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Walk Summary:  Easy 5.6 mile circular walk around the reservoir catchwaters near Meltham. 
Walk starting point: Wills O’Nats pub at Blackmoorfoot
Locality: Blackmoorfoot
Start OS Grid reference: SE0902212083
Start What3words: chatters.reckons.taxi
Area: West
Walk distance miles: 5.6
Ascent meters: 176
Estimated Time hours: 3.0
Pub & Locality: Wills O’Nats pub at Blackmoorfoot is a country pub outside Meltham with good beers serving good value plain fare meals, with easy access and parking – see pub page for more info.
Parking:Large pub carpark
Public Transport:Stotts Bus 335 from Holmfirth to Slaithwaite getting off on Slaithwaite Road at Deer Hill End Road, with an 8 min walk to the pub. Journey time about 35 mins. Check bus times.
Walk description:  From Wills O’ Nats pub turn left onto Blackmoorfoot Road and take first lane left (Dunnock Rd.) The track runs alongside Meltham Cop and gives fine views over Meltham to the south. Reaching road (Slades Lane) turn left and take footpath on right after building.  After short walk between walls through woods reach Blackmoorfoot reservoir (1), turn right to cross a water channel. Ignore stile on right and shortly after take the access drive to Orange Wood. As the buildings are approached take a path on the right, through woodland and heading straight down to Helme. A clear signed footpath bearing left is reached and this continues across a road and to the right of the church. After the church keep left, past school and continue on path, crossing road and by field paths to cross Mean Lane.   A further short stretch of path leads to a disused railway line, now pedestrianised. Your route is to the right but the intriguingly named Folly Dolly Falls are a short excursion to the left and are worth a visit. Follow the track to its end at Slaithwaite Rd, turn left, then cross road and take New St on right, following it round to the left (parallel with Slaithwaite Rd).   At Westgate turn right, then left into Green End Rd. and first right into Colders Lane. Follow to end then pick up path on left, cross Wessenden Head Rd and take path opposite to its end. Turn right on track facing and follow until track on right (Bedlam Rd) is reached.   Follow Bedlam Rd until catchwater drain is reached at Upper Colders. Join the catchwater path to the left and follow to Slaithwaite Rd, cross road and reach Blackmoorfoot Rd, turn right to Wills O’ Nats.Along scenic track on side of Meltham Cop to Blackmoorfoot resr. Down paths and tracks to Folly Dolly Falls (2) and disused railway into Meltham (3), then by catchwater track to Wills O’Nats pub,
Other comments and points of interest: 
(1) Blackmoorfoot reservoir is distinctive in that it is built in a “saddle” at the head of two valleys, on a relatively flat site, requiring long embankments on two sides. Nevertheless it is the largest reservoir in Huddersfield, containing 700m gallons and covering 101.75 acres.   Standing at 832 ft above sea level it has sufficient head to supply most of Huddersfield’s users without further pumping.  The reservoir is fed by two catchwater conduits, one from the eastern slopes of West Nab and one which joins it from the Wessenden valley. The former and the joined conduits are followed on the walk.
(2) Folly Dolly Falls are a popular attraction and have been a Sunday recreation destination for generations of locals. As with all waterfalls they are at their best after heavy rain.
(3) Meltham was the main production site for David Brown Tractors whose former factory may be seen from the disused railway looking south. The former railway was used as a tractor test track and on your walk into Meltham you will notice a circular paved area. This was used for extended testing of tractors which were tethered and allowed to run continuously in a circle.

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