Marsden Moor is more than 5,000 acres of Pennine moorland west of Marsden village in West Yorkshire, protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its blanket bog and ground-nesting birds, among them red grouse and golden plover. Its history runs from prehistoric times to the trans-Pennine transport routes that cross it. Waymarked walks range from the Eastergate return along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, under 3 miles, through the moderate Pule Hill and Deer Hill circuits, to the 10-mile Standedge circuit on the Pennine Way; the Wessenden Valley track passes four reservoirs. Peat restoration continues after a series of damaging fires, with new native woodland and leaky dams along the paths, and barbecues and fires are banned all year round. Reviewers note how easily the moor is reached by train, with Marsden station next to the Trust's information room. Paths are muddy and unsuited to limited mobility, dogs need a short lead in the nesting season, and parking is free at Buckstones and the roadside laybys.
