Sowerby BridgeHalifax

Sowhal two
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By Sneil68 on 07 Jan 2022


Distance

8km/5mi

Ascent

139m

Descent

84m

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Description

This alternative 'Sowhal' route offers mostly level walking on firm surfaces following the Calder & Hebble Navigation and Hebble Trail along canalside towpaths and woodland trail.
Directions:
1. Turn left out of the station then, c.50m along the road, turn right to cross a footbridge over the river. Turn right to take you into town and cross the Rochdale canal along the high street (A58) to Sowerby Bridge Wharf, the centre of efforts to rejuvenate town (see photo 1).
2. Cross over the Rochdale canal again and continue at its junction along the Calder & Hebble Navigation towpath (aka the 'Calder Valley Greenway') for c.4km till you reach Salterhebble Locks (see photos 2-5).
3. Follow the truncated 'Halifax Arm' of the canal and, where it ends, continue under the A629 to join the Hebble Trail (see photo 6).
4. Continue along the trail for another c.1.5km till it ends at Phoebe Lane Mills (see photo 8).
5. From there, follow signs along roads for the final km or so to the town centre ('Cycle Route 69') crossing over the railway, and passing the art deco Three Pigeons pub.
6. Detour via the magnificently restored Piece Hall (see photo 10) before reaching your destination at the bus station!

This alternative 'Sowhal' route offers mostly level walking on firm surfaces following the Calder & Hebble Navigation and Hebble Trail along canalside towpaths and woodland trail.
Directions:
1. Turn left out of the station then, c.50m along the road, turn right to cross a footbridge over the river. Turn right to take you into town and cross the Rochdale canal along the high street (A58) to Sowerby Bridge Wharf, the centre of efforts to rejuvenate town (see photo 1).
2. Cross over the Rochdale canal again and continue at its junction along the Calder & Hebble Navigation towpath (aka the 'Calder Valley Greenway') for c.4km till you reach Salterhebble Locks (see photos 2-5).
3. Follow the truncated 'Halifax Arm' of the canal and, where it ends, continue under the A629 to join the Hebble Trail (see photo 6).
4. Continue along the trail for another c.1.5km till it ends at Phoebe Lane Mills (see photo 8).
5. From there, follow signs along roads for the final km or so to the town centre ('Cycle Route 69') crossing over the railway, and passing the art deco Three Pigeons pub.
6. Detour via the magnificently restored Piece Hall (see photo 10) before reaching your destination at the bus station!

Status

This route has been reviewed by 1 person.

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Information

Not verified

Route status - Live

Reviews - 1

Average rating -

Is this route good enough? -  Yes (1)

There are currently no problems reported with this route.

Downloads - 0

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Geography information system (GIS) data

Total length

Maximum elevation

Minimum elevation

Start and end points

Sowerby Bridge
Grid Ref SE0619423476
Lat / Lon 53.70769° / -1.90764°
Easting / Northing 406,194E / 423,476N
What3Words heads.locals.pink
Halifax
Grid Ref SE0939725348
Lat / Lon 53.72447° / -1.85907°
Easting / Northing 409,397E / 425,348N
What3Words takes.fades.poems

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review


Jane Taylor

28 Mar 2022 Spring

I’m awarding 3 stars to this route mostly because it is so indirect, and also due to the pungent aromas for about 1km at the halfway point around the sewerage works. Despite this, I would certainly recommend this route if travelling in the uphill direction (Sowerby Bridge to Halifax), if your desire is to limit the amount of climbing and keep to a manageable gradient.

Otherwise I would recommend Sowhal Three for the downhill direction, or uphill if you don’t mind a bit more climbing or some steeper paths.

At Sowerby Bridge cross the railway using the subway at the station (this isn’t very clearly indicated on the route map). Before long you are on the canal towpath, then eventually there is a traffic free path up the Hebble Brook to Halifax. At Halifax the route passes old mill buildings and then through the famous Piece Hall before reaching the meeting point. The meeting point when I walked was under development, (first photo), and it may be necessary to relocate it elsewhere in central Halifax.

I enjoyed seeing dog walkers along the canal, its a friendly place. One thing about this route is that it passes two sewerage works, and it was a pungent experience. A local lady I spoke to said the smell is supposed to be only once a week but I think that is unlikely. So be prepared for some extreme pong when rounding the corner of the loop.

Steps, cobbles, some narrow paths under canal bridges.


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Other Routes for Sowerby Bridge—Halifax See all Slow Ways

Sowerby Bridge—Halifax

Sowhal one

Distance

5km/3mi

Ascent

147 m

Descent

89 m

Sowerby Bridge—Halifax

Sowhal three

Distance

5km/3mi

Ascent

174 m

Descent

119 m

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