Melhud two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Melhud here.

Walked from Meltham to Huddersfield. Mostly pretty good, though the GPX plotting is a bit loose and approximate in places. I am not going to flag the route for accuracy because the GPX is never more than 100 meters from the paths. Some of the paths in the middle part are little used and not waymarked, so navigation skills may be needed.

From the poorly sited Meltham meeting point we go east on Huddersfield Road, which can be crossed using a conveniently sited pelican crossing. We soon head left - the diagonal on the GPX is a little confusing, though there is a diagonal path through the field just left of the house on the corner. Near Lane takes us to the path right, which goes fairly steeply downhill to meet the Meltham Greenway. It is easier to stay on the main cycle track to the right of the GPX line as far as the path where we leave it, which has two routes up from the track, the first one being a little steep, though the tree roots help to stabilise it.

Our path has stiles and starts between fences, and I missed the right turn through the second field, a mistake easily rectified using the next crossing path. After crossing a stream, we start climbing, and the path has been diverted left to avoid a farmhouse - both the OS map and OpenStreetMap now show the correct line which goes a little wider than what the GPX shows. Above the farm the straight line on the GPX is more misleading - there is a choice of routes but the easiest is to follow the tarmacked farm road until it leaves the access land, then use the steeper gravelled lane, once again leaving it when it heads left.

A little path right takes us into a pasture, which we cross, then another field takes us to an old lane between stone walls, which we follow most of the way to the farm before turning right onto the rather overgrown James Lane. We cross Madgin Lane and head straight on, then take an unsignposted right turn into an even more overgrown old lane, which leads to Intake Lane. We go left then right, following the road over Dean Clough and past more farm buildings before taking the lane right, which is not private whatever the sign suggests (it may be intended to deter vehicles rather than walkers.

The stone stile before the farm is obvious, but the field path is mostly unmarked, so keep a sharp eye out for the wall crossings. You may encounter cows, but the ones I passed were very docile. Beyond the third field the path has been diverted left and now goes along the north side of the wall not the south. Another diagonal crossing takes us to Nether Moor Road, which we follow left a short distance.

A good path takes us across a field and down through a wood - this may be muddy in places. The path is wide and well trodden, so no navigation problems, and we go left above a fenced off old quarry to reach Butternab Road, where it is possible to cross low walls to get into Beaumont Park immediately. The GPX line through the park is a little wayward, but for the most part it is easy just to follow the surfaced paths that stay closest to the road. There is one short flight of steps which can be avoided by leaving the park earlier. Eventually there is no option but to exit the park, and use the pavement on the north side of Beaumont Park Road, continuing fairly steeply down Hanson Lane to reach Meltham Road.

The A616 junction has pelican crossings, but these demand patience, as there you have to cross multiple crossings and they are in sync with the traffic lights. Eventually you should get to the far side of the main road, where we turn right over the bridge then left on Lockwood Scar. The path left us signposted, and threads its way past industrial buildings to reach Queens Mill Road, where we go straight on then take the signposted footbridge across the Colne. The signposts direct you to the left hand pavement of Queen Street South, but at some point before the main road joins you have to cross to the right hand side - not difficult as the road is not busy.

Pelican crossings help us cross the main road (the first one is currently closed for building work but the one at the junction with Queen Street is still working. If you are unfamiliar with Huddersfield you may not expect to have to climb the steps under the Piazza Centre sign, but from here the rest of the walk is easy, on wide pavements and pedestrianised shopping streets. The Huddersfield meeting point is by the station entrance - there are benches here beyond the Harold Wilson statue.

Track between Crosland Edge and South Crosland often very muddy.
Wide-ranging views from the open fields after South Crosland.
Route passes along the length of Beaumont Park with views of the Holme Valley and Castle Hill.
It then drops down to a busy road junction at Lockwood Bar before following the Riverside Way to Queen Street.

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