HEBDEN BRIDGE WALKERS ACTION

Hebden Bridge Loop on the Pennine Way

The route - map and directions (new page)

The launch

Why Produce a route into Hebden Bridge

Funding and supporters

Feedback on the route

Some history about the Pennine Way

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 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. 

2. 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. 

3. We then walk 2km mainly on packhorse paths from Heptonstall to Hebble Hole - rejoining the Pennine Way.  

4. 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

Why produce a route into Hebden Bridge?

Several thousand people walk the Pennine Way each year with many more doing day walks. A small number do visit or stay in Hebden Bridge and they often ask how they get back on the route (reported by Hebden Bridge Hostel).

If a good percentage (20%?) of these Pennine Way walkers stayed or visited Hebden Bridge, it would have a significant impact of the local visitor economy. This is also true for Heptonstall although accommodation is quite limited at present (but some more on the way).

It would also really establish Walkers are Welcome in the area.

This is a one off opportunity, it would be a shame to miss as it would have the potential to transform the walking profile of both Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall.

The 'brains' behind the Hebden Bridge Loop on the Pennine Way

Funding and supporters

We have enough funding to launch the Loop. It will cost £2500 to complete the project. So far we have had financial support amounting to £1600 from:

• Hebden Royd Town Council
• Friends of Calderdale Countryside
• Hebden Bridge Rotary Club
• Love the South Pennines (Pennine Prospects)
• Hebden Bridge Walkers Action
• Calder Ward Forum
• Heptonstall Parish council

We hope to raise the rest through contributions from local businesses and individuals.

Individual and business contributions so far:

• Jane and Carol from Old Town
• Mountain Wild
• Rohan
• Linda Patterson
• Beech House B&B
• Mount Skip B&B
• Watergate Tearooms
• Char March
• Old Chamber B&B
• Calderdale Terraces B&B
• Old Town B&B
• Thorncliffe B&B
• P & J Murphy
• Siddalls
• Prospect B&B
• Gwen Goddard
• Kim Green
• Valley Organics Workers Co-op

Feedback on the route

We want people walking the route to send us feedback (good and bad). We have a budget to maintain the route so we want to know about any improvements that need doing:

• Drainage issues
• Waymarking
• vegetation cutting back
• Problems with gates and stiles etc.

Send your feedack to info @hbwalkersaction.org.uk - just remove the space after info. We will only pass on your email address to CROWS who will go and fix the problem.

Some history about the Pennine Way

We have been collecting some archive materials about Tom Stephenson the creator of then Pennine Way. 

Tom Stephenson

Information will come later