Slaithwaite village and canal – Standedge Tunnel loop from Greenfield

Bike touring routes & trails

Slaithwaite village and canal – Standedge Tunnel loop from Greenfield

Hard

riders

Slaithwaite village and canal – Standedge Tunnel loop from Greenfield

03:36

52.6km

880m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 13, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 23.6 km for 67 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

946 m

Wade Lock and High Street Bridge

Highlight • Structure

1.49 km

Tame

Lake

2.32 km

Uppermill Railway Viaduct on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal

Highlight • Monument

Nice and easy way home from the Delph Donkey

Tip by

2.95 km

Dobcross Village Centre

Highlight • Settlement

The village of Dobcross, though hilly, attracts many visitors to Saddleworth. It's like a picture perfect village frozen in time.

In 1979, Dobcross gained some Hollywood fame when scenes for the movie "Yanks," starring Richard Gere and Vanessa Redgrave, were filmed there. This led to an annual military-themed celebration in Saddleworth, which continues today.

Like the rest of Saddleworth, Dobcross was once part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and relied on woolen cloth manufacturing for its livelihood.

Tip by

7.68 km

Standedge Road Cutting

Nature Reserve

12.4 km

Marsden Mill

Highlight • Settlement

16.7 km

Slaithwaite village and canal

Highlight • River

Apparently, it is the only village with a canal alongside the main street!
Commercial Hotel is recommended, located next to the main street (and canal) with a small sitting area out the front. It has an excellent selection of real ales including a couple of their own at very keen prices. Good selection of pubs and restaurants, so a good place for a stop when on a long-distance tour.

Tip by

20.7 km

Weir on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal

Highlight • River

Huddersfield Narrow canal toward Standedge Tunnel.
Very muddy but lots of fun

Tip by

34.4 km

Meltham Monster Climb

Highlight • Climb

worst climb ever

Tip by

35.5 km

Hey Wood

Forest

48.4 km

Standedge Tunnel

Highlight • Structure

The tunnel itself is the longest and deepest canal tunnel in Europe. It was built between 1793 and 1811 during the height of the canal transport in England. Built under the hills of the Pennine national park, the tunnel is three miles long and was built only 7ft wide without any tow paths running along the edge of the canal. During this time the horses that pulled the canal boats would walk over the hills via Boat lane stopping for a drink at The Diggle Hotel. When first opened the men on the narrow boats used to leg through the tunnels to meet their horses in Marsden.

During the construction of the tunnel, workers from the Diggle end would stay over night in the Diggle Hotel

The term legged, meant that the men on the boats would push their way through the tunnel from the side of the boat. The trip taking approximately 4 hours would give time for their horses to walk over the hills along Boat lane, and meet the boat in Marsden at the other end of the tunnel.

Tip by