Canal walks have a powerful pull with their unfolding landscapes, wildlife, different and intriguing life-style choices and the overall calm and peace they bestow on all who stroll alongside them.
Take a flip from the West Yorkshire industrial city centre of Huddersfield, away from the view of the historic landmark of Fortress Hill and the Victoria Tower dominating the skyline and onto the towpath of the Huddersfield Slender Canal for a stroll with a number of provide.
Strolling alongside this 8 mile stretch of the Huddersfield Slender Canal you move by way of the villages of Milnsbridge, Linthwaite, Slaithwaite and Marsden earlier than lastly reaching the Standedge Tunnel – Britain’s highest, deepest, and, at 3.25, miles its longest canal tunnel.
The surroundings alongside the towpath is filled with dramatic contrasts – city life, crumbling historic mills, industrial buildings, leafy woodland earlier than it then opens as much as beautiful views of the rolling, rugged Pennine hills.
It’s fairly merely a stroll that has every thing and extra, beginning with the commercial centre of the city then rising into the tranquil greenness of the Colne Valley as you permit Milnsbridge behind and head in direction of Slaithwaite with stunning open countryside and lengthy distance views of villages sitting excessive above the valley.
Leaving Huddersfield, alongside the Milnsbridge to Slaithwaite part, at Linthwaite, to the left you move the imposing Grade II listed Titanic Mill courting again to 1911.
The mill was initially named Lowestwood Mill, however turned recognized domestically as Titanic Mill attributable to its standing as one of many largest woollen mills within the Huddersfield space and the actual fact it was constructed the identical yr RMS Titanic was launched.
The mill is now residence to 130 flats and a luxurious Spa.
The Slaithwaite to Marsden part is especially picturesque, leafy and inexperienced with the hanging distinction of the black and white locks.
Alongside this stretch of canal, intriguing paths shoot off from the principle towpath attractive the walker to discover the woodland paths and delve deeper into the countryside.
Again onto the towpath this canal stroll stops on the landmark Standedge Tunnel with a possibility to absorb the views, have refreshments on the Watersedge Café and go to the Standedge Tunnel Customer Centre which tells the story of the tunnel, from its planning by way of 200+ years of historical past, together with the story of its rescue, restoration and reopening in 2001 after being derelict for 50 years.
This can be a fabulous stroll with so many choices alongside the best way and alternatives to go away the towpath and go to the gorgeous, buzzing, canal aspect mill villages of Slaithwaite (pronounced ‘Slath-wait’ or ‘Sla-wit’ if you’re native) and Marsden the place you will see that an abundance of impartial retailers, cafes, pubs and eating places.
The towpath itself affords some fabulous choices for refreshments together with the Zapato Brewing taproom and riverside beer backyard, the attractive, quirky Wild Café and the Olive Department restaurant and beer backyard.
Returning again to the beginning of your stroll is straightforward:
- If you’re feeling match a return 8 mile stroll retracing your steps and persevering with to absorb the beautiful surroundings again to Huddersfield.
- Bus/Rail – There are prepare stations and bus routes on the villages alongside the best way taking you straight again to Huddersfield.
This stroll of everchanging panorama arriving on the fringe of the wild great thing about the Marsden Moor Property is a celebration of the collaboration of business and nature, of the artifical and pure and of the historical past between the 2.
You might also like:
