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Walk: Wessenden and West Nab from Snoopy’s snack van

View from West Nab summit

One of the more popular walks on this website is an 8.5 mile walk around Wessenden and West Nab in West Yorkshire. Deservedly, even if I say so myself 😉 It takes in the stunning Wessenden Valley, following part of the Pennine Way, then contours around to Deer Hill Reservoir and Meltham, before returning via West Nab summit.

But the road section between Meltham and Wessenden Head (there are no footpaths) is something I’ve never felt happy about.

That walk had been my first visit to West Nab summit and I’d diligently followed public rights of way. As I’d taken in the summit views, I’d noticed a group of walkers heading off on a path not shown on the map.

I realised it went over open access land, and tried it out on my next visit. It’s a steep pull uphill but is now my favourite route to the summit. I’ve also recently discovered a way to incorporate it into a 6-mile circular walk with very little road (thank you Mr ODG).

Read on for the description and photographs, or scroll down to pick up a route map in Komoot.

Framing the landscape

Parking in a lay-by on the A635 Huddersfield to Greenfield road, near the junction with Wessenden Head Road (at Snoopy’s snack van), we intrepidly set out in the fog.

After walking a short distance on Wessenden Head Road towards Meltham, we turned left onto a wide track leading to Wessenden Head reservoir.

It’s clearly signed for the Pennine Way and also the site of a Framing the Landscape sculpture by Yorkshire Artist Ashley Jackson. We usually stop for a quick picture but, feeling the cold wind, marched on past!

The track continues past Wessenden Head reservoir to Leyzing Clough. Immediately after crossing the stream in the bottom, we took an unsigned path going steeply uphill. This is the alternative path I found to West Nab summit, and crosses open access land.

Tip #1: If you reach the next reservoir, Wessenden reservoir, you’ve gone too far.

Tip #2: We took the path going steeply uphill at Leyzing Clough and not the path to our left which goes to Deer Hill Reservoir. If you want to follow that one, take a look at my original Wessenden and West Nab walk.

Moorland walking on open access land

Grateful for my walking poles, we tackled the steep terrain, crossing wide open moorland.

I love the wild beauty of the Peak District moors, although it took an entire summer walking them for an AA guidebook update for me to learn how to appreciate them. Side note, if you’re interested, this was the book that helped me fall in love with moorland areas, although it’s since been updated again 👇

AA 50 Walks in the Peak District >> See it on Amazon *

The climb out of Leyzing Clough to West Nab summit is well defined, despite not being marked on the map or signed from the Pennine Way.

Continuing on, we passed by a lump of stones on our left before the terrain began levelling out. A barbed wire fence blocked our path but a quick check behind rocks revealed a short section built to cross (big thanks to the landowner).

Now on flatter ground, the path became a little squelchier, but it’s passable and well walked. We stopped at some boulders, hunkering down from the wind to make a brew and add another layer.

I’d like to say it was a brew with a view but the fog kept blowing through with an icy wind. I suddenly realised that the dead white patches I’d been looking at on top of the heather was actually frost 🥶

It looked like this would be another cloudy West Nab summit for Mr ODG! It had become a standing joke - whenever he walked West Nab, the summit was shrouded in cloud. I’m sure he disputed my claims of amazing views from the trig point!

West Nab summit

Amazingly, as we continued onto the summit, tantalising glimpses of blue sky appeared.

West Nab summit (500m) is marked by a trig post. It’s in West Yorkshire, but also part of the Peak District National Park (just). The northern edge of the National Park ends at Meltham.

It’s also an Ethel, and one of the highest points in West Yorkshire (Black Hill on the other side of the A635 is the county top at 582m). For climbers, there are over 200 gritstone boulder problems at West Nab, mainly in the middle grades.

Importantly, West Nab is on SSSI land and dogs are not permitted. There are roadside signs on the paths leading up to the summit but no sign at Leyzing Clough as it’s not a formal path.


West Nab is a place steeped in history, folklore, and legends. There are carvings on the summit (a compass and a druid’s chair) and, unsurprisingly for Peak District high moorland, it’s the site of a WW2 B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft crash.

By the time we reached the summit trig, the fog had become patchy making the views etheral.

After giving Mr ODG plenty of time to finally enjoy glimpses of the far reaching views, we somewhat reluctantly left the summit.

We followed a well-defined path from the summit trig, heading north east and then continuing downhill to meet Wessenden Head Road.

Turning left on the road, we passed by the cock crowing stone. We then took the first footpath signed on our right, at a bend in the road, to walk downhill on a grassy track. Keeping the wall on our left, we continued towards Royd Edge. By now, the sun had won the fog battle and the views were incredible.

Walking into the sunset

Crossing a stile, we came to a path junction. Turning right on a wide track, we headed downhill to Sun Royd farm. Through the farm, we became a little disorientated. Luckily, the farmer was on hand and pointed us to an obvious sign he’d put in the field - I’m going to blame it on the bright sunlight blinding our vision!

Walking steeply downhill alongside a wall (on our left), we reached woodland with two streams converging. Crossing over the streams, we had a steep uphill walk to a deserted farm.

“It’s a doer-upper” I laughingly said - or maybe not, what a location!

We followed a short track to meet Magdalen Road (another track) and stopped to de-layer in the warm sunshine. Turning right, we began the steady walk uphill.

Magdalen Road took us straight to the A635 main road. A short walk up the road would have taken us back to the car, but it’s a fast and busy road. Besides, the path route is way more scenic.

We turned right, crossing the A635, then immediately left to follow a track downhill.

Keeping right, we continued on Springs Road, an old historic packhorse trail. The ancient paving stones have grooves worn in from the years of cart wheels. It’s worth taking the track just to see them.


Coming to an obvious dog-leg corner in the track, we continued straight ahead, crossing over a stile by a gate.

Now following the Kirklees Way, we meandered through woodland to reach a field. Turning right in the field, we followed a path uphill. It brought us to a stile leading onto the A635, exactly where Snoopy’s snack van parks and right next to our van.

I’m going to finish with an interesting fact about this field - there used to be a pub here known as the Isle of Skye Hotel. It was officially closed in 1956 due to the construction of Digley Reservoir. Look closely, and you can still see the two gateposts from the inn.


Useful information:

Important note: West Nab is on SSSI land and dogs are not permitted. There are roadside signs on the paths leading up to the summit but no sign at Leyzing Clough as this is not a defined path.

Distance: 6.04 miles

Time taken: 3.5 hours

Parking: Free of charge alongside the A635 (Grid reference SE 076 072)

Refreshments: Occasional snack van (Snoopy’s) on the A635 Holmfirth to Greenfield road at the junction with Wessenden Head Road. Otherwise, Meltham or Holmfirth for shops, pubs, and cafes.

Toilets: None on the route

Route: Grab my free GPX download of the route on Komoot

Map: OS Explorer OL1 Dark Peak area

See this content in the original post


You may also be interested in reading:

Walk: Wessenden and West Nab (8.5 mile walk via Deer Hill Reservoir and Meltham)

Walk: Wessenden and Black Hill on the old and new Pennine Way routes (9.5 mile challenging walk across open moorland, requiring careful navigation skills)

Circular walk from Holme: wet and wild! (5 mile walk from Holme village)

What are the Peak District Ethels?

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