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March Haigh Reservoir & Eastergate Bridge from Marsden

South Pennines Walk

Region - South Pennines

County/Area - West Yorkshire - South Pennines

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 5.0 miles / 8.1 km    Ascent - 880 feet / 267 metres

Time - 3 hours 20 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer OL21Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer OL21Digital Map1:25kBUY
Ordnance Survey Landranger 110Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 110Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - March Haigh Reservoir & Eastergate Bridge from Marsden
Click image to see photo description.

The moors surrounding Marsden have influenced the history of the village. They have provided challenges for transportation, which are still evident toady, the source of power for the watermills of the woollen industry and grazing for the sheep providing some of the wool for weaving. This route uses canal towpath, moorland path and an old packhorse route to explore the lower moors to the west of the village. In addition to being a good walk, you get to sample some of Marsden's industrial past and enjoy the fresh moorland air.

The start is the Standedge Visitor Centre Car Park (Grid ref. SE047118) with its large car park just to the east of the railway station. From here walk west along the canal towpath following the many signs for Standedge Tunnel. Just before the tunnel entrance cross the canal and, keeping to the left of the visitor's centre follow the access road up to the Tunnel End pub. Take the footpath to the right and around the rear of the pub, to a track. Go left along this past Berry Greave. The track becomes a footpath and this leads without any navigational problems to a lane below Lower Green Owlers (Grid ref. SE028126).

Turn right up this tarmac lane passing a house on the right. Take the track on your left toward Hatter Lee. Just before this farmhouse is reached turn left onto the signed footpath (Grid ref. SE028127). Well walked this footpath leads you along the northern rim of Haigh Clough to the dam across March Haigh Reservoir. Bear left and climb up to the southern end of the dam (Grid ref. SE016127). This makes a pleasant place to rest enjoying the solitude of the valley.

The onward route follows a clear path heading south across the moor. This path is not marked on maps but is well walked and will lead you to the old packhorse route at grid ref. SE015125. Turn left here and continue downhill to the picturesque Eastergate Bridge (Close Gate on OS maps). Cross the bridge and follow the river downstream to Waters Road.

Turn right along Waters Road looking out for an attractive iron sculpture in the wall on your left by Hey Green Hotel. A new footpath has been constructed to the right of Waters Road and this is a more attractive option than walking the road. Reaching the Tunnel End pub, turn right down the access road to the canal. Cross the canal and follow the towpath back to the start.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2613 Boundary Walk from Marsdenmoderate13.0 miles
Walk 1587 Scammonden Reservoireasy4.0 miles
Walk 2561 Digley & Ramsden Reservoirs from Wessenden Headmoderate9.5 miles
Walk 2719 Huddersfield's green fringeeasy/mod10.0 miles
Walk 2518 Black Hill & Four Reservoirs from near Wessenden Headmoderate10.0 miles
Walk 1586 Blackmoorfoot Reservoireasy1.5 miles
Walk 2914 The Pots & Pans from Uppermilleasy/mod4.5 miles
Walk 2634 Broadstone Hill & the Cotton Famine Roadmoderate7.0 miles
Walk 1583 Digley Reservoireasy/mod5.0 miles
Walk 1091 Ripponden and the Calderdale Wayeasy/mod6.5 miles

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