Two to three hour uphill walk with fantastic views along the Colne Valley allowing for various food/beer stops along the way. A mix of easy paths and quiet lanes.
1. Start in the centre of Slaithwaite by the Little Bridge wine bar. There are several free car parks in the village or arrive by train to Slaithwaite station and walk downhill to the village centre. With your back to the wine bar, turn to the left.
2. Head westwards along the road next to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal past the Handmade Bakery and Empire Brewery, then turn right across the canal bridge just before the guillotine lock. Then turn left uphilll and walk straight up the quiet road towards Rotcher picnic area, rising gently uphill with the canal on the left.
3. At Rotcher car park pass through the gate into the picnic area and head straight on for around 150 metres until you see a gate to the right which leads under the railway bridge. Follow this up past a few charming cottages and then turn left onto a small lane at Upper Rotcher, heading uphill until you reach a turnstile gate entering heathland. Bear left uphill towards a gap in the wall.
4. Continue westwards along one of a couple of paths leading gently uphill to arrive at the top corner of a small wood. Go through the gap and straight on along the muddy path for another 5 minutes or so.
5. Leaving the wooded area, you meet a farm-style gate and enter, turning right uphill towards a large house with a lily pond in the garden.
6. Follow the path which squeezes between bushes and a gate to follow a muddy stream alongside some overgrown bushes until you emerge behind the same house into a field.
7. Follow the path uphill across the field towards two V shaped stiles and pass through a gate next to some cottages, then onto the small lane.
8. Turn right up the lane and follow this uphill for around 5-10 minutes, avoiding various footpath signs, until it flattens off and you can see the Rose & Crown Inn on your left at the brow of the hill. Turn left at the road junction and head uphill until you reach the beer garden. From Slaithwaite it will take approx 45 minutes to reach this point. Good pub food is served at the Rose and Crown all day.
9. Suitably refreshed, leave the Rose and Crown to the left of the car park/front patio and follow the high lane, with great views towards Marsden. Pass by one footpath til you reach Green Lane, turn left here and head downhill towards the canal.
10. The lane is very quiet and after passing some cottages perched on the hillside further down, will peter out. Carry straight on to a concrete path which curves to the left below the cottages until you see a gap in the wall leading down a few steps, then walk down the field path to more cottages.
11. Take the steps down through the end cottage garden and emerge in front of a row of whitewashed cottages, overlooking the Transpennine railway line.
12. Turn left and head down the road til you join the canal tow path. If you’d like a diversion to the excellent Zapato Brewery Taproom & Beer garden, turn right towards Marsden along the canal and after 100 metres turn left across the river bridge into the mill area where Zapato and Dark Woods coffee are located.
13. Retrace your steps back to the canal and head eastwards on the canal towpath back towards Slaithwaite village, passing numerous locks and the Handmade Bakery near the end, which is usually open until 4pm for coffees, fantastic sourdough, savouries, pastries and cakes.
