Ripmar two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Ripmar here.

Walked from Ripponden to Marsden. Most of this route is excellent, through moorland and pretty countryside on well marked paths and quiet roads. I docked it a mark because the steep climb from Moselden Lane to the M62 may be a little dangerous when wet, and because the path used to descend into Marsden is very stony and rough, and comes down through a garden which may deter those coming up from Marsden station.

From the bus stop in Sowerby Bridge, we descend a steep cobbled street to cross the river Ryburn, then double back to find the back street that goes under the main road. We cross a small park then follow a quiet back lane alongside the river, continuing on a popular path with a few ups and downs and one set of steps. We climb away from the river along Holme House Lane, then take the path onwards which is mostly well marked but loses definition a little on the climb up to Rishworth Mill Lane, which we reach having walked round to the right of Top Barn.

As the first reviewer of RipMar one noted, the shortcut path here starts up awkward steps cut into a stone wall and disappears into the undergrowth, so I adopted his suggestion of staying on the lane when drawing this route (if the plot seems a bit off here, I blame the OS 1:25000 map!). We follow the lane across undulating hillside for some distance. Eventually we descend towards the bottom of a large dam. The right of way path starts lower down than the definitive line - it has stiles and is quite a steep climb, but once across the farm lane the going is easier. The lanes allow us to cross the M62 easily and we then continue right past on old barn, before taking a rougher path that follows a wall up the hillside before heading right over the moor to Saddleworth Road.

We cross straight over and descend to Deanhead Reservoir using an old zigzag path (quite rough and stony because the walls alongside it are collapsing). We cross the dam, then head steeply up the hillside. We are now on the Kirklees Way. At Weatmans House we turn right through the garden/farmyard and follow the lane up to the A640 (New Hey Road), which has a walkable verge on the north side. We soon leave it on a good track past Cupwith Reservoir. Beyond a stone bench and a Peak and Northern footpath sign, we head straight on on a path than gets rougher and wetter, with occasional paved sections, then descend farm lanes to the escarpment overlooking Marsden.

Here a short section through grass leads to an old narrow path between stone walls, where the going is rough due to the number of fallen stones and other minor obstacles. The path emerges in a garden with a hot tub, and the lane continues steeply before emerging on Dirker Drive just above the railway station. The meeting point is on the south side of the station, but those with trains to catch are unlikely to go that far.

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