Hebhaw two

Verified Slow Way

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Walked from Haworth to Hebden Bridge. This is an excellent scenic route which is fairly direct and entirely on well walked paths and quiet back roads, but it is quite hard work as there are a lot of ups and downs, some of them steep, which made it a challenge for my dodgy knees, especially after walking from Keighley to Haworth earlier in the day. Had I designed it, I would probably have cut out Oxenhope by going over Penistone Hill, as Oxenhope is too close to Haworth to be much use as a halfway refreshment stop, and it adds to the distance and the effort. There are also flatter routes through Crimsworth Dean but they aren't necessarily easier. There are steps and stone stiles so not a route for wheels unless you can carry them.

From the pleasant Haworth meeting point, we cross into Central Park. I deviated from the route to follow the paths around the right hand side because I had just finished a route going past the bandstand. There are steps down to Belle Isle Road, which had been stripped of its tarmac for resurfacing. The path right beyond the railway bridge is a little further up than the GPX line, but it is signposted so easy enough to spot. The path up the valley towards Oxenhope station is charming and deservedly popular. Like Mary I didn't see any steam trains, just one old DMU.

The detour up Dark Lane is on the Worth Way, but I would have preferred a shorter route into Oxenhope as this route, though quiet and scenic, has unnecessary steep ups and downs. We follow pavements across Station Road and right to the main road, where we pass a large pub. I opted to stay on the main road rather than detouring up Church Street. Just beyond the church we leave the road for good, heading up a back lane then crossing fields and passing houses.

I got confused where the paths split, following the upper path for a while before realising my mistake and returning to the junction. The bridlepath starts down a lane which has a new gravel surface but soon leaves it. From here we are on an excellent path which follows the lower edge of the wild space above a stone wall, then becomes an enclosed roughly surfaced lane which takes us down to cross Rag Clough Beck then up past farm buildings, eventually joining Bodking Lane, which is wider and better surfaced but still quite rough and stony in places. We head further uphill on Stairs Lane (which despite its name has no steps). This heads up into a wilder part of the moor then descends to a farm where the road becomes tarmac, though remains very quiet.

Eventually (and this is not a morale booster) we descend steeply and can see our obvious track rising up the hillside on the far side of Paddock Beck. After the hard work of ascending the initial slope this track is excellent and has good views, rising to an old farm on the skyline then descending gently on a tarmacked track above and then through the Crimsworth Dean plantation. Eventually we reach a car park, but just before it we take the old track left which is not signposted, so take care with navigation here.

When we reach the road, we go left then right, passing a club that serves drinks and following the Beck a short distance before rising steeply (and roughly in places) through the trees to reach a surfaced lane above a high wall. Our left turn down several flights of steps is signposted, so you shouldn't miss it. We follow another surfaced lane past more buildings before taking the path left of the last house which leads down to the river, which we follow down to an old bridge, where we are forced to cross left past an industrial area before descending again to the bridge above the shopping area. The detour onto the riverside path isn't necessary but doesn't add to the distance, and the meeting point is beyond the bridge on Bridge Gate (this seems a slightly odd choice as there are plenty of alternatives with more seats or better bus links. As a rail user I still had the walk up to the station to do, which allowed me to check the first part of HebCra two.)

Overall this is an excellent route, but there are no facilities in the long central section, so carry what you need.

I walked this gorgeous route from Haworth to Hebden Bridge on a cool windy but dry day. It started through the park (down steps) and made its way to a lovely little path between Haworth and Oxenhope alongside Bridgehouse Beck. The route crossed the river on footbridges several times, and also ran quite close to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. This is a heritage railway track, which has steam trains running from Oxenhope via Haworth to Keighley, and is well worth a visit in its own right, with several museums and old trains at the various stations. It’s the line that was used to film The Railway Children. Sadly, I didn’t see any steam trains, which would have enhanced my photos!
Oxenhope has buses, shop and pub but was only a quarter of the way through the route.
The next 15% of the route involved a steady climb up a bridlepath, with increasingly good views. Part way along, it became a track enclosed by stone walls, and was quite narrow in places. Meeting a horse and rider along these bits would have proved interesting. However, I don’t think close encounters with cows would be likely as I think they’d be behind the walls!
Reaching Bodkin Lane/Stairs Lane the track was wider again. This led right over the top of the moor. I encountered a rural landrover along there, but it must have been a rough ride, as the track is quite rubbly.
Crossing the wild moorland section was glorious! There were views all around, and the air was full of bird sounds – Canada geese honking, curlews with their haunting cry, lapwings sounding like Sooty and Sweep, and grouse go-back go-back go-backing!
Eventually there was a short, steeply downhill tarmac zone and at the end of this, next to a lovely babbling brook and bridge, there was a bench, where I had my packed lunch. This was the only facility of any kind in the middle third of the route. There was also no phone signal here.
From here I took a footpath which contoured around the side of the hill, with views down into the lovely valley with little waterfalls, and ahead, in the distance, to Stoodley Pike and Heptonstall church tower. There were interesting dilapidated farm buildings, a puddle filled with frogspawn, and endless curlew song.
Eventually I reached the sheltered Crimsworth Dean, and then Midgehole, where the lower car park had toilets. I needed to pay more attention to the gpx track here, as the route was not always the obvious one on the ground. However it was always very nice, although there was another significant climb.
The final descent into Hebden Bridge had lots of interest too, including a steep stone staircase.
A gorgeous route between two lovely towns!.

This route follows clear and mainly waymarked footpaths between Hebden Bridge and Haworth.
I walked it on late October after a period of heavy rain and whilst wet and muddy in places there was no difficulty.
The paths can be rough in places and there are some sections with steps.
This is an enjoyable route with good views and points of interest along the way.

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