Standedge from Marsden

Trans-Pennine travel has, until quite recently, been a hazardous business. Over the centuries many routes have been driven across the hills to link the industrial centres of West Yorkshire and Lancashire. Some paths were consolidated into paved causeways for packhorse traffic, before being upgraded to take vehicles. This track, linking the Colne Valley to Rochdale and Milnrow in Lancashire, was known as the Rapes Highway.

The Standedge Tunnel

This was tough terrain for building a canal. When the Huddersfield Narrow Canal was cut, to provide a link between Huddersfield and Ashton-under-Lyne, there was one major obstacle for the canal builders to overcome: the gritstone bulk of Standedge. There was no way round; the canal had to go through. The Standedge Tunnel, extending 3 miles (4.8km) from Marsden to Diggle, was a monumental feat of engineering. Costly in every sense, it took 17 years to build and many navvies lost their lives. The result was the longest, highest and deepest canal tunnel in the country. In an attempt to keep those costs down, the tunnel was cut as narrow as possible, which left no room for a towpath. Towing horses had to be led over the hills to the far end of the tunnel, near Diggle in Lancashire. The bargees had to negotiate Standedge Tunnel using their own muscle power alone. This method, known as ‘legging’, required them to lie on their backs and push with their feet against the sides and roof of the tunnel. This operation would typically take a back-breaking four hours. Closed to canal traffic for many years, the tunnel was reopened in 2001. It is now a major tourist attraction and includes boat trips and a visitor centre.

A rebellion in Marsden

In 1812 Marsden became the focus for the ‘Luddite’ rebellion against mechanisation in the textile industry. A secret group of croppers and weavers banded together to break up the new machinery that was appearing in local mills. Eventually the army was despatched to restore order. Some 60 men were put on trial for their part in the troubles; 17 of them were hanged.

From the car park, turn right and then bear right, following the Huddersfield Narrow Canal towpath away from a lock. Approaching Tunnel End, where both canal and railway disappear into tunnels, leave the towpath to cross a footbridge. Bear right uphill past the visitor exhibition to a T-junction with a house (the old Tunnel End Inn) directly in front.

Turn left on to Waters Road. Almost immediately, leave through a gate on the left for a path paralleling the road. After rejoining, keep straight ahead past the entrance to Hey Green House. About 100yds (91m) further on, bear left, just before a cottage, on to a bridleway. The path takes you across Closegate Bridge, known locally as Eastergate Bridge, where two becks meet.

Swing right, following the beck for about 100yds (91m), before forking left at a waymarker into a narrow side valley. The path levels higher up, curving towards the rounded prominence of March Hill, now intermittently marked by stone wayposts. After a final stiff pull, the path descends towards the A640.

Immediately before reaching the road, turn sharp left at a Pennine Way sign over a wooden bridge spanning a little beck. The onward path rises and falls over the moss for just over 0.75 miles (1.2km) to a junction at the abrupt lip of Standedge. Go left along the top of the scarp, enjoying the panoramic view across East Lancashire.

Beyond the trig point, the path gently loses height, passing through successive gates and across broken walls to emerge on to a track. Follow it left out to the A62, where a car park overlooks Brun Clough Reservoir.

Cross the road and take steps up to the left from the car park. Signed ‘Pennine Way’, the path parallels the deep road cutting before turning away across Marsden Moor. To the left is Redbrook Reservoir, with Pule Hill beyond. Approaching a marker stone, bear left at a footpath sign, dipping across a stream to continue over the moss. Eventually, after 0.75 miles (1.2km), the way narrows and drops steeply to a stream in a gully. Climb beyond to a road.

Turn right and then immediately left on to Old Mount Road. After 50yds (46m), bear left again, along a stony track signed to Hades Farm. After 0.5 miles (800m), watch for a discreet sign just off the track for a path that leads to a small gate and descends beside a wall to rejoin Old Mount Road. Continue downhill, crossing the main road into Towngate. Bear left past the church and at the end go left again up Station Road back to the car park.