{"id":1004933,"date":"2022-02-17T16:54:38","date_gmt":"2022-02-17T16:54:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1004933"},"modified":"2022-11-04T15:47:25","modified_gmt":"2022-11-04T15:47:25","slug":"meltham-and-wilshaw-nr-huddersfield","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1004933","title":{"rendered":"Meltham and Wilshaw Nr Huddersfield"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After recent visits to the interesting Holme Valley, I looked a little further north for today’s walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today was a short interlude between Storms Dudley and Eunice, but still a very blowy day! I chose not to go too high, nor too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This 6.5 mile walk included a total ascent of 1060feet (320m). It took 2hours 45 minutes, plus a 15 minute lunch break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was not just windy, there were occasional blustery showers of rain and sleet, but fortunately they were all short-lived!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meltham is a 55 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are plenty of sections where dogs can get a good run on this route, but also about a mile and a half from Wilshaw to Harden Hill on a road and across a sheep pasture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parking on the street is no problem. Use postcode HD9 4DJ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map 288.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Greasy Slack Wood and Meltham Mills Reservoir<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A short walk up a road and along a track by some industrial units and a newly built restaurant led me into this delightful wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The path climbed up to a disused quarry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The sun came out for the only time today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I continued on past the golf course, with view across to Meltham Mills Reservoir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A long track led up to a B road near Wilshaw Manor House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilshaw to Harden Clough<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The next section involved a long straight uphill road, but there was a nice seat half way along with views across to Huddersfield, and some Highland cattle, which are always a lovely sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Near the junction with Thick Hollins Lane, a large mixed flock of birds was feeding alongside the sheep. I could distinguish black headed gulls, starlings, jackdaws and lapwings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After negotiating several fields of sheep, I arrived at Harden Hill. Harden Hill Road is in fact just a track. Heading down, I enjoyed lovely views to the north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Harden Clough<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The path off to the clough was easily found, and after crossing a field, I was struck by the bronzed landscape of 2021’s fern crop!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As I made my way towards the wood I noticed that something had been here before me. No idea what though!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The path along the clough is about 40 feet above the stream, narrow, and not for the faint-hearted! I loved it here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It was also very sheltered from the strong wind, so I stopped here for lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After lunch, I emerged at Wood Cottage, which was undergoing an extensive renovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Harden Moss Road<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a track, and had a couple of unusual points of interest. The first seemed to be a sports stand with a central glass fronted raised shed, overlooking a non-descript field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After some head-scratching, I remembered seeing a sign before I’d reached Wood Cottage warning that clay pigeon shooting takes place each Sunday morning. I think this may be where it happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also saw another flock of birds, mainly gulls feeding on a muddy stretch of field, adjacent to an area with (I think) turnips in, which looked ready for harvest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This remained a mystery!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I quickly progressed down the track now, as the weather seemed to be closing in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Meltham Pleasure Grounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Arriving back on the outskirts of the small town of Meltham, the stream which had begun at Harden Clough had become a small river. The path alongside it is grandly titled!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I imagined that it would have been quite a splendid spot for a bit of promenading in bygone times. It’s still very picturesque today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I really enjoyed this walk, and it had a few surprises. I’d certainly love to return to Harden Clough in spring or summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Finally…..<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This week, I’ve enjoyed listening to Joss Stone’s new album, Never Forget My Love. This is the very soulful “You’re My Girl”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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