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Walk Summary: Hard 6.9 mile circular walk around Meltham and the reservoir water conduits starting at Blackmoorfoot
Start : Bulls Head pub at Blackmoorfoot
Locality: Blackmoorfoot
Area: North
Start OS Grid reference: SE0981113114
Start What3words : shark.scary.trapdoor
Difficulty: Hard
Distance miles: 6.9
Ascent meters: 282
Estimated Walk Time hours: 3.9
Pub & Locality: Bulls Head at Blackmoorfoot
Parking: Large pub carpark
Public Transport: Buses between Holmfirth and Huddersfield every 20 minutes. 310 314 316, then Stotts bus 393 to Blackmoorfoot Turning Circle then short 2 min walk to pub. Journey time circa 1.3 hours. Check bus times.
Walk Description:   Coming out of the Black Bull pub turn left and go past the roads coming up to Blackmoorfoot Road from the left, turning right onto Black Lane 100 metres beyond. Very soon a substantial track goes off to the right: this will take you along the side of Blackmorrfoot Reservoir (1). Instead of turning right to cross the dam, keep going straight ahead: maintain a straight and level line as you go below Crosland Edge. Note the Helme Edge Vineyard (2) on your right!  At the bottom end of the edge, where it goes round to your left, again head straight on and down towards the Meltham/Huddersfield Road, crossing the railway en route. If you wish, take a brief detour to the right when you reach the railway to look at Folly Dolly Falls (3).  When you get near to the road the path diverts through a small housing development. Cross the road and go straight forward again to a path that snakes around the sewage works and Household Waste Site.  Follow the track straight up the hill in Eltham Woods until you meet a crossing path which, when you turn right, takes you through Greasy Slack Wood. Continue for nearly a kilometre: you will come to a café, Lu’s Place. Turn right down Knowle Lane and when you come to the bottom of the slope, where there is a children’s playground, go across and enter Meltham Pleasure Grounds (4) . Pass along this pleasant path, and emerge onto the Holmfirth/Meltham Road. Now go right and proceed as far as Calmlands Road, where you turn right and follow uphill beyond the houses, along Royd Edge. Keep going for about a kilometre, then turn right at a track where there is a definite ‘junction’.  After roughly 150 metres there is a left turn to a path following, on its right hand bank,  the course of the Catchwater Drain, which serves to feed Blackmoorfoot reservoir where you began. Follow this drain, across monumental stiles and some impressive waterworks: after Brow Grains Road there is a 90 degree turn to the right. Keep following. crossing all tracks and roads including Slaithwaite Road, and eventually Meltham Cop, a freestanding hill, keeps you company on the left.  The drain takes you all the way to the dam of Blackmoorfoot Reservoir: go across it and turn to the left to rejoin the start of your walk: the pub is not far away!
Other comments and Points of Interest:   (1) Blackmoorfoot Reservoir was completed in 1876: it provides ‘compensation’ water for rivers, and drinking water, and is the largest in the Huddersfield area. It is served by two ‘drains’ or conduits: you are walking the full length of the one that starts at Royd Edge.
(2) Helme Edge Vineyard is family run, and grows mainly Solaris grapes. Their flagship wine is a sparkling champagne-style solaris. Tours and tastings can be booked!
(3) Folly Dolly Falls
(4)  Meltham Pleasure Grounds were laid out by landscape gardener Joshua Major in the 1850s on land owned by Charles Brook, a cotton mill owner and noted philanthropist. Originally the grounds were privately owned but in 1944 they were gifted to Meltham Urban Council by the then owners United Thread Mills. They are still in public ownership, 

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