New Pennine Way loop launched

The Pennine Way was launched on April 24th 1965 so it is 50 years old this year. In 1965, Tom Stephenson, the route designer could not see any point in people coming though Hebden Bridge, because there were little of no facilities for walkers. Proposals were also afoot to pull down Heptonstall

Clearly the situation has changed with Hebden Bridge being the first ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town and being a known centre for walking, the fact it doesn’t come through Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall now looks quite perverse.

The original idea for the proposal to develop link path came from Dave Brooks from Hebden Bridge Hostel and has been developed in partnership with Hebden Bridge Walkers Action

To guide people along the route we have to put up over 100 waymarks. If you would like to sponsor a waymark you can just text CROW42£5 to 70070 (no additional cost).

The launch

The launch walk of the route starts at Hebden Bridge railway station at 10.40 am.

The walk, on good tracks and paths is in four stages and you can join or leave us at any stage:

  1.  A 5km walk up to Kilnshaw Lane, below Stoodley Pike and then back down the Pennine Way towards the Calder http://healthsavy.com/product/meridia/ Valley, turning off onto the Hebden Bridge Loop (also Pennine Bridleway at this stage) to Horsehold and down into Hebden Bridge and the town centre.
  1. After a 45 minute break for lunch (and to look at the exhibition of photos in Crown Street) we set off for a 1km walk up to Heptonstall via Hell Hole Rocks.
  1. We then walk 2km mainly on packhorse paths from Heptonstall to Hebble Hole – rejoining the Pennine Way.
  1. From Hebble Hole, it is a 10 minute walk to the New Delight for more refreshments and music. We aim to be there about 4pm. Buses from the New delight back to the station run hourly at 35 past the hour.

Entertainment on the way 

  • There will be a running quiz about Hebden Bridge, the Pennine Way and 1965
  • At Hebden Bridge, Calder Valley Voices will perform some new songs for us
  • On Crown Street, there will be a exhibition of photographs of Hebden Bridge in 1965
  • There will be a performance of the famous Pace Egg play at Heptonstall
  • The Peace Artistes will lead us out of Heptonstall and will perform later at the New Delight