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Walk Summary:  Moderate 6.8 mile circular walk from Upperthong taking in Netherthong and Thongsbridge
Start : Farmers Arms pub at Burnlee, Holmfirth
Locality: Upperthong
Area: North
Start OS Grid reference: SE1315307808
Start What3words : duos.muddy.partly
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance miles: 6.8
Ascent meters: 315
Estimated Walk Time hours: 3.9
Pub & Locality: Farmers Arms at Burnlee Holmfirth
Parking: Small pub carpark and on-street within walking distance
Public Transport: Pub is within 20 minutes walk of the centre of Holmfirth.
Walk Description: From the Farmers Arms pub in the frst ‘thong’ Upperthong,  turn left and then  right along Liphill Bank Road, turning right before Bank lane, walk up a track on the northside of Black Sike Dyke along to Lipill Bank Road then right along Black Sike Lane crossing the Greenfield Road up a steep track to Flat Lane, meeting up with Broad Lane at the top of Upperthong then along a track behind Midgely Farm, on the path crossing Back Lane and then turning right along Wolfstones Road.   At Wolfstones Heights Farm, take a detour left up to the Wolfstones trig point (325 meters)  (1) with its fine views over the Holme Valley. Walk back down the path, crossing over Wolfstones Road down the path between the houses following the ridge walk down towards Netherthong. At the frst farm track turn left towards Moor Gate and north to Dean Brook. Turn right when over the stream following Dean Brook then branch left on the path to Holmroyd Nook Farm, Holmroyd Wood and Upper Oldfield. From Oldfield (2), follow the HVC walk up to the Oldfield Road and round to Upper Hagg. At Lower Hagg, take Dean Brook Road back to Netherthong.  Just past the town hoouses, turn left up a steep path past Netherthong Primary School to School Street, then along Church Street, past the War Memorial near the Church and along Town Gate.  At Lydgetts, follow Broomy Lea Lane to skirt the Netherthong housing, heading south accross the fields to Mark Bottoms stream.  At Dead Man’s Hole, cross the stream via the crude stepping stones then turn left along a well-used path going to Holt. Carry straight on, past Holt Lane, towards Hill and then cut left through the fields, skirting along the back of Binns Wood, emerging onto Upperthong Lane. Turn left down towards the Five Ways taking Broad Lane down to the Greenfield Road.  Cross here in front of Compo’s FishnChip shop and then follow Burnlee Road past Upperthong Primary School back to the Farmers Arms pub.
Other comments and Points of Interest:  (1 ) Oldfield Quaker Connection – the hamlet of Oldfield was once associated with small Quaker gatherings in the 18th century, held in barns before a formal Meeting House existed elsewhere in the valley.
(2) Holmfirth Edge Packhorse Route – The bridleway beneath Holmfirth Edge follows part of an old packhorse route once used for transporting cloth and salt between West Yorkshire settlements. Deep wear lines in places hint at centuries of hooves and carts shaping the stone surface.
(3) Wolfstones Height Survey Point – Wolfstones Height has long served as a surveying location, its prominence offering clear triangulation views across the Holme and Colne valleys. Early Ordnance Survey teams used this high point during their 19th-century mapping of the district.
(4) The “Thongs” Name – Upperthong, Netherthong and Thongsbridge all share the Old English root þwang, meaning a narrow strip of land or a long, thin valley spur. The unusual cluster of “Thongs” place-names is considered one of the quirkiest topographical naming families in Yorkshire.

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