~prope Hebden Bridge~
4th and 9th May 2015
Old Town Mill
Two walks at either end of the first week in May. Monday walk under brighter skies and Saturday without sunshine after heavy rain.
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Clough Head |
Gibson Mill |
Top Tip: on fine Bank Holidays, don't bother parking at the main car park for Hardcastle Crags, unless you are very early - try the NT car park at Clough Head on the top road to Burnley. A fairly steep walk takes you down to Gibson Mill.
Hebden Water
Monday's plan was to walk through the woods and next to the river before taking The Calderdale Way up to Pecket Well for lunch at The Robin Hood.
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Hebden Bridge Railway Station |
Hawks Clough |
On Saturday, Molly and I took the 12:12hrs train from Burnley to Hebden Bridge. The rain had ceased and we took the riverside walk, east of the station to Hawks Clough for a walk up to Old Town. Back to Monday and the walk up to Pecket Well. In the event we took the next path after the "Calderdale Way", they meet further up the brook.
Hebden Dale
Molly
Out of the Woods
It's quite a pull up the path to Pecket Well - the flagstones showing the signs of thousands of pairs of clogged feet, leaving a hollow down the centre.
Robin Hood Inn
We took lunch at the dog-friendly Robin Hood Inn, Pecket Well. The day before they had been overwhelmed by the interest associated with le Tour de Yorkshire as the event used this route. Pecket Well is a small village on the road from Hebden Bridge to Haworth.
Pecket Well Mill
Once a textile weaving mill with associated engine and boiler houses etc. Now a residential development. Des Res? It would suit me as I'd rather live my life with little or no garden responsibilities. What views! Aprox 900ft asl.
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Pecket Well |
Wesleyan Methodist Chapel |
Just as the textile mill has a new purpose, so the chapel is also residential. As we abandon old industries and find new religions, it's good to see the buildings put to good use.
Wadsworth War Memorial
We are in the civil parish of Wadsworth and they built a fine war memorial after WW1, mimicking the shape of Stoodley Pike. Maybe I'll take a closer look at the memorial on a future walk. We are heading for a path down to Hebden Bridge from the top of Old Town.
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Corner House, Akroyd Lane |
The Wall |
We walked as far as the "Corner House" and then found a route through and between properties before entering the field and following the wall on a steady descent to the township of Hebden Bridge.
Old Town Mill
Fearney Fields
Down this path and on to Hurst Road and then Midgehole Road to find again the riverside to Gibson Mill.
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River Walk to Gibson Mill
Back to the mill and up to the car - steep uphills at the end of the walks are not always the most popular, Molly didn't seem bothered.
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Hawks Clough Bridge |
River Calder |
And returning to Saturday's walk, Molly and I crossed the river at Hawks Clough, then the road and the canal, we then took the lane up on to the hillside on the north side of the Calder.
Rochdale Canal
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Walkers will note that after passing a view to the sewage works on their right (left photo), they then turn right and soon enough double-back left and climb to find the path up the hill through the woods (right photo). Simple really.....you must have the 1:25,000 OS Map with you, unless you know the area.
Garlic Woodland
Close to "Owlers" farmhouse, turn right and take the path through the woodlands, here alive with the smell of garlic flowers.
Cragg Vale
On the other side of the valley is Cragg Vale, with parts of Mytholmroyd closer to the camera.
High Royd Farm
In the distance is the chimney of Old Town Mill. On this route, we joined the tarmacced lane which leads to Hebden Bridge Golf Course and headed for "Nook", where the road turns sharp left and heads down to "four lane ends" - home to The Hare & Hounds pub.
Far Nook Farm
Far Nook Farm is in need of a little renovation, perhaps if I come back in a few years time we will see a "Grand Design" type rebirth and a handsome price tag?
Chiserley
I am a little confused by the geography of the area - that's Old Town Mill over there and Chiserley nearer to us. Closer still is the little village which houses the pub, whose address is Old Town - so where does Old Town start and finish? Is Chiserley part of Old Town or a separate entity? Does it really matter?
Hare and Hounds, Old Town
We were warmly welcommed and ate well! After which we headed up the lane to the north-east and around to Little Rundell Farm, marked as "Dick Ing" on the map.
Little Rundell Farm (Dick Ing)
The footpath followed old walls to Old Laithe and up to the wonderfully-named Allswell Farm.
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Allswell Farm |
Pecket Well |
The moorland walk was under the restriction of walking dogs on leads, so soon enough we returned to the tracks and found a way round to a lane leading to Pecket Well. Here are a few Pennine lane photos....
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Pennine Lanes
then into and through Pecket Well passing the Robin Hood and heading down the lane towards Hardcastle Crags. I diverted to take a look at the War Memorial.
Another Lane
Keighley Road
The short terrace of brick-built houses look a little out-of-place. The hills up there have a summit called "Tom Tittiman", we were walking just below the moors on the way to Pecket Well.
Wadsworth War Memorial
Keen-eyed viewers may spot Stoodley Pike Monument and the church tower in Heptonstall. It sometimes feels like I am joining the dots as I extend the territory upon which I have walked, these parts of West Yorkshire are always interesting, just a shame the sun wasn't shining,
Hebden Water
Our walk crossed Hebden Water twice, once at New Bridge (Hardcastle Crags) and Lee Mill Bridge (here) - the river in spate after several hours of heavy rain from Friday into Saturday morning.
Hebden Bridge Weir
And so along the road and into Hebden Bridge, coffee at Marco's where you can sit on the terrace and look at the weir.
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Hebden Bridge Views
Marco's is an Italian cafe; the Rochdale Canal runs along the valley from Todmorden to Sowerby Bridge.
17:54hrs
The train back to Burnley. Yet again The Calderdale Line provides an easy way into fine walking territory.
The Todmorden Curve
...opens to regular service trains from Sunday May 17th 2015. It's been a long time coming - track, tunnel-lining, new station buildings, rolling stock and signalling. Will you be going round the bend?
Walkers: Karen Me n' Molly on Monday 4th and Me n' Molly on Saturday 9th.
Refreshments: Sandwiches at The Robin Hood Pub, Pecket Well. Fine pub, welcomes dogs and good food. An excellent chunk of pie with chips and peas etc at The Hare and Hounds, Old Town. Again dogs welcome and good food. I am researching pubs for walkers and their dogs, it's a tough job, but someone has to do it!
Robin Hood Pub, Pecket Well
Hare and Hounds, Old Town
prope, Latin .. almost, near to
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2015 ©
Take me back to the start ....