Slahud one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 75.00% of reviewers

Walked Huddersfield to Slaithwaite, grey but dry early Spring day.
The route is mostly canal towpath, except at Huddersfield where it connects up the hill to the magnificent railway station. (Photo 1). The route chosen for this slow way uses an old local footpath up the hill at Springwood, and then passes the bus station. On paper this seems a good approach, but in reality the footpath had a lot of casual rubbish and some fly tipping too, which was a shame, a poor welcome to Huddersfield for anyone arriving this way. I would agree with a previous reviewer, that a version which continues the towpath further into Huddersfield and then goes directly to the station at Chapel Hill might work better. As a visitor I didn’t have opportunity to reccy this myself.

As also pointed out by previous reviewers, there is a section of towpath at Huddersfield where the embankment wall is unstable, and it looks as though the intention is to close that part of the towpath pending getting the repairs made. (Photos 3 and 4). With no actual plans or timeline or sense of urgency for the repairs, it is no surprise that the closure gates have been taken off their hinges, and the path is fully accessible. There is already a flag set for this route for this section so I don’t think it’s necessary to set another one, as it doesn’t require a detour right now. This section of towpath is well used and it seems incredible that a job like this has been outstanding for years already. An excellent example of literally crumbling transport infrastructure in an urban environment.

Apart from those observations this is a good straightforward route. There is some industrial use, including a couple of toxic smelling activities, along the way, along with some lovely rural areas - so pretty typical for the area. The canal was drained in places, not navigable, I hope that’s just a temporary thing while they get ready for the summer season.

Slaithwaite was lovely, and I had an excellent refreshment stop before continuing on to Marsden.

It is an easy route with no hills, just slopes at canal locks and is about five miles. It is a safe route but I wouldn’t do it at night as it is mostly not lit and the Longroyd Bridge to Milnsbridge section is very deep in the valley with little access. The canal was well surfaced recently and is good for wheelchairs, but access is not always easy and some canal bridges have very narrow paths. Parts of the route become industrial - breakers yards etc. with really nice sections between, but once you get past Golcar it becomes semi-rural.
However, I would start at the bottom of Chapel Hill below Kirklees College and the canal there rather than go through Roads from town. In Sla’wit (Slaithwaite) get a bus back easily to Huddersfield on the A62 or use the train station - but check times as not all trains stop there. of course you may want to walk back the same way!.

Straightforward and pleasant canal walk.
Tow path is surfaced and step-free. Only potential access issues are some steeper cobbled sections by the locks.

Flagging this for an access issue as when walked in February 2024, the section of towpath between Birdhouse Lane and Manchester Road was technically closed. Barriers have been placed across the path due to a section of unsafe wall near the railway viaduct. However, the locks had been removed at both ends and the path was still being used.

Mostly canal towpath until near Hudds.
Can leave the towpath to the right at lock 4E before going under the bridge; turn left to head towards town.
Can also walk along the pavement of Manchester Road as a more direct, but less traffic-free, means of completing the last mile.

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