Walking the towpath
Most of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal between Stalybridge and Milnsbridge passes through pleasant and sometimes dramatic scenery. The ends of the canal pass through more industrial scenery with plenty of interesting features. The towpath is mostly flat although there are some short slopes leading to locks or bridges where there is no towpath below.
Is the towpath continuous?
The towpath is continuous for most of the canal's length, but there are a few exceptions:
- Huddersfield - between Queen Street and Longroyd Bridge the canal passes through two tunnels beneath industrial premises and there is no towpath. Alternative routes are available along roads.
- Diggle to Marsden - where the canal passes through Standedge Tunnel there is no towpath, so anyone wishing to walk between Diggle and Marsden would need to walk up over the hill. Between Diggle and Brun Clough Reservoir next to the A62 across Standedge summit, there is an unsurfaced road called Boat Lane, which was the route taken by the boathorses. From Brun Clough, a variety of routes is available, either using roads or tracks across open hillsides.
- Ashton - anyone following the Ashton Canal between Portland Basin and the start of the Huddersfield Canal at Whitelands will find that the canal passes through a tunnel beneath Asda, with no towpath. A walking route is available, running parallel to the canal, passing through Asda car park.
Using public Transport
One thing that makes it easy to walk one-way along sections of the canal is the availability of public transport.
There is an hourly local train service (Mondays to Saturdays) stopping at Huddersfield, Slaithwaite, Marsden, Greenfield, Mossley, Stalybridge and Ashton, with trains continuing to Manchester.
The 184 bus service (hourly Mondays to Saturdays, two-hourly Sundays) runs from Huddersfield, through Slaithwaite, Marsden, Diggle and Uppermill to Greenfield Station, from where it continues to Oldham and Manchester.
In addition to service 184, services 350, 351, 352 provide a frequent service along the valley between Huddersfield and Marsden.
Service 350 from Oldham crosses the canal at Brownhills Bridge, then goes through Uppermill, Greenfield and Mossley before going directly to Ashton.
Services 353 and 354 cross the canal at Brownhills Bridge, then go through Uppermill, Greenfield, Mossley and Stalybridge to Ashton.
Distances
Approximate walking distances:
- Ashton to Stalybridge - 2 miles
- Stalybridge to Mossley - 2.5 miles
- Mossley to Uppermill - 3 miles
- Uppermill to Diggle - 2 miles
- Diggle to Marsden (Tunnel End) - around 4 miles over rough terrain
- Marsden to Slaithwaite - 3 miles
- Slaithwaite to Milnsbridge - 3 miles
- Milnsbridge to Huddersfield - 2 miles
Pubs and Restaurants
There are a number of pubs, cafés and restaurants that are convenient for users of the Huddersfield Broad and Narrow Canals:
- Huddersfield - wide range of pubs, cafés and restaurants, including The Aspley alongside the Huddersfield Broad Canal at Aspley Basin
- Linthwaite - Sair Inn, 0.5 miles south of Lock 17e up steep hill.
- Slaithwaite - several pubs, restaurants and cafés near canal.
- Marsden - several pubs in town, including Station Hotel near Lock 42e and Riverhead Brewery in Peel Street.
- Tunnel End - Tunnel End Inn, 0.1 miles from tunnel entrance, Tunnel End café at tunnel entrance.
- Diggle - Diggle Hotel, 0.1 miles from tunnel entrance.
- Dobcross - Navigation Inn, 0.1 miles from Lock 24w.
- Uppermill - several pubs, restaurants and cafés near canal.
- Roaches - Roaches Lock pub next to Lock 15w, Tollemach Arms near Lock 16w, Italian restaurant between Locks 16w and 15w.
- Mossley - several pubs, cafés and Indian restaurants on Manchester Road, 0.25 miles west of Bridge 91.
- Stalybridge - several pubs restaurants and cafés in town, including Millpond alongside Lock 6w, Wetherspoons on Grosvenor Street and the Station Buffet 0.5 miles from canal.
- Ashton - wide range of pubs, cafés and restaurants.