Walking Route Inspiration
Get some fresh Pennine air in your lungs with any one of our great Calderdale walks. Not only do we have wonderful rivers, hills, valleys and moorlands, but Calderdale was also the cradle of the industrial revolution, with mills and factories bringing wealth, prosperity and a sense of true community. Discover our wide range of walks around Calderdale, including routes you can follow on your own and guided walks to take you through the heritage of our historic location. Whatever you choose, there’s plenty of opportunities to get ‘happily lost’ in Calderdale.
Easy & Family
Friendly Walks
You can explore the landscape of Calderdale without needing to do a strenuous hike!
There are gentle walks on relatively flat routes (the canal towpath is an ideal gentle route with you being able to choose how far you want to go). A range of these walks are on the Easy Walks page of the Hebden Bridge Walkers Action website.
If you’d like ideas of ways to enjoy Calderdale’s outdoors with your kids and their little legs, then look no further than ‘Little Legs‘ – free online resources for walking and outdoor adventures with young children. Little Legs share their favourite walks, hidden gems and ideas, with easy-to-follow routes and lots of tips.
Mixenden’s interactive Wild Walk and History Hike are ideal for kids and their grown-ups! On the wild walk you follow 12 wooden markers around a circular 1km route through the woodlands. Each post has a QR code which you can scan to listen to voices bring wildlife to life, or share an intriguing snippet of local history.
Up for a challenge? Then why not set out an epic 5-day hike exploring Calderdale’s hills, moors and valleys. The Calderdale Way is a 50 mile (80km) walk which encircles Halifax, Hebden Bridge, and Todmorden. It follows old packhorse routes, passing through pretty hillside villages and old mill towns, and provides exceptional panoramic views over the Pennines.
This itinerary breaks down the Calderdale Way into 5 sections, highlighting points of interest along the route, and providing information on where to stay, and places to eat and drink along the way. Unlike some long distance walking trails, there is an abundance of facilities along the route, so you won’t be short of places to enjoy a good meal, and rest your head, at the end of a long day!
You can also complete the Calderdale Way in sections, using the various link paths to make circular routes. You can find more information here.
There are so many walking routes in Calderdale, you’re spoilt for choice!
Hebden Bridge pioneered the UK initiative ‘Walkers are Welcome’ in 2007 with the aim of encouraging and creating a network of towns and villages that are welcoming to walkers. Now over 100 towns and villages across the UK have joined this community-led scheme.
Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd Walkers Are Welcome have several walks exploring the local landscape with detailed directions and maps that you can download from their website.
Whether you are looking for short, easy walks or a more strenuous option, there are many walking guides (leaflets, booklets and books) about the Calderdale area available from: The Discover Halifax Hub (The Woolshops, Halifax), Mountain Wild (Crown Street, Hebden Bridge), Hebden Bridge Town Hall, Todmorden Information Centre and online from the Heart of the Pennines on-line shop.
There are plenty of options if you prefer to walk with a group or with someone who knows the area and the landscape and heritage.
A programme of guided walks exploring the heritage of Calderdale is offered all year round by Calderdale Heritage Walks. The majority of these walks are centred on towns and villages, but some have a more rural feel exploring the old lanes, paths and settlements of our extensive countryside. Almost all walks take place on Sundays and cost £4 per person.
Calderdale Ramblers offer weekly walks through their website.
Halifax has a surprising and quite amazing music history. The self guided Halifax Music Heritage Trail celebrates this important cultural history of the town. From Dusty Springfield, Rod Stewart, Iggy Pop to Joy Division, Pulp, The Cure, The Jacksons, the list of artists who have played the town is long and diverse.
Bus walks make it easy to do linear walks and can get you up on to the tops without a big effort!
Enjoy twelve great walks from the 901 bus which runs from Hebden Bridge up Cragg Vale to the Ripponden Valley (and onwards to Huddersfield).
You can download six Todmorden Bus Walks from the Todwalkers website.
You can plan walks on your own by using the West Yorkshire Metro website.
The Pennine Bridleway runs for 205 miles (330km) from Derbyshire to Cumbria. The Pennine Bridleway runs roughly parallel to, but separate from the Pennine Way and offers access for Horse Riders and Cyclists in addition to Walkers.
The Mary Towneley Loop is a 47 mile section of the Pennine Bridleway with a variety of tracks, looping past Blackshaw Head, Heptonstall, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Walsden. You will encounter open moorland, hidden reservoirs, ancient packhorse tracks sweeping into valleys with gritstone walls, mill chimneys and canals, all offering a glimpse of past histories.
It is easy to plan shorter walks using the Mary Townley Loop- a leaflet and map are available to download from the National Trails website.
A superb way to go walking in Calderdale – The Calderdale Way is a 50 mile (80 km) walk exploring the hills, moors and valleys of Calderdale. It is an ‘up and down’ journey with few level sections. However, the higher levels provide some exceptionally fine panoramic views and are well worth the effort.
There are numerous link paths which connect the Calderdale Way to the valley floor which means the route can be walked in several short stages. The walk encircles Halifax, Hebden Bridge and Todmorden, following old packhorse ways across the open gritstone hillsides with sections of traditional stone causeway. The route passes through medieval hillside settlements such as Heptonstall, Lumbutts and Mankinholes and old mill towns on the banks of the River Calder.
An illustrated map guide of the Calderdale Way route is available to purchase here, and you can plan your trip using this itinerary.
The Pennine Way is a long distance trail that starts in Derbyshire and ends on the Scottish borders, offering 268 miles of some of the finest upland walking along the rugged backbone of England.
The Pennine Way enters Calderdale at Blackstone Edge, passing Stoodley Pike, dropping down into the valley at Callis, climbing back up to Colden and over the moors to Widdop. Walkers often say this stretch is one of the best on the whole route.
The route is well serviced with local buses.
To coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Pennine Way, Hebden Bridge Walkers Action created a waymarked loop to Hebden Bridge and back to the Pennine Way via the ancient village of Heptonstall. The Hebden Bridge Loop makes a wonderful and moderately challenging 6 ½ mile circuit of the fantastic landscape surrounding Hebden Bridge.
The Todmorden Centenary Way is a twenty-mile circular route that can be joined at any point and walked in any order which goes through upland pastures, woodland, open moor and steep sided valleys around the market town of Todmorden. It offers a series of day and half day walks of various lengths or a whole weekend’s walking.
The Centenary Way can be joined at any point and its sections walked in any order. Walks can be devised to suit all abilities and link paths enable circular walks to be planned with the option of using public transport.
A guide to the route is available from the Heart of the Pennines online shop.
The Rochdale Canal runs for 33 miles between Sowerby Bridge in Calderdale, all the way to Manchester. It runs through the Upper Calder Valley passing Luddendenfoot, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Walsden.
The canal is close to train stations at Sowerby Bridge, Mythomroyd, Hebden Brige, Todmorden and Walsden. There is a towpath all the way which makes it a great flat walking route, suitable for buggies.
You can walk short sections by using regular local buses to get you to the start and finish of your walk.
The Calder and Hebble Navigation runs for 21 miles from Wakefield to Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire. It has 27 locks and a number of flood locks.
There is a towpath all the way which makes it a great flat walking route. You can do short sections by using local buses to get you to the start and finish of your walk.
Cromwell Bottom is one of the richest areas in Calderdale in terms of biodiversity, boasting over 130 species of plant, 200 species of birds, large numbers of mammals, amphibians and lots of invertebrate life. Anyone, adults and chiildren interested in nature, needs to visit Cromwell Bottom.
The area is mainly woodland with a really good network of paths. There is also a wheelchair and pushchair accessible route. There is a car park at the reserve and a regular bus service from Halifax bus station.
The 121 foot (37 m) high Stoodley Pike Monument dominates the skyline above Todmorden, sitting atop Stoodley Pike, a 1,300-foot (400 m) hill on the Pennine Way. The monument was designed in 1854 by local architect James Green, and completed in 1856 at the end of the Crimean War.
The Pike can only be reached on foot and there are many walking routes to it from Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd.
Walking guides to all these routes available from the Heart of the Pennines on-line shop.
Sheltered from the moorland wind, this deep wooded valley is an enchanting mix of wood, water and stone.
The National Trust has put in some superb waymarked walking routes suitable for all abilities. It’s a great place for children – crossing the river on stepping stones and spotting birds, insects, amphibians and if you’re lucky, deer! Hardcastle Crags offers a completely different experience throughout the year – from the icicles of midwinter to the carpet of bluebells in the spring.
The early 19th century Gibson Mill is situated within the site. A tour of the mill tells the history of the valley and the mill over the past 200 years. The mill also has changing exhibitions throughout the year.
Gibson Mill is 100% self-sufficient in energy, water and waste treatment. It has a hydro-electric system, solar photovoltaic panels and a log-burning stove fuelled by wood from the estate.
You can also rest and recharge at the Weaving Shed Café, serving delicious ethical and locally-produced food and buy the perfect gift or memento in the shop located there.
Hardcastle Crags is open all year round from dawn until dusk, admission to Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill are free.
Dogs are welcome (including in the café and mill) if kept under close control.
GETTING THERE
You have two options to get to Hardcastle Crags:
By car – there is parking at Midgehole and Clough Hole (fee applies)
Walking – there is a route from Hebden Bridge on good paths with a bit of road walking. It will take you about 45 minutes.
Ogden Water offers excellent opportunities to escape from the stresses and strains of everyday life. Ogden Water is a very popular destination for picnics, walking, family outings, and nature activities. Why not enjoy a picnic at our picnic tables whilst taking in the stunning views.
There are hourly buses to Oden Water from Halifax bus station.
There is a lovely flat footpath around Ogden Water and three longer walks from the site. Friends of Calderdale Countryside have produced a detailed guide which is available at the Ogden shop and from the Heart of the Pennines online shop.
Calderdale’s parks are great for fairly flat walking on good paths and you can combine a walk in the park with woodland walks and canal towpath walks.
Shibden Park, Halifax
Manor Heath Park, Halifax
People’s Park, Halifax
Savile Park, Halifax
Wellholme Park, Brighouse
Calder Holmes Park, Hebden Bridge
Centre Vale Park, Todmorden
When you’re enjoying Calderdale’s countryside, please follow The Countryside Code.
Town and Village walks which explore the heritage of the area are available from the heart of the Pennine online shop.
