Tuesday December 23rd

Marsden, March Haigh and Standedge- David Solo

I was off to Marsden, leaving a pleasant day in Heaton Moor. However, Marsden was definitely very grey and windy. The first section of the walk was beside the canal, but rather than continue along Waters Road, I took the path just beyond the entrances to the Standedge tunnels that goes up steeply through a private garden to the Kirklees way. This path traverses below Great Edge and meets the road just below Lower Green Owlers. The road ends at The Dean and I took the path up to the March Haigh Reservoir- not too muddy today.

The reservoir is still undergoing extensive repairs, and is now completely drained, with what must be pumping equipment at the bottom centre of the (wet side of the) dam.

Pumping equipment below dam
Note depth markers (in yards)

Empty Reservoir and March Haigh

As I reached the top of March Haigh the mist came down and views weren't inspiring.

Modest views

After about a kilometre, the Pennine Way is reached and then followed below Northern Rotcher and Millstone Edge, where I had my lunch sheltering from the bitter wind just below the trig point.

Millstone Edge trig point and rocks for shelter

After lunch, I continued along the Pennine Wy and crossed the road at the site of Peter's Pennine Way Café, branching off to then Standedge Trail and then up Pule Hill.

Pule Hill from the Standedge Trail

From the summit of Pule Hill, it was a simple matter of following the track to the air shaft on Higher Edge, past Intake Head Farm (a great potential renovation project?) and back to the car.

Intake Head Farm- two houses and a barn

A cold and windy walk of 10.1 miles with 580m ascent.



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