This great walk starts out from the small but perfectly formed village of Marsden just a few miles out of Huddersfield. It's provides the opportunity to cover moorland, riverside and ridge walking to provide a full and varied day out.
Whilst not a particularly high walk - the highest point is 380 meters at Cupwith Reservoir - the distance, occasional steep climb and sometimes boggy ground on the early stages as you climb from Marsden over Drop Clough all add up to a walk you shouldn't underestimate.
From Marsden the walk takes a relatively short but persistent climb out onto open moorland. Despite stone being laid on some stretches it can still get quite boggy so decent footwear is recommended.
Once the climb is out of the way it's a relatively easy walk out to Golcar, following well marked trails roads and paths. If you're feeling a bit weary by this point you're soon to walk past the quite posh Titantic Spa. I'm not sure how they'd react if you turned up wearing muddy boots asking for a massage though...
If you decide to forgo the embarrassment of being turned away at the Spa then you continue next to the pretty canal that's running parallel to the River Colne. It's soon time to start the ascent up on to the ridge takes you back towards Marsden. This part of the walk gives great views down into Slaithwaite and Lingards Wood and everything in between. As this section continues to gain height it moves away from Marsden - which probably isn't what you're tired feet want at this point - but it soon meets the Kirklees Way which takes you back into the center of Marsden and a well earned pint.
The stretch heading back in towards Mardsen around the edge of Binn Moor has steep drops to one side and can be slippy when wet. It's possible to avoid this section by taking one of the earlier paths down into Marsden just after Lingards Wood.