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Walk Summary: 7.8 mile circular walk following two water courses Dean Clough and Mag Brook, starting from Blackmoorfoot reservoir across to Armitage Bridge, through South Crosland, Netherton, then down to Magdale and across to Crossland Edge and back to Blackmoorfoot. 
Walk starting point: Bulls Head pub, Blackmoorfoot
Locality: Blackmoorfoot
Start OS Grid reference: SE0981113114
Area: North
Distance miles: 7.8
Ascent meters: 419
Time hours: 4.5
Pub & Locality:  Bulls Head pub at Blackmoorfoot
Parking: 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: From the Bulls Head pub, turn left along Blackmoorfoot Road, and after 200m turn right up Black Lane,  up the hill and over the ridge all the way down to Stony Batter. Follow the road down to School Lane as the road bears round to the right, turn sharp left down Sandy Lane down to the bridge over the Dean Clough stream crossing. Cross the road and take the path into  Dean Clough wood following the path along the steep bank with the stream on the left. The path eventually emerges on to Deyne Road, with Dean Clough on the left and the edge of Netherton housing estate on the right. Follow the road and, just before the road bears right,  take the path on the left back into the Clough. This steep path comes back on itself going west down the banking to the stream bed, where after the crossing, the path bears east and rises out of the wood to emerge onto Nether Moor Road.  Follow this road as it bears right, back down into the clough – do not go straight ahead as this is a private road/estate and itdoes not provide access to Butter Nab Road. Follow Nether Moor Road intil it emerges onto the main Meltham Road and turn left.  At the junction of the main road with Butternab Road, take the path off to the right into Old Spring Wood.  Follow the paths through this wood around Brooke’s Mill at Armitage Bridge (3), crossing Bank Foot Lane into Mag Wood alongside the River Holme. The path comes out in Magdale at the junction of Sandbeds with White Gate road. Follow Sandbeds road onto Magdale road and down to the old Steps Mill mill pond and then the River Holme bridge crossing. From here take the riverbank road past the old watermill site and along the south bank of Magdale mill pond amd mill race, and along the north bank of Mag Brook. The path crosses White Gate road, north of the bridge over Mag Brook and follows open fields and meadows through Spring Wood rising up to Hill Top and then down to Crosland. From there enjoy the splendid views down the wide valley. Cross the Main B6108 Huddersfield Road at Crossland Hall (4), then follow the path west through to Crosland Edge. Keep to the Edge following the high level track which crosses Harrison Lane with a path down the escarpment up to Blackmoorfoot reservoir.  Join Reservoir Side Road and on reaching Black Lane, turn left and take the starting route back to the Bulls Head pub.
Other comments and points of interest: (1) The walk basically follows two water courses, Dean Clough and Mag Brook both flowing into the River Holme, skirting the hilltop settlements of South Crosland and Netherton.
(2) Brooke’s MIll – Owned by John Brooke and Sons, the company has been trading since 1541 and is thought to be one of Britain’s oldest family-run businesses. The former mill complex played a significant part in the Huddersfield wool textile industry for nearly 200 years.
(3) Armitage Bridge is one of the few West Riding locality names whose origin is French. The derivation is from an old French word, “hermitage,” the abode of a recluse, and the surname Armitage owes its origin to this ancient place-name.
(4) Crosland Hall was mentioned in the Domesday Book. Owned by the Beaumont family, the current building dates back to the late 15th Century, but is now a private house. A woollen mill, known as Crosland factory, was built at Crosland Hall by the Beaumonts in the 1790’s.

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