Sowerby Bridge — Halifax
Sowhal two
Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Sowhal here.
Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Sowhal here.
By Sneil68 on 07 Jan 2022
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.
There are no issues flagged.
Photos for Sowhal 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 - 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
| 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 2022I’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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