Hebcra one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 83.33% of reviewers

We walked this route on a warm and dry day in July and it was a very pleasant walk with lovely scenery and views of the surrounding valleys. We started in Hebden bridge where there's understandably plenty of amenities and local cafes and shops to pick up supplies or a nice coffee to start your journey. If coming from this direction, there's a small section of the footpath just after crossing the canal which is skipped on the route. This can easily be seen on the SlowWays map at Shelf Road/Primrose Terrace. Just follow the path to the right and up on to the road (pictured below)
You soon ascend the hills out of the town and the route mostly goes through fields and woodland until you descend into Cragg Vale. As some reviews from other times of the year have pointed out, I can imagine it could be quite muddy through some of the fields but was lovely in the summer. The route through the fields is fairly simple and goes over some stiles. The exact line on from the gpx download is a little off but the route is clearly walked regularly enough to make paths easy to follow. After coming through a small holding and along a small section of lane, the path takes a right turn through a newly constructed gate on to a footpath. There isn't a marking on the gate itself denoting it as a public footpath but again, the path is quite simple to follow from here (pictured).
Passing by another farm after some fields there was small cupboard with an honesty box selling fresh free range eggs and bottles of water (very welcome on a hot day!) for a mere £1.50 and 50p respectively.
The descent into Cragg Vale is down some steep tarmac lanes which I can imagine may be slippery in wet or especially cold weather. I don't know the area, so can't add any commentary on potentially better routes down in to the village but the current route via Cragg Hall is simple to follow.
There aren't many amenities in the village other than a pub which was closed when we passed through (Monday around 2pm). We did this walk as part of longer walk that carried on to Rippondale on the Crarip1 SlowWays route. If you're planning to do both, ensure you have both routes marked up on a physical map or OS maps app that isn't relying on phone signal as there was none in the valley that Cragg Vale is in until you get near the crest of the next hill.
The Hebcra one section took us around 2.5 hours at a fairly leisurely pace with a decent length stop for lunch.
We would recommend this walk for it's lovely view, plus Hebden Bridge is a lovely place to start and/or end a journey. Bear in mind the weather as some sections of the fields may be very muddy.

The route is safe to walk but would not recommend for people with restricted mobility or with a buggy. The route is fairly accurate and easy to follow.

Walked this from Cragg Vale to Hebden Bridge. Agree with the other comments - whilst this is a lovely and scenic walk, I'm not convinced it uses the best possible combination of the many available footpaths in this area.
At the Cragg Vale end, I would try sticking with the track to Hill Top as the route through Old Cragg Hall is not obvious. I would also suggest an earlier descent to the track at Broad Head (SD 99535 25424) as after this point there were some very wet sections.
There's probably scope for an alternative route following the valley down to Mytholmroyd and then either the canal or cycle route to Hebden.

On a cold, crisp, sunny, early January day I really enjoyed walking this route. I think you would be hard pressed to find a walk with such variety, interest and great views of this length that could surpass it in many other parts of the UK. Yes, OK there are steep climbs at the start/finish whichever way you go, and it's a bit boggy - but this is moorland!
There is also much added interest thanks to the association with King David and the infamous Cragg Vale Coiners, whose story is soon to be the subject of a series on the Beeb in the New Year, based on the novel 'The Gallows Pole' by local author, Ben Myers.
Several new boardwalks across more of the boggier bits have been put in place, since a previous reviewer's comments on the route, by 'CROWS' the local Community Rights of Way volunteers, in anticipation of increased use of this trail (which also follows part of an excellent walk inspired by the novel with maps and illustrations by Christopher Goddard). The path is likely to become easier to follow across the moorland section as result, but I would still repeat what another review has said - bring a map and/or GPS.

This is a convoluted way to get down from Erringden Moor and involves some very decrepid stiles around GR999239. I would recommend coming doen via Hill Top at GR 997236.

I walked this route in the opposite direction (from Cragg Vale to Hebden Bridge) and connected it with other Slow Ways routes to start in Sowerby Bridge and end in Todmorden.
Cragg Vale is a lovely area that I'd not explored before. This isn't a long or particularly strenuous route but it is pretty boggy around Bell House Moor (the footpath is due to be diverted to higher and drier ground which is useful). The route passes above Broadhead Clough Nature Reserve which is worth an explore.
Perfect as either a short walk (there's a pub at Cragg Vale and a bus stop on the main road) or to connect with other routes.

This walk is has a steep assent in either direction. It has a good variety if walking. A mixture or road surfaces, grass and moor land. It can be damp in places after heavy rain or during long periods of rainfall. You need good waterproof walking boots. The path is clearly marked although there are lots of alternative routes. Take a map or GPS.

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