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A 2-day circuit around the moors and reservoirs to the north-west of Marsden.<\/p>\nA 2-day circuit around the moors and reservoirs to the north-west of Marsden.<\/p>\n
The outward section initially follows the Huddersfield canal, with an option of a parallel woodland track, to Standedge Tunnel Visitor Centre and Tunnel End nature reserve to reach Close Gate Bridge, an old arched packhorse bridge. It ascends into the March Haigh moorland via Willikay Clough to join the Pennine Way (PW) over White Hill, the highest point of the route, to cross the M62 where it leaves the PW to reach Green Withens reservoir and ascend to the western side of Rishworth Moor.<\/p>\n
The return section descends the eastern side of Rishworth Moor to recross the M62 via Booth Wood reservoir and traverses the high ground via Deanhead and Cupwith reservoirs to Slaithwaite Moor for a final descent via Marsden Moor.<\/p>\n
We encountered just a few walkers on most sections of this route, the exception being Rishworth Moor that was totally deserted. This windswept rough grassland seemed particularly bleak on this very blustery trip and there is also the small distraction of the distant traffic hum from the M62 which, though monotone and can easily be tuned out to a large degree, is still there in the background.<\/p>\n
The Standedge Tunnel, Britain's longest, deepest and highest canal tunnel is another feat of Victorian manual engineering and carries the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. The Visitor Centre celebrates its history and organises narrowboat trips into its tight depths. The small but delightful nature reserve eliminates some road walking and exploring it all would make a good half-day out.<\/p>\n