Flouch to Marsden

16 September 2010 - Flouch to Marsden

Distance - 17.6 miles

Weather - Dry but overcast

We stayed at - The New Inn, Manchester Road, Marsden, West Yorkshire, HD7 6EZ Cost - £75.00

We left the Dog & Partridge Inn and used the route of the Barnsley Boundary Walk, to take us up to Windleden Reservoir, then up to Dunford Bridge to rejoin the APW. We parted company with the APW at the A628 last night, because although there used to be an hotel at Dunford Bridge, this closed a while ago and the Dog & Partridge is the only accommodation for miles now. Luckily the weather was much better and although it wasn't all that sunny, it remained dry.

View of Windleden Reservoir

Wildfowl at Winscar Reservoir

Today was all about reservoirs. Windleden Reservoir was the first of many we were to see over the course of the day. Not surprising since we were walking through an area of high rainfall. These structures started off being used to collect water to drive waterwheels to provide power for mills, then the water was used for canals and nowadays it's used for industrial and residential use. After Windleden, we walked past Winscar Reservoir, which was opened in 1975. It was quite innovative at the time as it has a plastic membrane, rather than clay, to keep the water in. Unfortunately it started leaking in 2001 and had to be drained so that remedial work could be carried out! Wildfowl love it though and we saw loads of ducks and geese along its banks.

Strange tower in distance

Taking in the view to Holmfirth

After Winscar Reservoir we spent a short while on a minor road, then walked along a path through old quarry workings. It was at this point that we started to see a large tower in the distance, which wasn't marked on our OS maps.We wondered whether it was the Emley Moor Television Transmitting Station. We carried on walking by Harden Clough, past plantations and small reservoirs - the prettiest of which was Riding Wood Reservoir. At one point we had great views of Holmfirth, the place used in the TV sitcom "Last of the Summer Wine". Al decided to take an automatic picture of us looking at the view. The one I've included is about his sixth attempt!

Al crossing Bridge at Marsden Clough

We stopped for lunch at the pub at Holme, it was a nice place, the landlord was friendly and the portions huge! From Holme we crossed the A6024 and made our way via a very straight track called Issues Road to Hey Clough and Marsden Clough. Here we joined the Kirklees Way and followed it to the two reservoirs at Wessenden. At one stage we were also on the Pennine Way for a bit too, but we continued on our nice level path and left it to others to follow the Pennine Way up over the moorland. Just before Butterley Reservoir we saw a small herd of fallow deer. There was also an intriguing still life, which seemed strange to encounter out in the middle of nowhere!

Sculpture - Kirklees Way

From Butterleys Reservoir it was just a short, but steep, descent down into Marsden, which was actually quite a sizeable town and I had to ask for directions to the New Inn. This was a pleasant, newly refurbished pub and we had a nice contemporary room and enjoyed a good evening meal.