Walk To The Pub - Colne Valley: Slaithwaite to Marsden
Pub Walks with Chris Morris
Colne Valley - Slaithwaite to Marsden
PLEASE REMEMBER: Details accurate at time of writing
The Manchester to Huddersfield train line is a familiar stretch to real ale enthusiasts, stopping off at the many excellent pubs along its route. In the picturesque Colne Valley of West Yorkshire, this trek combines both great pubs and the great outdoors. The walk starts at Slaithwaite (pronounced Slawit) and ends at Marsden, featuring a pub at the start, middle and end. The walk is relatively easy, with an option for a more challenging hill climb to a fourth pub.
Train Information
A 35-minute train journey from Manchester Piccadilly is all it takes to reach the start of the walk. Services run every half hour during the day, and hourly in the evening, Monday to Saturday. On Sunday, the service is hourly. The train also stops at Stalybridge, Mossley and Greenfield on the way, which all feature excellent pubs. The ticket to buy is a return to Slaithwaite. For full timetable information, visit nationalrail.co.uk.
The Walk
This is a straightforward three-mile nature walk along the Huddersfield Canal. The terrain is mostly flat, except for some steep gradients at locks. Some areas will get muddy after heavy rainfall, so walking boots are recommended. The optional hill climb adds a further two miles plus 500ft of ascent. The OS Explorer map is OL21 South Pennines (OS app also available).
On exiting Slaithwaite Station, turn left to walk on the road under the railway bridge, then right down the hill for 200 yards to the town centre for our first pub of the day. Habitually featured in the Good Beer Guide, the Commercial is a lively and friendly pub, attracting beer enthusiasts from near and far. Up to eight cask beers plus a cider are on handpump and there is always a good mixture of beer styles. On last inspection, the cask beers were from Empire, Ashover and North Riding, with cider from Hecks. Dogs are welcome, and a wood-burning stove is in use during the colder months.
From the Commercial’s front entrance, we cross over the road, turn right and follow the canal. Keeping the water’s edge on our right, it leads us out of town, passing Empire Brewing on our left. After a mile’s walk, we pass bridge 51 and lock 29E. Shortly afterwards, we exit the canal path to the left (signposted to Zapato) and cross the River Colne via a bridge. Carrying straight on brings us to our mid-walk refreshment stop.
Zapato is a craft brewery located in a former textile mill with an attractive riverside setting. Popular with canal walkers, and dog friendly, a vast outdoor area features at the front, with a number of tables under cover. Inside, the large mill windows, high ceiling and open plan layout give the refurbished interior an impressive display of light and space. A thoughtful selection of modern furnishings, plus an open log fire for winter, add to the warm welcome. One cask beer is available, plus seven taps featuring a mixture of Zapato keg beer and cider. Hot food is often available at peak times from a van outside.
On returning to the canal, for those wishing to burn some extra calories, there is the option for an additional hill climb up to the Rose & Crown. This is a traditional pub catering mainly for diners, but its also popular with walkers. Timothy Taylor’s Landlord and Empire White Lion were the cask beers on my last visit. A well as fine beer, your efforts are also rewarded with a stunning view from the large beer garden. The route to take is back along the canal to the last lock (29E), join the road and turn left to cross over the canal. Carry straight on up the hill, then right to pass through the railway tunnel to the houses at the top. Turn left here, along Booth Bank, then right and immediately left to climb up a stony track, then right up Green Lane. When this reaches a road, turn right, and the pub is a further 400 yards on.
For those wishing for a more relaxing stroll, we continue along the canal to Marsden, keeping the water on our right as before. After one and a half miles, we reach bridge 59 and lock 42E where we find Marsden Station. A short walk left and down the hill brings us to our Good Beer Guide post-walk pub, of legendary status.
The Riverhead Brewery Tap is famous for its excellent cask beer, attracting admirers from far and wide. As well as a warm welcome, you’ll be greeted with a handsome interior of dark wooden furnishing, high ceilings, traditional wooden floorboards and a cosy feel from soft lighting. On my last visit, there were six cask beers from Riverhead, three from Ossett and six ciders. The food is recommended, too. With such a line-up, in such appealing surroundings, you’d be forgiven for delaying your train journey home!
For full pub details, including opening times, visit whatpub.com.