Starting point: Upper Brockholes, Keithley Road ( Bus 504 from Halifax bus station)
Level of difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Length: 2.5 miles
Date: 13.12.14
Walk from: Calderdale Way – Paul Hannon
The story of the walk:
The shortest stage of the Calderdale Way – and not the prettiest either.
Sunny, crisp and windy, Saturday morning, -3C . I have arrived in Halifax in the morning, by train, and met David at the bus station, around 10.00 o’clock.
The 504 bus, resuming its journey on Keighley road, after leaving us (almost) in the middle of nowhere. Both of us instantly and frantically started searching for gloves and hats in our rucksacks.
The Moorlands Inn, the subject of our argument during the previous stage, in front, on the right.
With the bus gone, no choice, but gather the courage for yet another Calderdale Way stage. Crossed the road, to take the track on the right of the former Sportsman Inn, the Blind Lane, which soon became a grassy track.
Quite an unusual house with a very posh garden and lake.
and the path behind the house soon emerges in Pavement Road.
The church and cross in Bradshaw, to your left – worth a quick detour I believe – we did not visit the church – but here is a frosty picture of it.
The route however crosses straight over, and along a short drive to a cottage, North Scausby Farm. The book mentioned the St. John’s Croft 1787 inscription above a barn door – unfortunately the path has been in the meantime diverted to go round the farmyard, so we didn’t see it.
From here onwards it is a matter of luck really, as the signs, if any ever existed, are all gone. Go throgh a few gates and stiles and aim towards a big factory roof ahead and towards the new wood. Friendly little horses in the field.
At the forest, we followed the path towards the right, alongside the factory building, to arrive at a caravan park and the first houses.
Just before reaching the Holdsworth Road, on the left, is Holdsworth House Farm, dating from 1692, with a great array of mullioned windows.
The route emerges opposite a school, at Holdsworth. We turned left in the road and minutes away , diverted again on a short drive to admire the Holdsworth House – currently a hotel/ restaurant.
Back in the road for a few more minutes, then turned left at the mill, on Brow Lane, between works at Holmfield, with the road turning steeply uphill. Once at the Brigg Royd House, we’ve escaped the road up on Crooked Lane. Finally the end of the urban landscape.
Uphill and icy on a cobbled road – great combination for a climb at a snail pace. Nice views over Halifax, with three schools ahead, including the North Halifax School, where Joanna attended years and years ago.
Arriving in the road – A647 Halifax-Quensbury- Bradford road – at 1000 feet above sea level.
And here we are, at the bus stop, waiting for the 576 bus – this is a much busier route – with buses every 10 minutes or so.
The bus came very soon and we arrived in Halifax around noon – by far the shortest walk we ever did. Anyway, looking at the positives as always, time for a quick shopping session in M&S, for a few last minute Christmas presents, in the way to my train to Leeds.
Smashing Hills 