Saddleworth Pub Walk 1 – Dobcross, Ryefields, Running Hill Head

Saddleworth Pub Walk 1 – Dobcross, Ryefields, Running Hill Head, Diglea, Holly Grove
Circular
Pubs: Cross Keys – Pobgreen & Diggle Hotel- Diglea
Cross Keys: Food, JW Lees Beers
Diggle Hotel: Food, Free House, Timothy Taylor, Black Sheep & Other Cask Ales
Miles: 4.3
Walking Time: 1 Hour 45 Minutes (not including pub stops)
Grade: Easy To Moderate
Starting Point: Canalside Car Park, A670 Wool Road, Dobcross
Grid Ref: SD995065
The track in red on the maps may appear in places not to be on the actual path. Routes
plotted by GPS are generally more accurate than traditional mapping methods, always take
the obvious path on the ground. WP in the text and WP symbols on the maps refer to the
waypoints where you are the time.
A walk with some climbing up to the 'Cross Keys' then on to the 'Diggle Hotel' at Diglea.
Returning by the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and Holly Grove back to the starting point.
1
From the car park, cross the A670 Wool Road and head towards Uppermill. Just Past the
mini roundabout and before the viaduct turn left up Brownhill Lane. At the top go past a
stone property on the right and take the second left lane.
When the lane reaches a white painted garage and continues uphill take the narrow path on
the right between a wire fence and a tall hedge. The path continues between a dry stone
wall on the left and a brick wall on the right then reaches a tarmac lane. Carry on in the
same direction. Ignore a left turn signed 'The Tame Valley/Ryefields' and take the right
track through a metal kissing gate by the side of a large metal gate.
The path continues with the cenotaph at 'Pots and Pans' up to the right and St Chad
Saddleworth church ahead. Go through another metal gate and bear left at the two upright
stone slabs. At the end of the path ignore the stile on the left and go through the gap in the
stone wall, then head right downhill. Carry on downhill with a fence to the left passing three
stone pillars and cross the bridge over the stream.
The path follows the stream on the left, goes through a gap in a stone wall and continues
uphill. Where the path forks, take the right one, alongside the cemetery wall, up steps to a
tarmac lane by the church. Turn right and skirt the church on the left, then take the grassy
path uphill ahead at the 'Public Footpath' sign.
The path reached steps then arrives at the Cross Keys public house (30 minutes). After
calling in for refreshments go between the pub and the stone building (which is the HQ of
the Oldham Mountain Rescue Team) next to it then turn left passing the rear of the
building and the pub's beer garden. The narrow path turns 90° right at a stile and comes
out on the tarmac lane at Running Hill Gate (WP1).
Turn left here and proceed uphill passing a public footpath sign at the Wickens Farm
entrance. The lane arrives at a crossroads (WP2), turn left here and go downhill on
Running Hill Lane.
The lane passes three stone houses on the right and one on the left. Just past the left hand
house turn right down the track signposted 'Restricted Byeway' (WP3). The track
eventually widens out, goes downhill and reaches a tarmac road, Ward Lane (WP4). Turn
right here downhill and go past past a house on the right, '9 Ward Lane' and then bear right
at the triangle of lanes (WP5) heading uphill to Kiln Green. The lane then heads downhill
past properties on the left and right. Go past Kiln Green Church then bear right uphill
towards the Diggle Hotel (1 hour 5 minutes).
After calling in at the Diggle Hotel turn right and cross the bridge over the railway line.
Turn left at the other side of the bridge (WP6) going past a bus stop. At the bend in the road
turn left into a car parking area and continue through to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal
tow path which runs parallel to the railway line. Proceed along the tow path past lock 32
West and and at the bridge number 66 turn left uphill on Ward Lane (WP7).
The lane crosses the railway lines and modern housing on the right then forks right uphill
(WP5). Turn right opposite a bungalow taking the signposted direction 'Pennine Bridleway
Uppermill 1¼ mile' (WP8) (1 hour 20 minutes). The lane reaches a fork at Holly Grove,
turn left here waymarked PBW (Pennine Bridleway) passing property on the right.
2
The track, at first concreted, then stone and grass heads uphill with the railway line and the
Huddersfield Narrow Canal down to the right.
The track reaches a gate, then housing and comes out at a fork. Turn right here at the
signpost for 'Pennine Bridleway Uppermill'.
At the next fork turn right, this is Brownhill Lane which goes uphill to housing then
downhill and bends right then back down to the viaduct. Turn right here on the A670, past
the mini roundabout and back to the starting point (1 hour 45 minutes).
3
4
The Standedge tunnel on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal
5