite Saddleworth making the list alongside other areas of Greater Manchester, it hasn’t come out on top for the whole the UK.

That award was handed to York this year.