Description
This alternative 'Crasow' route leaves the present Slow Ways one at Grid.Ref. SE016237 to cross over Aaron Hill (see photo 1), and then follows mostly quieter lanes, tracks and paths and avoiding c.4km of busier road walking before rejoining the original route for the last km or so down the road into Sowerby Bridge.
Directions:
1. After continuing on down in a straight line from Aaron Hill, turn right onto Moor Bottom Lane (SE025241) and continue for c.0.5km.
2. Turn left on reaching Mirey Lane, then almost immediately right (at SE027238) to follow the footpath that winds down through fields and over footbridges to Clough on Sowerby Lane (SE036239).
3. There, turn right and follow this lane for another c.0.5km before taking the path left at SE038237 (or, a little further on, the lane) to Styes.
4. From there, follow the footpaths for c.1km that contour eastwards above the river, passing Wood Lane Hall and, above Daisy Lea Farm, rejoining the road (at SE049234) that leads down to Sowerby Bridge
This alternative 'Crasow' route leaves the present Slow Ways one at Grid.Ref. SE016237 to cross over Aaron Hill (see photo 1), and then follows mostly quieter lanes, tracks and paths and avoiding c.4km of busier road walking before rejoining the original route for the last km or so down the road into Sowerby Bridge.
Directions:
1. After continuing on down in a straight line from Aaron Hill, turn right onto Moor Bottom Lane (SE025241) and continue for c.0.5km.
2. Turn left on reaching Mirey Lane, then almost immediately right (at SE027238) to follow the footpath that winds down through fields and over footbridges to Clough on Sowerby Lane (SE036239).
3. There, turn right and follow this lane for another c.0.5km before taking the path left at SE038237 (or, a little further on, the lane) to Styes.
4. From there, follow the footpaths for c.1km that contour eastwards above the river, passing Wood Lane Hall and, above Daisy Lea Farm, rejoining the road (at SE049234) that leads down to Sowerby Bridge
Status
This route has been reviewed by 1 person.
There are no issues flagged.
Photos for Crasow two
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 1
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (1)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 3
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Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Cragg Vale
Grid Ref
SE0014023260
Lat / Lon
53.70578° / -1.99936°
Easting / Northing
400,140E / 423,260N
What3Words
jeeps.tourist.snacking
Sowerby Bridge
Grid Ref
SE0619423476
Lat / Lon
53.70769° / -1.90764°
Easting / Northing
406,194E / 423,476N
What3Words
heads.locals.pink
| Cragg Vale | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SE0014023260 |
| Lat / Lon | 53.70578° / -1.99936° |
| Easting / Northing | 400,140E / 423,260N |
| What3Words | jeeps.tourist.snacking |
| Sowerby Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SE0619423476 |
| Lat / Lon | 53.70769° / -1.90764° |
| Easting / Northing | 406,194E / 423,476N |
| What3Words | heads.locals.pink |
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review
Hugh Hudson
20 Mar 2025Walked from Cragg Vale to Sowerby Bridge.
I was inspired to try this one by some of the lukewarm reviews of the snailed CraSow one, but I can't honestly say that this route is much better, though a little tweaking and a more accurate GPX file would help. There are lots of stiles and little steps and a few places where paths are not visible on the ground, so this is not a route for wheels of any kind.
Most of the route is good, but there are two sections that use paths that are poorly waymarked, and very seldom used - indeed at one old farm I was greeted by two barking dogs and the owner said he had never seen anyone walking the path!
The route starts well (on the Calderdale Way). The shortcut path above Marshaw Bank no longer exists on the ground, and it is easier to stay on the waymarked Calderdale Way round the zigzag. From the ruined Deacon Hill to Coppy Nook Lane the path is very little used, but passable with care and a keen eye on navigation, though there was one stile where I had to move a wooden pallet out of the way to get down.
The section over Aaron Hill and the continuation to New Lane are fine, and probably the best part of the walk.
The problems begin again on the path down the hill. The top section is marked by an old footpath sign and there are no problems passing the first farm and reaching the lane. The path down from the lane is not marked and becomes very confusing above Hey End - there are builders fences blocking the obvious lane and you have to go right (south) of them to find the stile. I couldn't see the overgrown entrance to the lower section of the path (though a local on the lane assured me it exists) so by this point I decided that following Shield Hall Lane would be easier and quicker.
Beyond Boulder Clough the paths are better, but not entirely without minor navigational challenges, so a more accurate GPX file would definitely have helped. All difficulties end at Sowerby New Road, as the rest is a simple pavement walk down the hill, but note that it is best to ignore the zebra crossing on Sowerby Street as the main road beyond is easiest to cross using the pelican crossing under the railway bridge.
Overall a route that could have been much improved by test walking it before submission and more attention to detail in the GPX plotting.
Incidentally I am normally happy with using railway stations as settlement nodes, but Sowerby Bridge station is rather awkwardly placed, and anyone walking multiple routes will not want to walk out to the station building!.
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