The first half of the walk is in the Peak District boundary but the second half isn't but I've put the whole TR in the Peak District section
Our walk started from the Brun Clough Reservoir car park on the A62 near Marsden. We headed east on the Pennine Way.
Map with route of the first half of the walk
Beefy recorded the route on Viewranger.
Pule Hill from the Pennine Way
Ornate signpost
We went right to keep on the Pennine Way on the pitched path.
Black Moss Reservoir
It was cloudy but not raining and not much wind. Not a bad day at all.
Squeaky and Swellands Reservoir
Binn Moor is the high ground
The paving was intermittent but the ground was very dry when there was none.
Squeaky leading the way down Blakely Clough
That is Wessenden Lodge below West Nab. What a great walk, hill views, moorland, reservoirs and this path down and through the clough was lovely.
Blakeley Reservoir beyond the signpost
We didn't follow the Pennine Way here but we took a path right that led into another clough
This was a lovely path too
You can just about make out the path on the other side of the clough in the shot
Lovely waterfall in the clough
We crossed the stream above a weir, easy because there wasn't much water in it.
New chairs
Out of the clough we had views of Wessenden Lodge, Wessenden Reservoir and West Nab and it looked like a good spot for lunch. We have treated ourselves to new chairs, Helinox Zero's. They are 500g and expensive but we figure we will enjoy the 320g less weight when we are allowed to go wild camping again. They are not as comfortable as our other chairs but you do get used to them after 5 minutes and we are both very happy with them.
Deer at Wessenden Lodge
These are farmed deer rather than wild ones.
Great and Little Butterly Hills
I spotted the spelling is different to Butterley Reservoir and also Blakely Clough as opposed to Blakeley Reservoir. I wonder why the reservoirs have an extra 'e'?
Lunch over we dropped down to Wessenden Reservoir crossed the dam and met up with the Pennine Way again.
Wessenden Reservoir
Rhododendrons
A notice informed us they were clearing invasive plants here and the invasive plants are the rhododendrons
I've noticed a lot of rhododendrons during the walks we've done in the last few weeks, I assumed they were native!
A clough, not sure which one
We were now on the Kirklees Way but we would meet up with the Pennine Way again later.
I am not sure what this sign refers to
I've not been able to find any information about it on the internet. Anyone know what it is about?
Blakeley Reservoir
Butterley Reservoir with Marsden beyond
Map with route of the second half of the walk
Descending a lot of steps to Marsden
The path went through some abandoned mill buildings and then into Marsden, a lovely town which is in West Yorkshire. Looking at the map now, we'd crossed into West Yorkshire not long after we started our walk but we were in the Peak District National Park. Confusing
We had left the Peak District National Park boundary at the end of the Butterley Reservoir. I loved the old houses in the town and it had a nice feel about the place.
On the Huddersfield Narrow Canal
Standedge Tunnel end in Marsden
We walked along Waters Road but there was an off road path that led to where we were going that we could have used. Only one vehicle passed us though and it was easier walking on the road, we were beginning to tire.
Close Gate Bridge
We stopped for another brew and some food next to the stream and enjoyed the rest. We had a bit of a climb to do before we got back to the start.
Path repairs on the way up from Close Gate Bridge
We said hello and thanks to the two men doing the work. I asked if they were volunteers but no they were paid by a conservation company, they said. Not a bad office, in nice weather mind! Hard work though the stones must weigh a bit.
Looking back on the way up Willykay Clough
We saw some paragliders to the right of us, I did take some photos but they weren't very good.
Packhorse Road post
There were quite a few of these along the route. The paving was intermittent but the path was clear on the ground when the paving stopped. It was dry too, I imagine it isn't always dry underfoot. This bit seemed to last forever but eventually we met up with the Pennine Way and headed south to Millstone Edge
Castleshaw Reservoirs in view from Northern Rotchter
Millstone Edge ahead
Approaching the trig point on Millstone Edge
A last look back along Millstone Edge
15 minutes later we were back at Brun Clough Reservoir, what a grand walk this was. The route was Brun Clough Reservoir - Black Moss Reservoir - Blakely Clough - Weir and Ford below Wessenden Moor - Wessenden Reservoir Dam - Kirklees Way - Marsden - Standedge Tunnel End - Waters Road - Close Gate Bridge - Willykay Clough - Northern Rotcher - Millstone Edge - Brun Clough Reservoir 11.46 miles and 593m of ascent.