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The People’s Millions funding enabled us to appoint the contractor, Terra Firma Environmental, to undertake the restoration of the ancient packhorse track (properly Colne Valley Netherwood Lane Footpath 180), under the supervision of Andy Gardner, Public Rights of Way Projects Officer at Kirklees Council; find the story on Youtube.

The Grand Opening of the Heritage Trail took place on Saturday 4th July 2015; Her Majesty’s representative Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire David Pearson and his wife Mrs Elaine Pearson performed the ceremony. There were lots of fun events in both Slaithwaite and Marsden, including the Yorkshire Highwayman ‘Swift Nicks’ Nevison as well as Huddersfield Youth Brass Ensemble and Hope Bank Jazz Band.

KLTV produced an excellent documentary about the day available on Youtube.

There are six different types of ancient waymarkers and milestones along the Trail; we also commissioned new artworks for you to discover – the footprints in MerryDale, the Guide Stoop at Cop Hill, the Packhorse on the restored footpath and the Hare on the hillside above Manchester Road. See more on Youtube.

We ran some guided walks with Huddersfield and District Archaeological Society and with Kirklees Countryside Volunteers as part of the 2015 CBA Festival of Archaeology, but you can explore the Trail yourself, as an 8 mile hike or in short sections using public transport. You’ll find full details of the Route on this website – and you might like to sing along to the Jagger’s Refrain as you follow in his footsteps!

We hope you will enjoy finding out more about our Pennine travel heritage – if you have any comments, please get in touch through our facebook group CrossingthePennines or contact milestonesociety@outlook.com. Follow us on twitter too: @storiesinstone