Firstly, the bridge leading from Lilly Lane leads to a long and uneven staircase ending in a narrow tunnel (complete with shards of glass on the floor) underneath the railway, This felt somewhat unsafe; I would have turned around if it hadn't been the middle of the day. The path down from Water Lane along the Hebble Brook begins with another uneven staircase to a very overgrown and dingy path, which then leads to what seems to be a graffiti hotspot. There appears to be a path on the route going left from Siddal Top Lane which doesn't exist (although there is actually a turning nearby that leads to a dead end and a big pile of ash). I continued on, taking the first left to meet Coalpit Lane. From Coalpit Lane until Southowram, the 'path' was very difficult to determine, as it was basically just fields....

harry

Although this route is steep and slightly rough underfoot in places the only set of steps was in the underpass at Sowerby Bridge station and could easily be avoided using the station approach road instead....

RGW

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....

Jane Taylor

I found the walk out of Halifax interesting and it made good use of paths and quieter roads. Another minor niggle - more a preference really - is that I would have preferred to make more use of the canal path at Sowerby Bridge rather than keeping to the main road. I would highly recommend this route for direction Halifax - Sowerby Bridge....

Jane Taylor

Route takes you along bird Holme lane - past the most docile highland cattle who are usually blocking the often muddy route - this could be avoided if needed by turning right up Wood Lane which takes you up to A 644 a bit earlier - there are a few paths then that you could follow to rejoin the route at coley church Riding hill/ manorley lane is a narrow quiet road with no footpath - but cars can speed up here...

Riggy

Apart from the very beginning near SB station this is an excellent mostly flat, some tow path cobbles, some tarmac, enjoyable canal side path....

Paul Simpkins

The walk starts with a steep cobbled path up from old lane after going under the bridge. Photo 2 - the steep steps up side of house off Clarendon road. Photo 3 - stile through fields above Clarendon road which take you onto Bradford old road Back to the route up fleet lane and on to glazier road -...

Riggy

Instead of turning right out of the station and walking along the road (see photo 1) to cross the river and canal, turn left initially then, c.50m along the road, turn right to cross a footbridge over the riveri 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....

Sneil68

Step over the low wall at the end of the overflow weir (where the couple are walking in photo 3. below) before you get to the bridge, and follow the wall to you left to get up onto the bridge. The first can be avoided (along with the not particularly pleasant and tricky route that takes you through a housing estate) by continuing along the canal for a further 0.5km, to cross both canal and the A646 at Luddendenfoot, and then walking up Luddenden Lane to rejoin the route at its junction with Kershaw Drive.....

Sneil68

There, it goes left and follows the contour on a track, which becomes an indistinct footpath over a small stile to reach Bradford Old Road in front of a house. Turn right along Bradford Old Road, climbing initially. Turn right downhill on a partially paved path to reach a bridge over the Red Beck with steps beyond onto a road. Keeping left on the road at the top of the path led me to Ford Hill (A647) where the Route goes right. The Route goes left on Fleet Lane which is largely straight and leads to a footpath and right turn on a wide track to the A644 at Mountain....

Michael Steele

I would recommend one small change at the Queensbury end where the marked route is not easy to follow - rather than taking the footpath right partway down Hill End Lane, which becomes indistinct in the woods on the other side and can leave you lost in low trees - as a local I walk a few hundred yards further down to Hazel Hirst Road and take the pathway right at Hazel Hirst Farm, which is clearer and joins on to the marked route a little further down....

Robert Glover

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. 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. 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....

Michael Steele

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). 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). Turn left on Per Lane and at the end follow the Calderdale Way Waymarks across A629 to Blind Lane (Photo 23. 24)....

Michael Steele