Pule Hill walk
A circular walk that starts along the canal towpath before gently contouring around the sides of Pule Hill. Enjoy views over the moorland and see the remains of Marsden's industrial heritage, as you pass the Engine House and ventilation shafts that extend down to the railway and canal tunnels below.
Map
Start:
Marsden train station, grid ref: SE047117
1
From Marsden train station walk west along the towpath, following the red waymarkers towards Standedge Tunnel visitor centre.
2
Cross the canal and walk through the carpark. Take a left up the grassy bank between the knee rail fencing - Standedge Tunnel visitor centre is on your right. At the gap in the wall turn left to walk along a walled track behind the Water's Edge restaurant. Cross over the bridge and canal again, following the walled track until it brings you out on Manchester Road (A62).
3
Turn right to walk along the A62. When you reach the Hey Green house on the right hand side cross over the road and go over the stile immediately opposite.
4
Follow the path uphill and to the right, running parallel to the road around Pule Hill. Continue along this path keeping close to the farm walls on your right, passing a wind turbine on the right. To your right is a lovely view across Marsden Moor. Continue for a while crossing a few small boardwalks. When you come to a stile in a wall cross the stile and continue straight ahead. Then cross a second stile to walk toward two brick ventilation shafts.
Industrial Heritage
Along the route you will pass by the Engine House and ventilation shafts, evidence of the areas industrial past. These ventilation shafts extend down to the railway and canal tunnels below, which link Huddersfield with Oldham and beyond.
5
Stay on this lower path heading towards the far ventilation shaft. Follow the path parallel to the electricity poles. Now follow a well-defined path until you walk across a boardwalk and out onto Mount Road.
Additional detours
Stanza Stone detour - A short detour up to Pule Hill Edge quarry to view the Stanza Stone. This is one of a series of water themed poems by local poet Simon Armitage which form the Ilkey Literature Festival Stanza Stone trail. Pule Hill view detour - Follow the path upwards toward the top of Pule Hill 1434ft - it is quite steep in places - for panoramic views across the moorland.
6
Turn left along the road to a junction just before the cattle grid.
7
At the junction turn left up Old Mount Road and then take the left fork up the stony track signposted Hades Farm. Continue along this track for about half a mile until you reach the Heritage Trail marker 'stone no.15'.
Wide ranging views
Step 7 is a great place to admire panoramic views over Marsden village and the bottom of the Wessenden Valley.
8
From here drop down the hill to the gate on the right and follow the walled path downhill. Follow the track round to the right, reach Old Mount Road at the bottom and then turn left to follow the road into Marsden. At the bottom of the road, cross over the A62 (Manchester Road) to walk down Towngate with St Bartholomew's church on the left. Turn left up Station Road, back to Marsden train station.
End:
Marsden train station, grid ref: SE047117
