Marsden: Short Walks 1 & 2

Posted on October 28, 2022 Updated on October 28, 2022

As these first two routes are short walks from the centre of Marsden I’ll combine them into one post. Marsden is such a brilliant jump off point for short, medium and long walks, it really does have it all.

Walk 1. Nature Reserve & Packhorse Bridge

The first two walks start in Marsden, really wherever you want to park, because of where you will be walking, the ideal spot would be in the NT Car Park at the top side of the village. From here you simply follow the canal footpath out past the train station and underneath the bridge. A short way beyond the woodland opens up on the left hand side and you can amble your way through. Usually I’ve seen grey squirrels hopping amongst the trees, even the occasional woodpecker.

There are places to sit and an interesting sheep sculpture deep within the woods, before you must drop back down to the canal side and around to the visitors centre.

If you have the time the trip into the tunnel on one of the canal boats is a really good experience, something I’ve done a couple of times with my daughter.

The cafe is great, some superb food, and well worth taking a breather before continuing your walk.

Continuing to the right of the visitors centre and up the grassy banking on your left will bring you to Tunnel End reservoir. It’s here where the nature reserve begins, and has paths going in all manner of directions. This is a brilliant spot to come in the spring time when you are likely to see Swans and their offspring, again squirrels, and if you time it right maybe the odd fox.

Your path through the reserve is easy to follow, and will have you rejoin the road at it’s end, from here follow the road to the left, passing by the old generator site at Hey Green (marked by a blue plaque). Continue on the road until you reach a path off to the left between a wall on your right, and the river on your left.

All you need do now is follow this path and it will bring you to the Packhorse Bridge. If you choose to follow the packhorse road out onto Marsden Moor, I will describe these in more detail on another post.

Your route back to Marsden can either follow the way you came, or alternatively you can follow the road back to the car park.

Walk 2. Butterley Reservoir & Bank Bottom Mill (Marsden Mill).

The first thing I would say is as a general rule I park by the football ground whenever I’m walking out of the Wessenden side of village. Also that generally I don’t do many shorter walks from Marsden anymore.

From your starting point you will need to make your way to the Wessenden side of the valley, and I’d also add that this walk can be done in either direction. Generally I make my way up Binn Rd, as it’s a little easier on the legs than the steps which climb next to the spillway.

The road is short, but it does climb suddenly and you’ll walk past the mill on your right as you climb the hill. It does level out quite soon on this walk as you approach the junction. The road carries on to a small parking area, though before you decide to go and park there it’s a narrow road all the way to the top and accepts about 4 cars. The rough trail straight in front of you is the most direct route up the valley to Wessenden Head if you want a longer walk. Likewise you can extend this walk by walking along a little further also.

It should be noted that there is no easy circular of Butterley reservoir.

When you’re ready to return you have a couple of options, at the top of the hill you’ve just walked up, there was a set of steps on your right hand side, you can take this set of steps or you can cross the path over the spillway to the far end, and take the steps down on that side.

This brings you back down to the same point, a lane which winds it’s way through the middle of the now long since abandoned mill. Personally I would love to explore the insides of the mill, but somehow doubt permission would be granted on safety grounds.

From this point you will walk back out to the car hopefully via one of the many delicious eateries in the village!

These are just a couple of shorter walks from Marsden, I hope to add to these walks quite quickly and at some point will add some pictures to go along with them.