Walking in Calderdale

Calderdale is a special part of Yorkshire. Few locations offer this blend of beauty and history in such a small place. Our location in Pennine Yorkshire gives us the wonderful rivers, hills, valleys and moorland, but Calderdale is much more than beauty and great views. Calderdale is full of places that need to be there, that have a purpose, not just places to see. These places are part of the soul of Calderdale, places which help to tell Calderdale’s story. And what a story it is. There’s no better way to immerse yourself and discover more about this beautiful area than on foot.

 

Calderdale was the cradle of the industrial revolution. Mills and factories brought wealth and prosperity. The people who worked in them brought a sense of true community. Most of the shops, theatres and public buildings which those communities built are still here. Victorian and Edwardian architecture framing stories of the people, who not only strived to make a success of their lives and their communities but who helped to change the world.  You can find out much more about our beautiful architecture and industrial heritage through many of the guided walks on offer that allow you to experience town and country in just a few hours; so time to don your walking boots and get ‘happily lost’ in Calderdale.

Walk the Calderdale Way

Join us in celebrating Calderdale’s 50th Birthday in 2024, by setting 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.

Walking Information & Guides

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.

 

Pennine Horizons have information and audio downloads for E Trails.

 

Friends of Calderdale Countryside list over 20 Walks around Villages throughout Calderdale on 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.

Guided Walks

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.

Bus Walks

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 their website

 

You can plan walks on your own by using the West Yorkshire Metro website.

E-Trails

E-Trails give you the opportunity to download images and spoken descriptions of some of the highlights of the walk as well as having an accompanying printed guide which contains a map and walk directions.

 

The e-Trail Apps provide audio commentaries & historical photographs which can be downloaded to a phone or tablet. They include stories of local events & people as well as information about the awe-inspiring ecology & outstanding industrial and political heritage of the area.

 

The printed Route Guides allow you to still enjoy the e-Trail if you don’t have a mobile phone or tablet – with the written script available to download from the website.

 

There  are 13 e-Trails which are available from the Heart of the Pennines on-line shop

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’, which offers free online resources for walking and outdoor adventures with young children in the upper Calder Valley (around Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd). Little Legs share their favourite walks, hidden gems and ideas, with easy-to-follow routes and lots of tips. You can follow Little Legs on Instagram.

 

Mixenden’s new 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. Look out for the scampering squirrels, listen out for the drumming of the green woodpecker or if you go for an evening stroll, the ‘twit-twoo’ of the tawny owl. On the History Hike follow the trail to discover 12 wooden posts, each featuring a snippet of local history. From the Roman Road to Jumples Mill, then fast forward to the Annual Mixenden Gala. Each post  includes a QR code which you can scan via your smartphone to hear local voices bring history to life!

 

There are short walks that may be a bit more strenuous but only take an hour or so. ‘Pop Out’ walks are available from Todmorden Information Centre with an example walk available on the Todwalkers website.

 

Halifax has a surprising and quite amazing music history. The 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.

 

A series of self-guided ‘Walks Around the Villages’ leaflets, each with three walks, explore Calderdale’s heritage and  are available from local shops and  the Heart of the Pennines online shop.

Pennine Bridleway (Mary Townley Loop)

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.

Arrow (Down)

Calderdale Parks

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.