It rises in the Beal Valley in green space between Sholver and Royton, before continuing northwards through Shaw and Crompton, Newhey, Milnrow and Belfield.

It continues north through Newhey and Milnrow in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, before joining the River Roch at Belfield.

[3] During operation of a bleaching and dying works, discharge to the river of used dyes and waste would cause it to change colour from one day to another.

[4] c. 1997: Littlewoods PLC changed the course of the river slightly to allow development of their Shaw National Distribution Warehouse Centre.

2005: Raw sewage was discharged to the river, killing thousands of fish and raising health fears among local residents.