Cat Holes

How Tricky Is it? - Cat Holes

This walk is graded as Moderate

A medium length walk requiring a reasonable level of fitness, crossing hilly ground or moorland with rising and falling levels.

Paths may be rough and uneven, with some steeper slopes, or longer sections of ascent and descent.

Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing essential.

Cat Holes Precis Map

The Full Directions - Cat Holes

• From the Railway Station join the towpath eastwards away from the road bridge (which crosses the canal and railway)
  Immediately pass under two bridges.

• 1Lock 39E

  

  Shortly after lock 39E the towpath drops down under a road bridge (No 56)

• 2Lock 42

  

  Pass a winding hole below canal lock 42. (A round pool for turning narrow boats around).

• 3Bridge 54

  

  Continue on the towpath passing by a wooded area. After the woods, ahead of you there is large millpond on your right and Sparth Reservoir on your left. After Lock 33E leave the towpath and cross the stone bridge 54 over the canal.

  History Notes

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  To your right is a millstream taking water from the river to maintain the level of the millpond. Once every mill had one; this is a rare survivor.

• 4Sparth Reservoir

  

  Turn right onto a flagged path beside the reservoir.

  History Notes

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  The reservoir was built in 1807 to feed the canal.

• 5Left onto a broad track.

  

  Continue until you reach a broad track. Turn left with a row of cottages on your right.

• 6On to Netherwood Lane

  

  Continue up to the road. Turn left for a few yards then right onto an unmade track; Netherwood Lane.

• 7Under the Viaduct

  

  Proceed under the Viaduct. Ignore the first right turn and continue up the hill.

• 8Bear right at the fork

  

  At a fork in the track bear right up the hill into a wooded area.

  History Notes

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  Across the clough is the hamlet of Slaithwaite Hall which dates from the early 16th century.

• 9A sharp left

  

  The track eventually turns sharp left by the disused quarry, passing through two stone gate posts.

• 10Netherwood Farm

  

  Continue up the hill, ahead is Netherwood Farm.

• 11Turn left over a stile

  

  100m before the house turn left over a stile.

• 12Through the field

  

  Cross the field through a broken-down wall.

• 13Proceed to a stile in the far wall.

  

  Cross onto a track. Turn left and walk down the track for several metres.

• 14Join a narrow path

  

  Join a narrow path on your right by the way marker post and a gap in the wall with woodland on the left and fields on the right.

• 15Continue along the path

  

  Eventually crossing a stream that falls into a deep clough. The path turns left along the edge of the clough, then right and reaches a track below a cottage.

• 16Emerge into an open area with views of the Colne Valley.

  

  Turn left and follow the track as it curves left to a large metal gate. As you pass the gate another track climbs steeply on the right. Ignore this and carry on, soon dropping down to an open area with views of the Colne Valley and Marsden.
  When you reach the triangular junction keep right along the road passing houses on your left.

  History Notes

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  On the left are old settlements including Old House, Dirker Bank and Dirker. These were once inhabited by clothiers who combined a little farming with woolen weaving.

• 17Returning to the Railway Station

  

  At the cross roads continue straight onto Springhead Lane until you arrive at a short grassy track. Take the grassy track to a large white house on your right. Turn left onto the tarmac track under the pine trees. At the bottom turn right onto Dirker Drive, then left over the railway bridge onto Station Road and return to the start.