Download file for GPS

Walk Summary:  Hard 7.8 mile linear walk from Standedge A62 car park via Pennine Way to Blackmoorfoot outside Meltham.
Walk starting point: Standedge (Brun Moor Reservoir) car park on A62 near DIggle
Locality: Diggle, Saddleworth
Start OS Grid reference: SE0175109440
Start What3words: masterful.during.firebird
Area: West – Diggle Walks
Walk distance miles: 7.8
Ascent meters: 720
Estimated Time hours: 4.4
Pub & Locality: Wills O’Nats at Blackmoorfoot is a country pub outside Meltham with good beers serving good value plain fare meals, with easy access and parking
Parking: Public carpark on A635, and large pub carpark
Public Transport: For return from pub, use Stotts Bus 335 from Slaithwaite to Holmfirth.  getting on at Slaithwaite Road at Deer Hill End Road stop, a 10 min walk from the pub.   Journey time about 35 mins. Check bus times.
Walk Description: From the car park at Standedge Brun Clough reservoir (1) on the A62, ascend steps on the Pennine Way (PW), generally eastward and follow broad track. At signpost keep right, following PW to paved stretch, through gate and keep left before Black Moss reservoir(2). Pennine Way continues around reservoir, across footbridge and then on unsurfaced path to join partially paved sections down Blakely Clough. Cross brook on irregular stepping stones ( may be awkward if the flow is strong) and at a covered water tank take the steep pitched path ahead, down to Wessenden Brook. Cross on a footbridge and take the path, initially to the left and then to the right, steeply up to join a broad track. Turn right, past Wessenden Lodge and at a signpost turn left, behind the Lodge. The path ahead is now indistinct but generally contours the valley side in a northerly direction. The ground is rough grazing with wet patches. Ruined buildings may be seen ahead and these indicate the direction. The path then descends a little but is reasonably clear on the ground. As the prominent Rams Clough is approached the old track which leads to it becomes overgrown and a better route will be seen just to the left. This leads to an old stone bridge, which is crossed and the onward track is clear up to the end of Binn Lane where there is a gate and small car park. Descend Binn Lane for about 300m and at a sign for Acre Head take the tarmacked lane on the right and follow all the way up to a track which runs alongside the Deer Hill Conduit. Turn left and follow the track to Deer Hill reservoir(3) and at a footbridge turn left onto a path which follows the water course below the reservoir embankment. At a footbridge turn right to cross the water course and follow sharply back right towards the embankment. The path turns left and then straight ahead, passing a building to your left. A stile in the wall ahead is taken and the path continues in the same direction until it reaches the prominent Deer Hill End Rd, which is followed to the left. This road continues across Slaithwaite Rd until it reaches Blackmoorfoot Rd and your destination, Wills O’Nats.
Other comments and points of interest:  (1)  There have been 5 known generations of Pennine crossings at Standedge, starting with the Roman road from York to Chester and thought to date from AD80. Subsequent routes continued to pass over the moor, perhaps the most remarkable being built by Jack Metcalf (Blind Jack of Knaresborough) in 1791. The present cutting , now the A62 was built in 1839.
(2) Black Moss reservoir and its larger companion, Swellands are owned and operated by the Canal and River Trust. They were built on peat bog in the early 1800’s to supply water to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal but now require substantial maintenance and upgrade work. For this purpose a new access road has been built and will be seen on the right as Black Moss reservoir is approached.
(3) Deer Hill reservoir was completed in 1875 but the water was found to be acidic as also it was in Blackmoorfoot reservoir. When damage to lead pipes and cases of lead poisoning were reported, legal action was taken and substantial damages paid. Treatment works were built and one of these is passed on the walk just before the boundary wall is reached.

Please include the walk name or number when commenting on an individual walk.