Garside Hey RFM Blue Line
RFM Blue Line
08/05/26
The lanes up the hill through the very green countryside were very narrow. I passed a few friendly dog walkers and had a couple of chats about the weather and the old lanes.
The Marsden tunnels rail and canal came into view down in the valley below. The mill looks complete from here.
The weather was cool and a little cloudy. I moved further and further east and Marsden started to slip away behind me.
At Ashton Binn the property being redeveloped provided a dangerous unwanted obstacle before the path started to go down the hill.
Through the woods the slope was steep and the drop off to the left steep and in places almost vertical. The blue carpet of bluebells was a joy.
The railway was the lowest part of this downhill.
In the murky, moss green, tree lined bottom of the hill a pack horse sculptured rock indicated the way and history of this path. It was just beautiful.
The pack horse way met an extremely steep road. This was a very tough hill and I had lots of stops to get my breath back.
The top of this hill, Cop Hill was a long drag up lanes and across fields.
The lines were full of Goldfinches with Emley Moor mast and Castle Hill, Huddersfield in the distant gloom. I had a coffee and sandwich on a roadside bench at the top of Cop Hill. A lady on a huge white horse stopped for a chat. I was so happy to be there, in the moment.
The route from Cop Hill to Merry Dale Clough was down through fields which got steeper and steeper as I progressed. These 3 horses were happy to see me but kept their distance.
Through the woods the slope was steep and the drop off to the left steep and in places almost vertical. The blue carpet of bluebells was a joy.
The railway was the lowest part of this downhill.
In the murky, moss green, tree lined bottom of the hill a pack horse sculptured rock indicated the way and history of this path. It was just beautiful.
The pack horse way met an extremely steep road. This was a very tough hill and I had lots of stops to get my breath back.
The top of this hill, Cop Hill was a long drag up lanes and across fields.
The lines were full of Goldfinches with Emley Moor mast and Castle Hill, Huddersfield in the distant gloom. I had a coffee and sandwich on a roadside bench at the top of Cop Hill. A lady on a huge white horse stopped for a chat. I was so happy to be there, in the moment.
The route from Cop Hill to Merry Dale Clough was down through fields which got steeper and steeper as I progressed. These 3 horses were happy to see me but kept their distance.
Crossing into this valley I could now see Slaithwaite away down the valley.
The bottom of Merry Dale Clough was very pretty but unexceptional.
The short walk along the green lane to the bottom of the third hill at Clough House Bridge was bordered with a carpet of forget-me-nots.
Another steep hill through Heys was typical of this walk, Steep grassy and very tough.
The route up to Intake Road was designed for walkers with wooden walkways and bridges but the steps were still a little sketchy so needed climbing with care. I really liked this area it was very green and smelt really fresh.
The top of this hill above Wool Royd gave me a first view of the distant moor top I would soon be climbing. The car felt a very long way away.
Another steep hill through Heys was typical of this walk, Steep grassy and very tough.
The route up to Intake Road was designed for walkers with wooden walkways and bridges but the steps were still a little sketchy so needed climbing with care. I really liked this area it was very green and smelt really fresh.
The top of this hill above Wool Royd gave me a first view of the distant moor top I would soon be climbing. The car felt a very long way away.
The rural views from up here are really comfortable and safe.
On the way down the hill a Mistle Thrush sang on the wire and a converted Chapel looked magnificent. Its amazing how these large churches were built in such out of the way places.
I passed a lady with a couple of dogs coming up the hill. I asked whether the route to the left was ok and she said she had just covered it and it was passable but sketchy.
The bridge over the bottom of Merry Dale, yes I am back in Merry Dale, had an iterersting plaque and the way was obviously an old pack horse route.
The start of hill number 4 was very steep and the rocks well worn and smooth. In places hard to pass but still a magnificent survivor.
I was back at Cop Hill and the views, oh the views.
These young Aberdeen Angus bullocks were noisy and quickly approached me from every part of the field. Luckily I was on the road not the field. Its a warning.. beware of young bullocks. They were still milling around and mooing when I was long gone.
This hill along Blake Clough became long and rounded rather than short and steep.
On the way down the hill a Mistle Thrush sang on the wire and a converted Chapel looked magnificent. Its amazing how these large churches were built in such out of the way places.
I passed a lady with a couple of dogs coming up the hill. I asked whether the route to the left was ok and she said she had just covered it and it was passable but sketchy.
The bridge over the bottom of Merry Dale, yes I am back in Merry Dale, had an iterersting plaque and the way was obviously an old pack horse route.
The start of hill number 4 was very steep and the rocks well worn and smooth. In places hard to pass but still a magnificent survivor.
I was back at Cop Hill and the views, oh the views.
This hill along Blake Clough became long and rounded rather than short and steep.
Going across the moor to the Kirklees Way was a decent enough braided moorland path. I heard Curlews and saw Lapwings. I had a long interesting conversation with a game keeper walking three gun dogs.
Crossing Kirklees Way the path on the ground became a shadow and clod hopping and tussock fighting was the order of the day for ages. This was very hard and progress was slow.
I wonder who lived in this little house? The weather worried me but I was lucky the rain avoided me.
I guess this building was connected with Cupwith reservoir, still full of water.
I wonder who lived in this little house? The weather worried me but I was lucky the rain avoided me.
I guess this building was connected with Cupwith reservoir, still full of water.
Moorland views from this hill were wonderfully brown.
The panoramic view gives you a good impression of the weather and landscape.
I spotted the trig point at the top of Cupwith Hill and crossed the moor to it, to hopefully find a proper path. In the far distance I could see the motorway crossing the dam at Scammonden Water.
The view to the west included the A640 with a few cars crossing the hill. To the south, Pule Hill looks dramatic and will feature in next weeks walk.
The yomp over the moor towards Buckstones was long and the underfoot either flat and easy or wet and spongy, even muddy.
The upland track was again difficult to follow and the downhill and uphill much steepr than I expected. It was definitely a slog up to Buckstones House. The final hillside was full of Stonechats clacking away like 2 stones clashing.
I spotted the trig point at the top of Cupwith Hill and crossed the moor to it, to hopefully find a proper path. In the far distance I could see the motorway crossing the dam at Scammonden Water.
The view to the west included the A640 with a few cars crossing the hill. To the south, Pule Hill looks dramatic and will feature in next weeks walk.
The yomp over the moor towards Buckstones was long and the underfoot either flat and easy or wet and spongy, even muddy.
The upland track was again difficult to follow and the downhill and uphill much steepr than I expected. It was definitely a slog up to Buckstones House. The final hillside was full of Stonechats clacking away like 2 stones clashing.
Gaining the A640 was reassuringly the 5th and last hill of this walk.
The way down looked steep and long and not very well defined.
The derelict March Haigh Reservoir was a bit of an eyesore and as the path was totally lost I had to find my way over a stream and onto the reservoir path.
The derelict March Haigh Reservoir was a bit of an eyesore and as the path was totally lost I had to find my way over a stream and onto the reservoir path.
It was long way down and I passed a few walkers whereas higher up I hadn't seen anyone.
The farms started appearing and the way turned into a road.
It was a steep drop past the wealthy houses at Hey Green. The way wasn't very well maintained but still passable. Then it was back to the car, tired and happy.
12.6 miles over 2200 feet ascent is a good work out. I really enjoyed the variety of landscapes on this walk but it cannot be ignored it was primarily a good work out.
The farms started appearing and the way turned into a road.
12.6 miles over 2200 feet ascent is a good work out. I really enjoyed the variety of landscapes on this walk but it cannot be ignored it was primarily a good work out.
OS Map
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/31894991/garside-hey-rfm-blue-line?lat=53.60852&lon=-1.95826&zoom=14.0426&overlays=os-obstacles-layer&style=TopoAuto&type=2d
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