Melhol one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

This was a continuation in our walk, having followed the Slamel route from Slaithwaite to Meltham - https://beta.slowways.org/Route/Slamel/5365

The route was very accessible from the centre of Meltham where we had stopped for lunch, all the way through to Meltham golf course. The walk through the course was beautiful, and this route takes you through the countryside with some spectacular views with a variety of paths types through fields, tracks and roads.

Once you are about 5/10 mins away from the end of the route, there is a steep decent down some steps/pathway which in the wetter times of the year, could be extremely slippery, we did it on a very hot day, and they will still quite slippery then. This part of the route did have handrails in most places.

Overall, the route is pretty well accessible for walkers, with only the odd short ascent. Its not really a route for bikers but could still be done. At the end of the route, there are some lovely places for something to eat/drink in Holmfirth.

Walked from Holmfirth to Meltham. An enjoyable route, easy to follow and with good views. The climb out of Holmfirth is steep and has a lot of steps.

From the bus station in Holmfirth, we cross the nearest footbridge over the Holme and follow old streets between high buildings to Huddersfield Road, which can be crossed with light assistance at the junction with Victoria Street. A little further west we follow the footpath sign right up into Victoria Park - there are steps here. Had I been designing the route, I would have stayed in the park rather than diverting right - this would mean more steps but Cooper Lane is steep, has no pavements and is rather busier than I expected. At Binns Lane we go right a few steps and follow a signposted footpath up some very steep steps between gardens to reach Hill Lane.

From here things get much easier. We soon leave the houses behind and follow the roughly surfaced lane through fields up to Upperthong. The views back over the Holme Valley are good, and at this time of year the lane is lined with foxgloves. Upperthong has a pub/cafe which is the last facility before Meltham. The GPX plotting of the next path is loose, but it is signposted and waymarked, passing through fields with stiles and a few steps to reach a farmhouse where the path follows the drive up to Wolfstones Road. The road walking here is quiet and not at all dangerous, indeed plenty of other walkers were using it, though the more energetic may fancy using one of the permissive paths through the field up to the top of Wolfstones, then along the ridge through the wood.

We go straight on over Brayshaw Road. Beyond a group of houses we take the private road right then left down past the almshouses to reach Wilshaw Road, which has a pavement on the south side. Not that we really need it, as almost immediately past the church we turn left down Gill Banks. The path left has been diverted further away from the house, and now skirts the edge of a small wood before crossing a sheep pasture to enter the golf course.

The route through the golf course is partially marked by posts, and most of the way you can follow an obvious line of trees with fairways on both sides, then follow the right hand side of the area above the line of houses. We follow the lane past the houses, then head straight on down Coach Road, which has a good pavement on the north side. Once past the hairpin bend the left hand pavement is better. We follow Holmfirth Road then turn right onto Huddersfield Road to the oddly situated Meltham meeting point, at a bus stop with no seats.

Overall this is an excellent route, but not suitable for wheels, and the steep sections may not be suitable for everyone.

Great route. Easy and clearly marked, with beautiful views across open country, with some nice points of interest along the way. It took me 2 hours, but I'm not very quick, and I did miss a couple of turns and had to backtrack. I really enjoyed this walk. Not very long, so a good one for those, like me, getting back into their stride.
The route starts in the centre of Holmfirth and quickly and steeply takes you out and up, through Victoria park, where it is worth turning around to look at the vista across the town (yes, it is a town, albeit small) and up via a very steep snicket with a couple of flights of steps, cutting between residential back gardens. After that its easy going, Pretty clear route, along well signposted paths and lanes, through the old part of Upperthong (very quiant) and up towards Wolfstone Heights, before heading down to Meltham via the golf course. This was the only bit I found confusing. It's difficult to tell which is footpath and what's fairway! I didn't fancy being hit by flying golf balls! However, there are plenty of way-markers on the course to get you back on track. After this its is downhill then up a bit to the centre of Meltham, where there are plenty of cafes and pubs. The route finishes at the bust stop outside the Coop, but I cheated and cut off the last corner as I know the lie of the land round there, and finished in the car park behind the coop, where I met my husband who was taking me for well-earned Sunday lunch! Id walk this route again and I would definitely recommend it to others. It is safe and accurate. Some steep parts with steps. No access issues.

Easy to follow without a description.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.