The Cheesden Valley runs on a north-south alignment between Bury and Rochdale. Cheesden Brook runs through the valley, joining with Naden Brook to eventually run into the River Roch near Heywood. During the industrial age the valley became a centre of cotton production dependent on running water. The valley is now slowly but surely reclaiming the once busy mills and taking it back to nature. It encompasses Deeply Vale, Bircle Dene and Ashworth Valley.