Colne Valley By Bus
The Colne Valley stretches out to the westernmost part of the Branch and is reasonably well served by bus. There is a great variety of pubs and beers to be had! From Huddersfield the 181 184 and 185 First bus services cover the main Manchester Road corridor, 181 and 184 branching off to serve Linthwaite Church, the 185 staying on Manchester Road. At Slaithwaite the 181 drops down in to Slaithwaite centre and up to Wilberlee and the 184 185 operating to Marsden. The 184 continues via Saddleworth to Oldham. In addition, the 394 and 395 Stott’s bus routes operate from Huddersfield to Slaithwaite via Milnsbridge, Golcar and Wellhouse. The Huddersfield – Manchester Piccadilly stopping train calls at Slaithwaite and Marsden.
Th’Alma, Linthwaite
Travelling from Huddersfield, the first pub is Th’ Alma, opposite Linthwaite Church. Th’Alma is a Thwaites pub serving up to three cask beers, Thwaites Gold and IPA were available on a recent visit. Th’Alma is a friendly pub, a variety of live sports are shown on three screens and burgers and pizzas are available at weekends. There is also a beer garden which has tremendous views down the valley.
Sair, Linthwaite
A short walk from Th’ Alma, down Tommy Lane, brings you to the Sair Inn, a historic multi roomed pub of great character. Although no longer brewed at the pub, a couple of Linfit beers are usually available on the bar alongside Theakston Old Peculiar and beers from Empire, Timothy Taylor and Vocation.
Royal Oak, Linthwaite
Continuing downhill from The Sair you reach Manchester Road, turn right and a bit further on, on the left, is the Royal Oak. A popular venue for live music, the Royal Oak also has much to offer the real ale fan. The beer range is constantly changing and usually four cask beers are available these were Brains SA, St Austell Tribute, Green King Abbot Ale, and Salcombe Lifesaver when I called in. As well as live music, pool and darts are played. A most friendly and welcoming pub.
Continuing westward, the next stop is Slaithwaite. The 185 stops on the opposite side of the road to the Royal Oak or for a greater choice of buses, a short walk up Manchester Road to Hoyle House Fold where the 181 and 184 join Manchester Road. 184 and 185 stop on Manchester Road in Slaithwaite but the 181 goes down into the centre of the village.
There are two pubs in the centre of Slaithwaite, The Commercial and The Shoulder of Mutton, the Commercial always has beers from the nearby Empire brewery including Moonraker Mild and house beer Commerci’ale, guest beers also feature alongside the Empire ones and on a recent visit these were Ashover Font, North Riding Citra Pale and Saltaire DDH Citra. Real cider is also available, Heck’s Glastonbury Gold being on when I called in. Moonraker Mild is on permanently and the Commercial is a multiple winner of Huddersfield CAMRA’s Mild Pub of the Year award.
Shoulder of Mutton, Slaithwaite
The Shoulder of Mutton is a busy, popular pub with up to 6 cask beers available. When I called in Bradfield Farmer’s Blonde, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Ossett Yorkshire Blonde and White Rat were amongst the beers on offer.
Zapato Brewery, West Slaithwaite
From Slaithwaite we continue westwards towards Marsden. At West Slaithwaite, Zapato Brewery is just off the canal towpath and can be reached on foot via the towpath from Slaithwaite (approx. 1 mile) or Marsden (approx. 1.5miles) the 184 and 185 stop nearby, get off at the West Slaithwaite Road stop and it is a short walk from there. There are two handpumps on the bar serving changing cask beers, there are also numerous keg and bottled beers available. A variety of seating is available and a real fire for the colder months (most of the year in Colne Valley!) there is outside seating too. Zapato gets very busy at weekends and street food vendors are often onsite.
Rose & Crown, Cop Hill
The next pub is a bit off the beaten track, but well worth a visit if it is a good weather day. The Rose and Crown at Cop Hill is a steep climb of about 1 mile from Zapato, up White Hill and Booth Bank and on the left as you reach the top. You will be rewarded for your climb with beers from Empire and Timothy Taylor, and Goose Eye and Bradfield in the summer months. As well as good beer and great food, the Rose and Crown has probably the best beer garden in the Huddersfield area, if not Yorkshire, with fantastic far reaching views across the valley.
View from the Rose & Crown Beer Garden
Retracing your route back to Zapato, you can walk to Marsden on the towpath or from Manchester Road catch the 184 or 185. In Marsden, the 184 stops on Manchester Road opposite the New Inn, the 185 turning into Peel Street. The New Inn sells Bradfield Farmers Blonde and Black Sheep Bitter as regular beers and occasionally also beers from Dark Horse and Timothy Taylor. Food is also served in this lively and popular pub. The Railway, adjacent to the railway station, has live music and events on most nights of the week and on the beer front has Timothy Taylor Boltmaker and Bradfield Farmer’s Blonde. The Riverhead Brewery Tap on Peel Street is the winner of many CAMRA awards, both for the pub itself and the beers. Up to 10 beers are available, usually six from Riverhead, two from Ossett and two guest beers. The Riverhead brewery is visible from the bar! As well as the downstairs bar, there is an upstairs room with comfy seating and a riverside terrace for alfresco drinking.
The area between Marsden, the Rose and Crown and Slaithwaite is criss-crossed by an extensive network of footpaths and combined with the pubs makes for a great day out.