BT Roamers
Wednesday 29th May 2019
Marsden to West Slaithwaite
A small but select band of wanderers 
Standedge Railway tunnel entrance with the river aqueduct and ‘steps’ crossing the railway. 
Tunnel End cafe and tunnel boat rides. 
Magnificent display of ‘Rohdys’ in front of a cottage on the valley side. 
How many ways can you cross the Pennines? Bottom right is the canal tunnel, then three railway tunnels (only the double track one now in use) and the A62 above them all. 
An earlier transport route is the old Rochdale Packhorse Trail. The path up the clough side is very difficult to negotiate but it looks as if the National Trust have had bags of stone dropped alongside with a view to path improvement. 
The view across Marsden looking into the Wessenden Valley. 
Looking down the Colne Valley towards Slawit. From the left, Sparth Reservoir (built to feed the canal) then the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and on the right the old mill dam. A few months ago the four story mill stood where there is now a pile of rubble just beyond the mill dam.
The Pub: The Riverhead Tap Peel St Marsden HD7 6BR
Meet: 10.15 for 10.30.
There isn’t a car park at the pub, but parking on the street in Marsden is free. I recommend that you try and park on Brougham Road as close to Peel Street as possible, and meet outside the pub by the river.
Route: From the ring road in Huddersfield take the A62 Oldham road to Marsden, 7 miles. On the approach to Marsden there is a zebra crossing, take the first right on to Brougham Road.
There is an alternative avoiding Huddersfield which is to take the M62 to junction 24, and the A640 Rochdale through Outlane to Round Ings Road. Take the first left after ‘The Commercial’, then follow signs to Slaithwaite, before joining the A62. Satnav or a good map recommended!
The Walk: A shorter version of my 2006 walk, so no more than 4.5 miles. It has one short climb and a few undulations with a couple of steep downhill sections before we return along the canal towpath.
Lunch: Not a large choice, but good quality hot meals and sandwiches. The pub is part of the Ossett Brewery group and has a micro brewery in the basement, so quite an extensive range of beers. We will order before we set off. I recommend that you look at the menu on the website beforehand.
