B6225

Towards Smithy Bridge

The B6225 is a semi-rural B-road in southern Lancashire. It functions as an important link for light traffic between Littleborough (and the towns of the Upper Calder Valley) and the M62 at Milnrow.

The route starts immediately to the east of the Calder Valley railway line by turning off the A58 in Littleborough. It heads south alongside the railway line, passing the back entrance to the station, then briefly running alongside the Rochdale Canal before bending to the left to cross over it. The road then climbs into open country, skirting Cleggswood Hill on the left before reaching Hollingworth Lake, a reservoir originally built to supply water for the Rochdale Canal and now a local visitor attraction: this section was subject to extensive visitor parking before restrictions were recently brought in. The road bends sharply to the right to follow the shore of the lake, passing the sailing club and various cafes and other attractions. The reservoir was already in existence when the B6225 gained its number in 1922 and so the route has always skirted it in this way.

After becoming more residential the road bends to the right into Smithy Bridge then turns left at a mini roundabout and soon re-enters open country. It crosses the fields to reach Milnrow, a stretch that can be prone to drifting snow in bad winters. Ahead the grey warehouses of the Kingsway Business Park are visible, while further to the right the tower blocks on the north side of Rochdale town centre can be seen.

On the northern edge of Milnrow the road splits to pass either side of a house, then reaches a T-junction immediately afterwards, where it turns right. It descends Kiln Lane to reach a mini-roundabout. Originally the B6225 ended here on the A640. However, that road was rerouted to cater for the construction of the M62 and so the B6225 has taken over the short section vacated. It therefore turns right at the mini-roundabout to cross a stream and end at traffic lights on the current A640.