Blackshaw Head — Hebden Bridge
Blaheb one
Verified Slow Way
Verified by 100.00% of reviewers
Verified Slow Way
Verified by 100.00% of reviewers
By Sneil68 on 01 Apr 2022
Description
Blaheb1
This route follows an ancient packhorse trail across fields, over a 'clam' bridge across Colden Water, rising along paths above the wooded Colden valley to Heptonstall, before dipping down into Hebden Bridge. There are long sections where the original causey stones can still be seen, and far-reaching views along the way. A leaflet about the route with more information is published by the Pennine Horizons Project - see www.pennineheritage.org.uk
Blaheb1
This route follows an ancient packhorse trail across fields, over a 'clam' bridge across Colden Water, rising along paths above the wooded Colden valley to Heptonstall, before dipping down into Hebden Bridge. There are long sections where the original causey stones can still be seen, and far-reaching views along the way. A leaflet about the route with more information is published by the Pennine Horizons Project - see www.pennineheritage.org.uk
Status
This route has been reviewed by 3 people.
There are no issues flagged.
Photos for Blaheb one
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 3
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (3)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 7
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Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Blackshaw Head
Grid Ref
SD959276
Lat / Lon
53.74508° / -2.06357°
Easting / Northing
395,905E / 427,635N
What3Words
airliners.bulge.paths
Hebden Bridge
Grid Ref
SD9922727282
Lat / Lon
53.74193° / -2.01320°
Easting / Northing
399,227E / 427,282N
What3Words
lifetimes.estimates.tomb
| Blackshaw Head | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SD959276 |
| Lat / Lon | 53.74508° / -2.06357° |
| Easting / Northing | 395,905E / 427,635N |
| What3Words | airliners.bulge.paths |
| Hebden Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SD9922727282 |
| Lat / Lon | 53.74193° / -2.01320° |
| Easting / Northing | 399,227E / 427,282N |
| What3Words | lifetimes.estimates.tomb |
Sorry Land Cover data is not currently available for this route. Please check back later.
reviews
Alan Thorp
19 Jul 2025A pleasing walk that I have often covered sections of. Paved in some areas with local stone slabs. A steep climb out of Hebden Bridge to Heptonstall is by far the most difficult section if travelling in this direction, with The Buttress being difficult going in the opposite direction as well. Nothing too taxing after Heptonstall, but some narrow stiles. Stunning views.
Mary Oz
19 Jul 2025(Hey Sneil68! Looks like you’ve walked this route – you could add a review!)
We walked this in a westerly direction – uphill nearly all the way! The first section from the lovely town of Hebden Bridge to delightful Heptonstall was up the cobbled packhorse (car-free) road The Buttress. This is fairly steep and has a railing, and I know from past experience that it is a bit tricky downhill in the rain especially if there are fallen leaves. It was quite charming though. It was followed by a cobbled and stepped footpath to Heptonstall Road and into Heptonstall, which has good facilities and lots of history, and continues the cobbled theme.
From here the route approximately followed the Calderdale Way, although there was a diversion off it near Heptonstall along a fairly narrow, but level, path instead of going down and up slightly along a quiet road at Lumb Bank. There were lovely views back along the wooded Colden valley. After a bit we descended the valley to cross the river on an ancient stone bridge. The footpath up the south side of the river is steeper, meeting the bridleway a little further east that the OS map suggests, but it’s easy to follow on the ground.
The field footpaths were pretty clear and we soon arrived at the hamlet of Blackshaw Head. This was a really lovely route.
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RGW
28 Oct 2023Have walked slight variations on this route on several occasions and can recommend it. The views down the valley around Heptonstall are outstanding. There are good pubs in Heptonstall, and a minor variation to the route will take in the New Delight Inn which is also recommended.
Combined with "Todbla one" this makes a good walk from Todmorden to Hebden Bridge which is a good day out by train from Manchester.
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