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thousandmilesblogDate of Walk: 17/04/10
Walk organized by: Self
Start time: 11:00
Start location: Ashton Bus Station
Walk length: 11.06 miles
Weather conditions: Dry, warm, sunny
Huddersfield Narrow Canal passing through Stalybridge
Details:
Huddersfield Narrow Canal
The Huddersfield Narrow Canal runs between Huddersfield and Ashton-Under-Lyne, where it meets the Ashton Canal. It was started in 1794 and completed in 1811, though most sections were open by 1799. The most difficult part of the construction was the Standedge Tunnel, which at over 3 miles long is the longest canal tunnel in Britain and runs between Diggle and Marsden, cutting through the Pennines. The canal has 74 locks, and its highest section has the greatest height above sea level of any canal in Britain. The coming of the railways caused the closure of the canal in the late nineteenth century, but a group was formed in 1974 to re-open it. They faced many obstacles and high costs, as some sections had been filled in and built on, but in May 2001 the entire canal was navigable by boat once more. It is slightly less navigable by pedestrian along the entire length, with some sections of towpath missing (the Standedge Tunnel section never had a towpath, boatmen had to 'leg' the boats through by lying on their backs and walking their legs along the tunnel walls).
Portland Basin
Further along from the Ashton end of the canal, along the Ashton Canal, is Portland Basin Museum. Portland Basin itself is where the Ashton Canal meets the Peak Forest Canal. The museum, with exhibits on the history of the area, occupies the old canal warehouse built in 1834 and features a representation of a 1920s street. The meeting of waterways gave the warehouse links to Manchester, West Yorkshire and the East Midlands, and it was once a very busy place, but it fell into disuse and was damaged by fire in the 1970s. It was restored at the end of the 20th century and opened as a heritage centre. The nearby marina is now a calling point and sometimes a start point for canal pleasure cruises, and there are several narrow boats moored outside the museum for restoration.
As a child I spent a lot of time walking alongside part of the Huddersfield Canal, it was one of my favourite places. I used to walk to Greenfield or Uppermill and back, and be really impressed with how far that was. When I was out cycling once, in my early teens, I remember finding myself at Portland Basin. I carried on from where I was and ended up in Greenfield that day, mostly staying on the canal path. Things must have changed since then, because there isn't really much of a footpath next to the canal in Ashton, you have to head towards Stalybridge now before you can get alongside it. Nevertheless, the idea of trying as far as possible to walk along the canal from Ashton to Uppermill did appeal. As someone reminded me earlier in the week, the good thing about canal walks is that they're quite flat and the paths are good.
The Walk
Starting at the bus station, I walked down to Portland Basin and across the bridge, continuing along the canal for the short distance it's still possible. I crossed the road near ASDA and passed around the store, going along a footpath and crossing a road to reach another footpath that runs alongside the River Tame for a short while. Leaving this path, I continued by road to Stalybridge, finally joining the canal path a few minutes outside the town centre. The canal runs right through the centre of the town, with many small bridges across it. Some sections are quite new and well maintained. Leaving the town I continued alongside the canal through Heyrod, with its many electricity sub-stations, to Mossley, where I stopped for lunch. I carried on along the canal until the towpath on the side I was on runs out, at which point I joined the Pennine Bridleway up to Friezland. At Friezland I turned down Calf Lane and joined the canal towpath once more. I continued into Greenfield, and then Uppermill, and carried on as far as Brownhill for a quick stop before turning back into Uppermill to get the bus home.
There's been a lot of building work since I last walked along that section of the canal, and there are now many canalside houses so you never feel too far away from civilization. It also seems like there are more factories, but I'm sure I must be imagining that. I met quite a few people out walking, including a girl who thought I must be mad to be walking from Ashton to Uppermill, and I should have got the bus. Maybe she's right. There was also a lot of wildlife, including a peacock butterfly that fluttered around me while I ate my lunch and then followed me quite persistently for about half a mile. I think it was after my sandwiches. Who knew that butterflies like cheese and onion. I may never go on a solo walk that includes lunch and get to eat it in peace. I saw lots of birds, and a frog that didn't look too healthy sitting in the sun. The path got very crowded once I reached Uppermill, after the relative peace and quiet of the rest of the walk it wasn't entirely welcome but it's good to see people out making the most of the weather.
I have very sore feet, underlining the need to get some walking boots that are the right size to only wear one pair of socks. It was far too hot for two. I also managed through brute force and persistence to get everything on my hydration pouch not to leak, so I took that out with me. The opening on the bite valve is tiny, and I'd have to drink more or less continuously from it to get enough water, but the valve comes off and you can drink a lot faster that way. The taste is a bit odd, I had plain water in and I had cleaned it before using it, but I should be able to get used to it. I started off much later than I'd planned, and there were no hills, so I had no problems with energy levels. I was quite surprised by how far I walked and the time I managed it in. It was certainly a nice way to spend a day, anyway.
Portland Basin Museum viewed from across the canal
Quiet part of the River Tame near ASDA
Pennine Bridleway between Mossley and Friezland
Looking towards Pots and Pans from Calf Lane
Huddersfield Narrow Canal going from Friezland to Greenfield
Walk organized by: Self
Start time: 11:00
Start location: Ashton Bus Station
Walk length: 11.06 miles
Weather conditions: Dry, warm, sunny
Huddersfield Narrow Canal passing through Stalybridge
Details:
Huddersfield Narrow Canal
The Huddersfield Narrow Canal runs between Huddersfield and Ashton-Under-Lyne, where it meets the Ashton Canal. It was started in 1794 and completed in 1811, though most sections were open by 1799. The most difficult part of the construction was the Standedge Tunnel, which at over 3 miles long is the longest canal tunnel in Britain and runs between Diggle and Marsden, cutting through the Pennines. The canal has 74 locks, and its highest section has the greatest height above sea level of any canal in Britain. The coming of the railways caused the closure of the canal in the late nineteenth century, but a group was formed in 1974 to re-open it. They faced many obstacles and high costs, as some sections had been filled in and built on, but in May 2001 the entire canal was navigable by boat once more. It is slightly less navigable by pedestrian along the entire length, with some sections of towpath missing (the Standedge Tunnel section never had a towpath, boatmen had to 'leg' the boats through by lying on their backs and walking their legs along the tunnel walls).
Portland Basin
Further along from the Ashton end of the canal, along the Ashton Canal, is Portland Basin Museum. Portland Basin itself is where the Ashton Canal meets the Peak Forest Canal. The museum, with exhibits on the history of the area, occupies the old canal warehouse built in 1834 and features a representation of a 1920s street. The meeting of waterways gave the warehouse links to Manchester, West Yorkshire and the East Midlands, and it was once a very busy place, but it fell into disuse and was damaged by fire in the 1970s. It was restored at the end of the 20th century and opened as a heritage centre. The nearby marina is now a calling point and sometimes a start point for canal pleasure cruises, and there are several narrow boats moored outside the museum for restoration.
As a child I spent a lot of time walking alongside part of the Huddersfield Canal, it was one of my favourite places. I used to walk to Greenfield or Uppermill and back, and be really impressed with how far that was. When I was out cycling once, in my early teens, I remember finding myself at Portland Basin. I carried on from where I was and ended up in Greenfield that day, mostly staying on the canal path. Things must have changed since then, because there isn't really much of a footpath next to the canal in Ashton, you have to head towards Stalybridge now before you can get alongside it. Nevertheless, the idea of trying as far as possible to walk along the canal from Ashton to Uppermill did appeal. As someone reminded me earlier in the week, the good thing about canal walks is that they're quite flat and the paths are good.
The Walk
Starting at the bus station, I walked down to Portland Basin and across the bridge, continuing along the canal for the short distance it's still possible. I crossed the road near ASDA and passed around the store, going along a footpath and crossing a road to reach another footpath that runs alongside the River Tame for a short while. Leaving this path, I continued by road to Stalybridge, finally joining the canal path a few minutes outside the town centre. The canal runs right through the centre of the town, with many small bridges across it. Some sections are quite new and well maintained. Leaving the town I continued alongside the canal through Heyrod, with its many electricity sub-stations, to Mossley, where I stopped for lunch. I carried on along the canal until the towpath on the side I was on runs out, at which point I joined the Pennine Bridleway up to Friezland. At Friezland I turned down Calf Lane and joined the canal towpath once more. I continued into Greenfield, and then Uppermill, and carried on as far as Brownhill for a quick stop before turning back into Uppermill to get the bus home.
There's been a lot of building work since I last walked along that section of the canal, and there are now many canalside houses so you never feel too far away from civilization. It also seems like there are more factories, but I'm sure I must be imagining that. I met quite a few people out walking, including a girl who thought I must be mad to be walking from Ashton to Uppermill, and I should have got the bus. Maybe she's right. There was also a lot of wildlife, including a peacock butterfly that fluttered around me while I ate my lunch and then followed me quite persistently for about half a mile. I think it was after my sandwiches. Who knew that butterflies like cheese and onion. I may never go on a solo walk that includes lunch and get to eat it in peace. I saw lots of birds, and a frog that didn't look too healthy sitting in the sun. The path got very crowded once I reached Uppermill, after the relative peace and quiet of the rest of the walk it wasn't entirely welcome but it's good to see people out making the most of the weather.
I have very sore feet, underlining the need to get some walking boots that are the right size to only wear one pair of socks. It was far too hot for two. I also managed through brute force and persistence to get everything on my hydration pouch not to leak, so I took that out with me. The opening on the bite valve is tiny, and I'd have to drink more or less continuously from it to get enough water, but the valve comes off and you can drink a lot faster that way. The taste is a bit odd, I had plain water in and I had cleaned it before using it, but I should be able to get used to it. I started off much later than I'd planned, and there were no hills, so I had no problems with energy levels. I was quite surprised by how far I walked and the time I managed it in. It was certainly a nice way to spend a day, anyway.
Portland Basin Museum viewed from across the canal
Quiet part of the River Tame near ASDA
Pennine Bridleway between Mossley and Friezland
Looking towards Pots and Pans from Calf Lane
Huddersfield Narrow Canal going from Friezland to Greenfield
