Worts Hill

Rising above the Colne Valley south of Slaithwaite, this Pennine Tump offers a quiet, grassy ascent. While modest in height, it provides a commanding perspective of the industrial heritage below and the wilder moorland of Standedge to the west. It is a quintessential example of the South Pennines’ gritstone fringe.

• •The name 'Worts' likely refers to bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus), which thrive on these acidic gritstone slopes. Locally known as 'wurts' or 'whortleberries,' the fruit has been a staple of Pennine foraging for centuries.
• •From the summit, you can look north-west to track the progress of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal as it heads toward the Standedge Tunnel, the longest and highest canal tunnel in Britain.
• •The hill’s status as a Tump—a summit with at least 30 metres of prominence—is a title it defends with just enough steepness to make you regret any over-indulgence in Slaithwaite’s bakeries before the climb.