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At Pear Tree Cottage you can:
* Relax in the sauna cabin (2 hours' notice needed to heat it up!)
* Sit out in our peaceful garden (Weather and midges permitting!)
* Watch TV, our selection of DVD's and videos or listen to the radio.
* Play board and card games, chess and "Palet" (Breton "Boules").
* Dip into our book and map collection, with lots of material on local history, the Chartist movement and travel.
* Or just do nothing.You can purchase most things for day to day needs at the end of our street at:
* The Little Shop, Marsden Lane, (Near Lock 39E), Smithy Holme Tel:846818
(General Store, Off-licence and Video Hire)
(Opening Hours: Closed until further notice) In and around Marsden village you can:
* Feed the ducks by the weir in Argyle Street
* Watch the narrow boats navigate the canal locks and form convoys for the Standedge tunnel.
* Go rock climbing. (Ring Andy on 234000 for advice).
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| Peel Street has shops, cafes, pubs, the Mechanics' Institute and Library and buses to most parts. |
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* Get in the saddle at Westwyns Stables (841345)
* Shop in Peel Street for unique gifts made by local craft workers, hunt for collectors' items or bric a brac and browse a surprising variety of specialist small shops.
* Play tennis or bowls in the Park. (223251)
* Spend the day fishing (Day licences are available from the Post Office and cost £3.50)
* Swim in Indoor heated pools at Slaithwaite (222907) and Uppermill (01457 876668)
* Play golf at Hemplow in a spectacular setting overlooking the Wessenden valley (844253).
* Go bird spotting (Moorland, Woodland and Water habitats). Look for the Kingfisher on the towpath walk to Slaithwaite!
* Watch the para- and hang-gliders at Buckstones and Pule Hill.
* Take a helicopter ride (01457 820152 or www.penninehelis.co.uk)
* Enjoy a game of pool, darts, cards, snooker or chess, listen to live bands or enjoy good conversation in one of Marsden's 21 licensed pubs and clubs,some open all day.
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Marsden Moor
Estate
The National Trust (NT) owns and manages 2,300 hectares of unenclosed moorland around the village and has a full programme of guided walks, nature conservation volunteer activities and special events. The Trust's "Welcome to Marsden" Exhibition at the entrance to the Standedge Visitor Centre car-park near the train station gives a good introduction to the development of the landscape, natural and economic history of the area.
The NT publishes two brochures -"Marsden and Tunnel End" and "Marsden Moor Estate" that include walks to suit all abilities with notes about what you can see.
Our favourite goes via the pack horse bridge at Eastergate to March Haigh reservoir, returning via Berry Greave for a pint at the Tunnel End Inn (5miles/8km)
Find out more from the link on our "Useful Web Sites" page.
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| A narrow boat approaches Lock 38E at Smithy Holme Bridge - only a stonesthrow from Pear Tree Cottage |
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Huddersfield Narrow
Canal (HNC)
Built between 1794 and 1811, the HNC took the shortest route between industrial Yorkshire and Lancashire and at 645ft (196m) above sea level is the highest canal in Britain. In the 7.25 miles (11.6km) from Huddersfield, it rises 436ft (133m) by 42 locks to Marsden. Here it passes under the Pennines by a tunnel that is not only the highest, but also the longest (3.25 miles/5.2km) and deepest (638ft/194m) in Britain. The HNC was re-opened to through navigation on 1st May, 2001. Get the full story at the Canal Society's web site - www.hcanals.demon.co.uk. You can book a trip through the tunnel and walk or take the 184 bus back by the route the horses took over the top. (See the Standedge Vistor Centre site on our "Useful Web Sites").
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The Pennine Way (PW) The first National Trail in Britain. This demanding 268 miles (429km) walk from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland passes within 2.5km of the village at Wessenden Lodge and then continues across the peaty wilderness of Black Moss to Standedge where there is an hourly bus service into the village. We can usually arrange for pick-ups with our own car from the PW at "The Great Western" on the A62 at Standedge and for the transfer of packs to the next stages at Mankinholes/Hebden Bridge (going North) or Crowden/Padfield (going South). There are several possibilities for circular walks from the village incorporating sections of the Pennine Way.
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| The Pennine Way crosses the National Trust's Marsden Moor Estate between Wessenden Head & Standedge. |
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The Alternative Pennine Way (APW) Different in character from the Pennine Way, the APW visits many places of interest, including Marsden, on its 431 km route from Ashbourne in Derbyshire to Jedburgh in Scotland. Devised by Denis Brook and Phil Hinchliffe (Published by Cicerone Press 1992) to achieve their "ideal" walking days with easily managed stages and good food, drink and accommodation on the way, the APW is followed by many walkers who are walking the length of Britain from Land's End to John o' Groats.
Pear Tree Cottage is just 500m from the APW path.
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Festivals and Other Annual Events 15th Marsden Jazz Festival
13 - 15 October, 2006
A great week-end featuring a wide variety of styles of jazz, dozens of local bands and youth jazz ensembles and top line artists, including the veteran trumpeter and comedy show presenter Humphrey Lyttleton. Much of the festival is hosted for free by the village's many pubs and clubs. For details telephone 01484 843701 or e-mail admin@marsdenjazzfestival.com. Marsden Cuckoo Festival
7 - 9 April 2006
Family week-end event celebrating the return of the Cuckoo with "Hunt the Cuckoo" walk, folk night, Morris Dancers, craft fair, duck race, ceilidh dance and lots of other things mark the arrival of Spring. Marsden Silver Band March and Slow Melody Contest
June
A spectacular event at which brass bands from both sides of the Pennines march from the village centre to the Musical Institute in Marsden Lane where they play a hymn tune. The bands are judged both on their musicianship and their deportment. Imbolc Annual Fire Festival
1st Saturday in February
Evening celebration of the Celtic festival marking the first signs of Spring, with procession of fire along the canal towpath, pyrotechnics and symbolic battle between "Jack Frost" and "The Green Man".
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| The bass section of Diggle Band playing a hymn tune at Marsden Silver Band's Annual Contest in June |
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Museums and Excursions for a Wet Day! Colne Valley Museum Housed in a row of former hand-loom weavers' cottages built in the 1840's at Cliff Ash, Golcar (5 miles north east of Marsden), museum volunteers show how wool was spun on a Hargreaves spinning jenny and how cloth was woven on hand looms in the restored upper floor workshop. There's also a clog making and cobblers shop and early 19th century kitchen, together with a cafe and rotating exhibitions. Open Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. Admission Charge. National Coal Mining Museum for England Caphouse Colliery, located 7 miles east of Huddersfield at Overton, on the road to Wakefield, was one of the many coal mines in the area closed by the Thatcher Government after the defeat of the 1984-85 miners' strike. It has been refurbished to provide visitors with an insight into the history of coal mining and the working conditions of the miners. Descent in the cage and an underground tour with hat and miners lamp to the coal face are included. Open Daily. Admission Free.
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