Marsden Moor Estate
OS grid reference:- SE 047 117
The Marsden Moor Estate, a large expanse of rugged moorland situated in the Pennines, lies between the conurbations of West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester.
The estate covers some 2,429 ha (5,685 acres) and forms the most northerly section of the Peak District National Park, the Pennine Way crosses over the moor. The landscape is made up of unspoilt valleys, peaks and crags and has been used as a water catchment area since the Victorian era and contains several reservoirs. March Hill, near March Haigh reservoir is one of Britain's primary Mesolithic sites, where flint tools have been excavated and hearths uncovered from beneath the peat. A small bronze-age cemetery has been discovered at Pule Hill, which provides dramatic views over the moor. Eastergate Bridge, an ancient packhorse bridge was once used to carry goods over the Pennines to market.
The estate is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. The landscape supports large numbers of moorland birds such as the golden plover, merlin, red grouse, dunlin, curlew, short eared owl and the rare twite, there are also hares, foxes, stoats and weasels
The Marsden Moor Estate is owned by the National Trust and is managed from a base in the old goods yard, adjacent to Marsden railway station, and the old goods shed has been converted into a public exhibition, entitled Welcome to Marsden, which gives an overview of the estate and its history.