I don't live in Rossendate, but have visited the area occasionally since the 70s. Fairly built up, mostly reminiscent of the 19th/20th century mill-town variety. I believe local rail is about to improve into M/cr, but the local one in Rossendale is the East Lancs Railway, a heritage line which may satisfy someone with that particular interest. Plenty of local hills to exercise your mountain bikes on. M66 to M/cr is not bad until you hit the M60 ring road.

Thank you Andrew and Davey.

They are viewing a couple of houses in the Waterfoot area, which did worry me! They both seem to be up one of the many hills surrounding, so flooding should not be an issue. Being, originally myself from east of Hebden Bridge, my personal knowledge stops at the Lancashire border, and both myself and my Lambretta found it too wet for a pleasurable trip out!