Denhal one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Denhal here.

This concludes my review posted on 27th April 2021.
After crossing Riley Lane and passing through the gate shown on my photograph the Route follows the Calderdale Way (Circular) Path for a further mile to Holdsworth Road. This is a well-used footpath with easy stiles signed with the stylised 'c over w' logo. The right turn 1/4 mile below St John's Cross is easy to miss. From there it is straight through fields and past a small Caravan Club site to reach Holdsworth Road. The Calderdale Way (which the Route subsequently rejoins) turns left to follow Holdsworth Road downhill, but the Route goes a short distance right before turning left through a gap in the wall above the entrance to Playing Fields onto a diverted footpath skirting the playing fields outside a fence. From the high points, here, looking ahead the buildings of Halifax Town Centre are visible straight ahead and down hill, but the Route is to go left and uphill. The result is a rewarding walk, but this is not a convenient Slow Way from Denholme to Halifax for this reason.
At the end of the diversion the Route passes a small shop selling a wide variety of meals ('Pie and Mash always available') and the Ivy House Pub where a wide range of Pub Fare is available inside or in a beer garden. The draftsman of the Route suggests climbing the hill by an undefined footpath commencing near the access to a vehicle breakers, but as that would have involved climbing a locked gate, I walked past Holmfield Mills to rejoin the Calderdale Way at Brow Lane. This is a substantial climb taking me 25 minutes to reach Catherine Slack via Crooked Lane which is unsuitable for Motor Vehicles and strewn with evidence of fly-tipping. From Catherine Slack junction re-enter Calderdale on Swales Moor Road, and opposite the first buildings on the left, go right, downhill, on a modern driveway, again following the Calderdale Way logo. After a right and left bend the drive widens, and there the Calderdale Way turns left into Woods. The Route continues along the side of the tree-lined Shibden Valley , with way markings somewhat spasmodic until it approaches Scout Hall, a remarkable Georgian House in course of renovation, There the Calderdale Way goes left, downhill, but the Route continues past the main entrance onto the drive to Lee Lane (known to cyclists as 'The Shibden Wall'), which it joins on a hairpin bend. Straight on for 25 yards the road goes left, but the Route takes an unmarked footpath on the right which roughly follows the contour. A map is vital to select the correct one of a number of crossing paths, but eventually you reach a substantial footpath which becomes Hag Lane and passes Lower High Sunderland Farm with the view opening out. Keep straight on when alternative directions are availbale and a rough road reaches Claremount Road with a Club to the left and new blocks of houses on each side of the busy road. Straight across is a paved pathway going steeply down hill. Follow it to the Prospect Inn, go right, immediately left and down hill, again, on a Road which becomes a dead end. The footpath continues, however, and you can see your way across North Bridge and along Northgate, Halifax. The Bus Station is on your left 400 yards ahead.
SUMMARY
As a walk with a wide range of geography, remarkably little road walking (and then on little used roads) this is an enjoyable way to get from Denholme to Halifax and vice versa. However, it requires a high degree of fitness, would be difficult at the Denholme end in bad weather, and for large parts of its length is entirely unsuitable for Wheelchairs or prams. From Ogden Reservoir (which is geographically part of Halifax) it is possible to see prominent Halifax buildings, and the valley stream is the Hebble which runs down to Halifax. The Slow Way should follow it.

The Route starts in the centre of the village of Denholme adjacent to bus stops on the A629, and with general store, takeaways and pubs readily available.
Photo 1 shows Old Road which the Route takes, and which quickly becomes a footpath.
A right turn from Old Road takes the Route to a tight bend on the busy A629 where it is necessary to cross in order to reach a footpath which starts from a gateway hidden behind Armco Barriers. This is dangerous and impossible for wheelchair users or those with prams (Photo 2).
From here the Route enjoys almost 4 miles of traffic free walking but with stiles and ladder stiles which emphasise its unsuitability for wheelchairs (see Photos 3,4,5 and 6). The ladder style gives access to 400 yards across open access moorland which was dry on 27th April 2021 and passable, but in wet winter condition would have been boggy. This and other parts of the Route would be difficult to follow in misty conditions.
After crossing Back Lane, Ogden, (Photo 7) the Route drops into the Ogden Country Park area. After passing the Car Park it goes right to cross the 'Promenade' on the dam wall. In summer ice cream vendors trade in the Car Park and a small shop manned by volunteers sells light refreshments. (Photos 8 & 9). At the end of the dam wall the Route takes a left turn (Photo 10), and after 200 yards takes the moderately difficult left fork as the path splits (Photo 11).
At the bottom of this path, take a left over a bridge (Photo 12), through a 'squeeze' beside a gate (Photo 13) and onto a small road past Halifax Golf Club (Photos 14 and 15). At the next driveway on the left, the Route takes a left up a narrow path (Photos 16 and 17). At the top turn right on the drive (Photo 18). As the drive joins a road look for a small path on the left (Photo 19) and follow this up hill and through two squeezes (Photo 20) to a gate (Photo 21) next to the Mount Zion Chapel (Photo 22). Here there is an area within the graveyard set out with seats suitable for a quiet rest and picnic.
Turn left on Per Lane and at the end follow the Calderdale Way Waymarks across A629 to Blind Lane (Photo 23. 24). At a road cross to the farm entrance opposite and follow the Calderdale Way through a field, with stile (Photo 25), farm yard and Garden to another road (Photos 26 and 27).
[This is halfway, review of the remainder of Denhal one to follow].

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.