Nestled along the River Colne in the South Pennines, right on the edge of the Peak District, sits the delightful town – an ideal haven for ramblers and cyclists alike.

Visitors heading to the Yorkshire Moors or Peak District frequently bypass the village of Marsden, yet it serves as an excellent base for exploration. Boasting scenic countryside walks and numerous spots to take a breather or enjoy a refreshing pint, it occupies a prime position, with fascinating landmarks practically on its doorstep.

Among the attractions drawing travellers is the stunning Marsden Moor, which covers over 5,000 acres of protected National Trust land. A local resident shared their thoughts about regular visits to the moor on TripAdvisor.

They wrote: “I’m lucky enough to live in Marsden, so I’m on the moors pretty much every week with the dogs or the local running club I run for. There are stunning walks, trails, waterfalls and plenty of reservoirs, and plenty of tracks to walk and run on. It’s never really busy, as it’s such a big area.”

Another walker commented: “Walk on the wild side. This is a beautiful and very lonely part of the countryside not far from our home. We regularly walk the dog and enjoy some quiet time up here. Winderness, well not quite, but you might not meet many people up here. Beautiful.”

Many walkers favour the spectacular Stanza Stones Trail, a 47-mile long-distance path connecting Marsden to Ilkley, weaving local landmarks throughout the journey.

The route features six poems carved into stones, all penned by the locally acclaimed Poet Laureate Simon Armitage.

However, the true treasure of this village remains the Standedge Tunnel, which dates back to 1794.

It proudly holds the distinction of being the nation’s longest, deepest and highest canal tunnel, representing a remarkable achievement of Georgian engineering.

Construction of this extraordinary structure took 17 years in total, reaching completion in 1811. Its significance lies partly in the fact it was created entirely through hand blasting methods, cutting through solid rock without a towpath. Positioned 683 feet below ground and standing 196 metres above sea level, it continues to hold British records in 2026.

Following a walk, you can return to the village centre, where numerous pubs await. TripAdvisor reviewers have ranked Riverhead Brewery Tap as the area’s premier food and drink destination, with one patron describing their experience as “simply superb”.

Another wrote: “Outstanding pub the service and beer were exceptional. Anyone coming to Marsden needs to go to the Riverhead; their choice of beer is amazing, and it’s brewed on site as well.”