Calderdale Way – The walk route, planning and resources

Calderdale Way Waymark

Calderdale Way, a 50 miles/ 80 km circuit, goes around Halifax, Hebden Bridge and Todmorden, following old packhorse ways across the open hillsides with sections of traditional stone causeways, moorland and forest paths. In the autumn the heather will be in bloom and the tree leaves red and gold. (Other seasons available).

The way passes through hillside villages, hamlets and farms and old mill towns on the banks of the River Calder.  You will walk through the medieval settlements at Lumbutts and Mankinholes, Heptonstall and Withens Gate.

Places names, mostly of English origin around the Calderdale Way, also hold ancient meanings. ‘Calder’ means ‘rapid water’, ‘ley’ as in Stoodley and Midgley means ‘clearing’, ‘dene’ means ‘valley’ as in Todmorden, Ripponden and Luddenden and ‘tonstall’ means farmstead, as in Heptonstall. Scandinavian influences can be seen in names like Sowerby meaning ‘village on sour or muddy land’.

Calderdale Way crosses the Pennine Way twice, once really near to Stoodley Pike – so worth planning a detour to the monument.

The main and link routes to the valley bottom are designed so that they can be completed in short stages. The starting/ finish points are quite easily accessible by public transport.

At the time of writing, we still have two more stages to complete. We had set ourselves the end of 2014 as the deadline for completing the walk – well, it didn’t happened – life has this habit of getting in the way of good intentions. I have described each stage completed so far in separate blog post, with a bit of emphasis on the points where we got lost, in case it might help fellow walkers.

A bit about planning and resources:

At some point during the summer, while in Hebden Bridge with David, my  walking pal, we stopped  in the Tourist Information Center for a quick browse and bought the original 1978 Calderdale Way Guide.

A couple of weeks later we thought, you know what ?  we are running out of of walking routes ideas anyway, let’s try a ‘Way’. So the Calderdale Way book resurfaced.

To bear in mind, this booklet includes brief route information but is full of historical facts – so we have used it a lot during the walk to understand the landscape, less for walking directions.

A more recent version of the Calderdale Way Guide is (still) available from Amazon.

//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=whatsondirect-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=0950632910&asins=0950632910&linkId=RMTVEP2BPVLXRGF3&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false

This is the Calderdale Way route map from the book, and has been great to plan the stages.

We did stage 7 and 8 together, as they are quite short and we have been in Heptonstall countless times before, but  did the rest of the stages as recommended below.

Calderdale Way map route

Following two painful  stages in terms of finding the path, I have researched a bit more into the matter of guides and bought Paul Hannon’s Calderdale Way booklet (the 2009 version – click on the name above to buy it).

Amazon has a different version, same as the one published on the Hillside Publication website.

//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=whatsondirect-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=1870141717&asins=1870141717&linkId=A6FQTXOWC5L5NFX7&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false

It’s a wonderful booklet, detailed route instructions and packed with excellent facts. This guide changed our walking game entirely.

At this point, I can definitely hear the chorus shouting : What about using a proper map ???

OK, I have used map snippets from the map published on the Calderdale Council website, especially to identify in advance where to start the next stage from.

I like this level of zoom – so I printed the screenshots in advance of each stage. Can’t use proper maps, can’t read them, too small and busy, and the wind usually blows them away. My limitation. Always walk with a map !

For a the bus routes around Halifax use the Halifax Network Map.

Enjoy !

Calderdale Way #10 Upper Brockholes – Catherine Slack

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.

Calderdale Way #9 Luddenden Dean – Upper Brockholes

Starting point: Luddenden Dean ( Bus 574 from Halifax)
Level of difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Length: 3 miles
Date: 30.11.14
Walk from:  Calderdale Way – Paul Hannon

Story of the walk:
Again, I came in Halifax the day before the walk, and stopped in town to buy a pair of gaiters from Millets, following a week of trying hard to get the mud out of boots and clothes after the previous stage. Millets had some stuff in the sales, so I ended up buying a walking stick as well as gaiters. I look more and more like a proper walker these days.

Right, this is us, waiting for the 574 bus, near the Tesco’s in Kings Cross. For some obscure reason  I have assumed the bus will still come through Saville Park as in the old days –  the route changed though, so we had a bit of a panic to get to the bus stop in time.

I know how to pick my walking days – blue sky all the way.

Arriving in Luddenden Dean, at the local library in a telephone booth.

This is a lovely village – we did another circular walk around here in the past – and so easily accessible from Halifax.

Luddenden – the development of a Pennine village is a great resource for Luddenden conservation area.

Steep path downhill – we’ve ignored it and stayed on the road. Ten minutes later, arriving at Jerusalem Farm – the official stage start.
From here we took the the track behind the house down to Wade Wood, slanting down to the stone arched Wade Bridge on Luddedden Brook. The bridge dates back to the early 19th century and it’s wide enough to have allowed the passage of carts.

Always good to be aware of the direction of the arrow for the Calderdale Way, do not cross over the stile here – as tempting as it might be.

Lovely autumn haze in the forest.

     

A grand path runs along the base of this side of the wood, with fields below and great views over Luddenden’s valley.

At the end of the wood, the old way slants up to Upper Saltonstall. This hamlet was a vaccary run by the Manor of Wakefield until the early 14th century.

The Salter Rake gate would have transported the salt to these places to preserve the meat, before the cattle winter feeding was invented. An old house features a battery of mullioned windows.

Soon arriving on Warley Moor – the moorland path is aided by a series of cairns. I could hear the grouse in the grass – none to be seen though.

Arriving at the bridge over the little stream which is the outflow from Cold Edge Dams – excellent opportunity to get lost.

So, ignore the path parallel to the stream (unlike my friend David here), and walk straight ahead, by climbing the steps and follow the path across the moor towards a wall corner and further ahead.

     

This is a VERY muddy stretch – we really hoped we are on the right path! (This was where I felt really smug with my new gaiters !)

 

OK, finally emerging into a rough road, and through a farm yard. Right into the 21st century this building included the Moorcock, an isolated pub.

 

 

Crossing the plank bridge and heading uphill. This is David, negotiating the extremely slippery stones to get to the plank. And moaning about the condition of everything.

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely views and Ogden Reservoir in the distance, far right. Getting closer to Halifax now. Don’t miss the gate on the right.

  

Next is the mini-hamlet at Stod Fold, and soon arriving at Upper Brockholes.

     

Interesting places to visit. On the left stands Mount Zion Methodist Church. Rebuilt in 1815, features a sun dial dates 1773 from the original building in which John Wesley preached.

                                     

 

 

From the church, the trail meets the A629 Keithley Road, with bus stops near by. 100 yards to the left is the Moorlands Inn, previously named Peat Pits.

We took a bus to Halifax eventually, not before having an argument though, re. having lunch in the pub first.

Apparently we were too muddy to even attempt to enter the pub.

 

 

Calderdale Way #8 Pecket Well – Luddenden Dean

Starting point: Pecket Well
Level of difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Length: 5 miles
Date:
Walk from:  Calderdale Way – Paul Hannon

Story of the walk:
Away from the book, so will return to the story. Never a good idea to post two years after the event.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

Calderdale Way #7 Blackshaw Head – Heptonstall – Pecket Well

Starting point: Blackshaw Head (596 bus, from Hebden Bridge train station)
Level of difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Length: 4.5 miles
Date: 09.11.14
Walk from:  Calderdale Way – Paul Hannon

The story of the walk:
I have spent the night before in Halifax in Savile Park, so we can start early. The days are a lot shorter now and we walk really slow. We are not walkers really – we are more photographers dragging our feet uphill – 6 miles max in a day. I did a walk with the Ramblers recently – and almost killed me. It is not much they see though while marching in a race against time.

So, first we took the 590 bus in the morning (or the 592, can’t remember exactly) from Kings Cross in Halifax to Hebden Bridge.

With 20 minutes to spare in Hebden Bridge, decided to do a short stroll along the canal to the station. It was cold and a bit cloudy but really pleasant for walking. Golden autumn colours all around us. I love Hebden Bridge.

From the train station, we took the 596 bus to Blackshaw Head. It’s a short journey – probably 10 minutes or so, and it’s really picturesque as it goes through the amazing place of Heptonstall.

And finally, here we are at the start of our walk.

Decided to stop for a few minutes to join the service at the church in Blackshaw Head – it’s Remembrance Day.

After passing the the church, we headed up the road to meet the end of our previous stage, just a couple of yards further, a stile opposite sends a path half  right across two flagged fields. The Calderdale Way signs have totally faded (can you spotted  it on the stile, in the photo below ?) –  you need to be a detective too on this walk.  Upper Colden Valley is soon revealed.

A couple of fields later we met an enclosed walled pathway – Bow Lane, we turned left, and headed to the house at Shawbottom.

Turn right in the road, the surfaced track soon becomes a rough lane. From here you have to continue straight forward, noting the river Colden and Hudson Mill down below. Which we didn’t.

I missed to note the Mill – luckily didn’t miss the sign that sends you left and down through the forest to the Heble Hole Bridge. Why are some of the Calderdale Way signs on blue background I wonder? Confusing enough with the Link paths signs….

It’s here at the bridge where the Calderdale Way meets the Pennine Way – and the bridge carries both ways across the Colden water. Some smart spark (pun intended) had decided to set the pole on fire – the other side is badly damaged.

So, this is the Heble Hole Bridge. W. B. Crump thought that this hollow became known as Hebble-hole from the presence of the hebble or bridge there. When the meaning of the hebble passed out of common knowledge, the bridge took the name of the place where it stood. It consists of two pairs of huge stone slabs. Some internet references indicate it’s part of a ‘corpse’ way to Heptonstall.

Calderdale Way and the Pennine Way parting ways – and we followed the lower paved route to the right. Although paved in a similar manner to packhorse causeways, this route is likely to have been constructed for foot traffic only.

Heptonstall Church now in sight.

Interesting packhorse trail and map article.

Our lunch spot for the day. We have been here before – on one of many improvised walks from Hebden Bridge.

     

Lumb Bank House – formerly the home of poet Ted Hughes.

Finally the sun smiled at us and the autumn colours came alive again on the Green Lane.

Interesting rock balance challenge in Eaves Wood. There will be a bit of clambering over (much smaller) rocks, but nothing too difficult.

Stoodley Pike in the distance – and it’s a good chance for us to recap the previous stages.

Finally arrived in the ancient hilltop village of Heptonstall. My favourite place for stepping back in time a good few hundred years, with the expense of 30 minutes walking from Hebden Bridge.

This is the Old Church dedicated 1260 to St. Thomas a Becket , outer walls mainly 15th century.

We stopped at the Cross Inn for a pint – we always do when in Heptonstall – which is quite often.

After the pub, turn along Northgate and note the carved figures above a cottage door.
On the right is the octagonal Wesleyan chapel of 1764. We went inside for a quick visit.

      After the chapel, the Way is signed down to the right, with the woods of Hardcastle Crags ahead.

 

OK, to shut up the sceptics – I am really walking it :).

 

Magical light in the forest. What an incredible day this has been. Can’t convince myself to resize these pictures.

 

The woods of Pecket Well Clough with the Wadsworth War Memorial in the distance.

 

 

Arriving in Pecket Well. Old road guide stone – and an interesting article while on the subject: Short History of English Waymarks.

                                   

And our bus back to Hebden Bridge.
While waiting for the bus, a car stopped and offered us a lift to town. Good people.

 

Calderdale Way #6 Todmorden (Centre Vale) – Blackshaw Head

Starting point: Todmorden (Centre Vale)
Level of difficulty: Moderate
Length: 4.5 miles
Date: 05.11.14
Walk from:  Calderdale Way – Paul Hannon

The story of the walk:
I have arrived in Todmorden by train and met David in the town centre. He came by bus from Halifax as it was cheaper, and probably faster as well.

Short stop at the Town Hall for a photo, and for me to buy some plastures, which luckily didn’t need to use.

We walked away from the town centre, alongside the main road to Burnley, detouring through Centre Vale Park, estate of 75 acres purchased from John Fielden in 1910 by Todmorden Town Council.

                                Statue of John Fielden also commemorates the passing of the Ten Hour Act 1847.

Fielden School in Centre Vale – I took new photos with the sun shining and all that – a bit of story related to this building in the previous stage post.

David’s star from both sides.
                        

Back on the road again, we walked on to a footpath sign, pointing the way up Stoney Royd Lane.

 

 

 

Soon we left the houses behind, and were heading under the railway line and arch to climb on a good track past a couple of farms.

     Lovely walk through the woods, with the path spiralling steeply uphill.

At the top, the path emerges onto the open moor.
     leaving the Orchan Rocks behind.

 I love the open spaces on top of the moors.
     The rocks ahead of us now are the Whirlaw Stones, a major Todmorden landmark.

                                      

 

 

 

 

 

House and cow with a dalmatian touch.

We took the wrong path at the house below – we should have gone left, in order to follow the other edge of the golf course.

     

     

     

     

     

                                

     

 

 

Calderdale Way #5 Lumbutts to Todmorden (Centre Vale) – A Fielden Trail

Quite windy and dark, but not cold at all for this time of the year. Failing everything else, you can always come up here to get your shades of grey.

It looks bleak and desolate in this photo, however, we have met lots of cyclists and the Pennine Bridleway is near by – so there will be other people around. And a small bus.

Lumbutts Road

We turned right on a country lane, after passing the Shepard’s Rest Inn, following the signs on the walls – this part of the walk is quite well signed posted.

Lower down, at the S bend in the road, we came across an old and very peaceful Quaker Burial Ground. In 1699 the land at Shrewbroad was bought for £10, and the house nearby was used for meetings until 1808.

Quaker Burial Ground

Minutes later we arrived at the Unitarian Church. From here onwards you properly enter the kingdom of the Fieldens – very influential family in the 19th century, making their fortune in the cotton industry in Todmorden area. The Unitarian Church was built in 1869 by the Fielden Brothers (John Junior, Samuel (also known as black Sam) and Joshua) in the memory of their father, John Fielden M.P. who is famous in history  for instigating the 10 Hours Act 1847. The church was designed by the architect John Gibson, good friend of the family, who also designed the Todmorden Town Hall and other family buildings in Todmorden.

17 Century Todmorden Hall is nearby, so well worth the short diversion.

Back to Fielding square, and from here we turned right, passing the Conservative Club. Originally built by John Fielden Junior in 1880 as the Temperance Hotel, the building became the Conservative Club in 1913.

Soon we could see the Morrison buildings on the left. This was the location of the Fielden Brothers Waterside Mills – one of the biggest cotton mills in the area.

Our path continues on Dobroyd Road, and up, and over the train line.

We  followed this lane through a nice stretch of forest, secretly hoping that these first rays of sun will announce an improvement in the weather.

 Very soon we passed the Lodge Gate of Dobroyd Castle – yet another Fielding building built by the same John Gibson, between 1865/69, for John Fielden Junior.

 Still following the road round and up (ignoring the path sign in the wall at the right), and ended up at Stones Farm.

The footpath sign is indicating turning right. At this point, we have decided to stop for a bit, to investigate the views on the other side of the hill, behind the houses at the top.

Well, surprise ! Big standing stones from immemorial times right there in front of us. This is the first one we noticed, around 12-foot tall. The other one we discovered is not far away – at the top of the hill, almost as big , and thinner. They are better described on the Northern Antiquarian blog, plus instruction for anyone coming by car.

 Back on the path, and extensive views open all around us: Dobroyd Castle below, Lumbutts  Mankinholes and Stoodley Pike ahead.

Stoodley Pike has been our companion for the past two stages, so here is the historical bit.

On Thursday, March 30th, 1854, at the Golden Lion Inn, Mr. John Fielden in the chair, a meeting of local trustees discussed several plans to rebuild the monument. The previous one – 1815 Peace monument – was destroyed by fire. On the motion of Mr. Samuel Fielden, the current obelisk form of Pike was adopted. Samuel most probably had links with the Freemasons – next  time you visit Stoodley Pike, look for the compass symbol.

Dobroyd Castle

Back to our Calderdale Way, we noticed the farm with three faces in the wall. At the end of the building there is a stile, and we carried on straight on, with the wall on our right. Happily passing Edge Farm and sleepy sheep, only soon to realise we’ve lost the Calderdale Way sign. So, this was wrong !

Back at the house, evaluating other options at the stile, when a nice young lady told us to cross the stile, then immediately go diagonally up the hill ! Also told us about the standing stones as a place for gatherings for the witches of the past. Lots of mushrooms around…she might have been right.

 Minutes later we met the stone wall mentioned in our book, and our Calderdale yellow sign again. Success !

 Walking straight ahead from here, eventually ended up crossing a narrow road, then turning left and sharp right, to the stables at Todmorden Edge Farm.

 The last part of the walk was through the forest, above Centre Vale Park. Autumn is upon us. Will we finish walking the Calderdale Way this year I wonder?

Back in Todmorden and we met Samuel Fielden again: on our right the Fielden School in Centre Vale. The School was built in 1872, by the same John Gibson, and was run as a private fee-paying school by Sarah, Samuel’s wife.  The South side of the hall is dominated by a large rose window in the central bay, with a cusped Star of David.

Fielden School in Centre Vale Todmordem

What an interesting walk through history. I went to the library yesterday and borrowed this book:

//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=whatsondirect-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=0946571260&asins=0946571260&linkId=AZDAWBV447IHZGBA&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=falseIt is a great read, half historical account, half novel, really difficult to put down. If you plan walking in the area, read this book first, otherwise you’ll feel like us now : we need to do this walk again to really see and understand the place !

Calderdale Way #4 Cragg Vale to Lumbutts

Starting point: Cragg Vale (501 bus from Mythomroyd)
Level of difficulty: Moderate
Length:
Date:
Walk from:  Calderdale Way – Paul Hannon

The story of the walk:
We have arrived in Mythomroyd by bus from Halifax, and we picked a Sunday for this stage of the walk because the 501 bus timetable looked more convenient – this is the 10.00 o’clock bus.

So, an early start for us. A cycling competition of some sorts was taking place.

Make sure you wave energetically when the bus approaches – otherwise you risk to watch it driving past.

 

Nice short journey up Cragg Vale – and here we are at the start of the walk, down Church Bank Lane. The forecast said fog in the morning and guess what – the forecast is spot on! Great for photography. And watch for the first rays of the sun.

David was suffering with an ear ache, hence the Peruvian hat. ( It took me about two hours of fine diplomatic chat to convince him to take an Ibuprofen – the pain went away after that).

 

 

First stop – Church of St. John in the Wilderness – built in 1830, very atmospheric in the fog.

The early records of this church reveal incredible high mortality rates among the children of Cragg Vale.

 

 

 

 

The path took us to the Hinchliffe Arms – which apparently has an exhibit of counterfeit coins. Unfortunately every time we came this way in the past, the pub was shut.
No exception today – well, I guess being early in the morning and all that.

Really nice houses on the way, and still foggy.

Next our route took us along the north side of Withens Clough, for about a mile, to Withens Reservoir.

The fog became even thicker in the proximity of water – at this point frustration kicked in, as we could not really see anything around us apart from the path.

Executive decision to stop for an early lunch and wait for the sun to get a bit stronger, and eventually win the battle.

Half an hour later and fantastic views reveled themselves all around. It’s really special to watch the fog lifting up in fat round white clouds in minutes. So, we moved on, ignoring the first footpath sign to Stoodley Pike, but taking the second one.

Short climb uphill following a colapsed dry stone wall. Splendid views of the reservoir and the hills. Arriving at a wall in front we ignored the wooden poll with lots of confusing arrows and turned left according to our sign and arrow on the wall.

 

Next we followed a walled green track to a gate on the edge of the moor passing on the right the stone stoop bearing the inscription ‘Te deum laudamus – we praise thee O Lord’. The stone marks the summit of the ancient packhorse track from Cragg to Mankinholes, a sacred point, where coffins were lowered and rested along the route.

 

From here the path is clear, following a line of causey stones accross the moor – the Long Causeway – soon crossing the Pennine Way (first crossing).

 

 

 

And minutes away – Stoodley Pike in all its glory. We had a bit of debate about detouring to the monument – in the end we decided to carry on with our walk. These things always look nearer then they really are. The history bit:

Stoodley Pike was first erected in 1814 to commemorate the surrender of Paris to the allies after the Napoleonic Wars, collapsed in 1854, struck by fire, rebuilt in 1856 – the Fielden Brothers being the main financial contributors to the project. More about Stoodley Pike on our next stage story.

David and the Calderdale Way sign on a wooden box. Why is he smiling for? He never smiles – strange effects came with that Ibuprofen.

The descent to Mankinholes village is clearly marked buy further causey stones winding downhill to a walled track overlooking Lumbutts and Lee Dam.

The old packhorse route which for centuries took the traffic between Todmorden and Halifax went along Long Causeway through Lumbutts and to the South of Mankinholes.

These tracks originated when prehistoric man pioneered routes over the hills. There were no valley roads as such until the mid-1700’s, when the turnpikes arrived, and at that time the valley bottoms were mostly covered in dense swampy forests.

The movement was done via the hill tracks. They were narrow and rough, climbing the heights and down again over the shoulders of the hills.

Both Lumbutts and Mankinholes have been declared Conservation Areas.

Arriving in Mankinholes. The stone water trough, listed grade II and dating from the 18th century, provided water for livestock and for packhorses which carried raw materials for the early textile industry or the woven cloth to the trade centers of Rochdale and Halifax.

Most of the buildings in Mankinholes were built during the 17th and 18 century or even earlier such as Mankinholes Hall, now the youth hostel.

Mankinholes Youth hostel

Weavers’ cottages, having the typical rows of mullioned windows allowing maximum light into the first floor workrooms.

At the end of the village we went past the Sunday School and the cemetery with a view, and took the walled Lumbutts Lane down to the Top Brink Inn.

Originally this route was part of the packhorse route from Cheshire to Halifax for transporting salt – part of it is known as the Salter Rake Gate ( ‘gate’ in Old English means ‘way’ or ‘road’ – Scandinavian origin).

Stopping at the Inn for a beer (David) and a coke (me). The restaurant looked quite busy – we bookmarked it for a Sunday lunch at some point in the future.

Opposite the Inn is the famous Lumbutts Tower.

Until 1783 the mill at Lumbutts was a corn mill, after that has been converted into a cotton mill. In 1794 the Fieldens bought the mill.

In 1830  they commissioned William Fairbairn to design the mill to be powered by a unique method – a tower 98 feet high was built to house three water wheels positioned vertically above each other. The run-off from each of the 10-metres wheels turned the one beneath it producing 54 horsepower. Three dams were built above the mill to supply water to the wheels. the chimney contained a spiral staircase.

From the tower we turned right along the Lumbutts Road, and turned right according to the wooden frame on this house wall to Croft Farm.

Then we arrived at this stile and this is the last time we saw the Calderdale Way sign.From here we headed down to Todmorden on the wrong path. We always get lost – would have been a miracle to get this one right. The curse of having your photo taken with the sign – the excitement confuses the mind.

 

Calderdale Way #3 Ripponden to Cragg Vale

Starting point: Ripponden (bus from Halifax)
Level of difficulty: Moderate
Length:
Date:
Walk from:  Calderdale Way – Paul Hannon

The story of the walk:
We started again from Halifax, as it looks that one of the  buses via Kings Cross is the only option to get to Ripponden by public transport.
The start of this stage is up Royd Lane, on the side of the Conservative Club.

From the CALDERDALE CALENDAR OF EVENTS – 1900:
April 16 – Opening of a new Conservative Club at Ripponden, built at a cost of £3,500.

 

 

Nice crispy sunny morning – and not many people around. The advantage of starting early, I guess.

     Surprise view of the Ryburn valley.

I am absolutely certain these stiles are getting narrower by the day.

 

On Cow Lane to Soyland Town. And you get a snack for free.

 

Soyland Town – once a thriving centre of the cottage weaving industry; hand-woven woollens and worsted were exported to Europe by Sam Hill, Clothier, who run a successful business here 1706/ 1759.
     Millbank, the riverside site of a 12th century corn mill, now a conservation area.

Entering the forest and this was where we run our usual drama, when I lose my camera lens cap. This episode has been short though – only a couple of minutes and there it was, at the stile.

     Halifax in the distance and lots of runners going past – a local running event was taking place – with lots and lots of miles involved. We found out when two nice ladies stopped to tell us about it. It’s where we had our lunch.

Close encounter with a curious horse.

     

Robin Hood Pub in Cragg Vale – usual stop, this time for the stage grand finale.                           From here we walked on the road back to Mythomroyd, and I took the train back to Leeds and then home.

Calderdale Way #2 Halifax to Ripponden