HEBDEN BRIDGE WALKERS ACTION

901 BUS WALKS 10
The waters of Ryburne and Rishworth

Main features of the walk
This circular walk is very varied, including riverside walks, upland farmland and high moorland.

Length and time
It's about 13km (approx 8 miles) and should take you about 4 hours (plus stops).

Gradients – how strenuous?
An undulating walk with one steep hill up to a ridge.

Terrain – how uneven?
Much of the walk is on good paths and farm tracks but the high moorland is uneven in places.

Obstacles – stiles, steps etc.       
There are several stiles and a few gates on this walk.

Facilities on the walk
This walk has no facilities, except at the start and the end.

What to take?
You need a pair of boots for this walk as parts of the route will be muddy especially after rain.

DIRECTIONS

Detailed directions for Walk 10: The waters of Ryburne and Rishworth

1. Get the bus to drop you at Brig Royd in Ripponden. Cross the road and walk down the cobbled Priest Lane. Pass the Old Bridge Inn, cross the bridge and immediately take the footpath off to the right, through Mill Fold.
2. Go under the road bridge and at the end of the cobbled lane take the tarmac path going off to the right, through the park. Turn right along the narrow tarmac road that runs alongside the river. You now keep to the riverside for 1km as the tarmac road becomes a path, ignoring any paths going off to the left.  Continue on past the first footbridge, go up some stone steps and continue along by the river straight ahead.
3. At the second bridge, a stone built road bridge, turn right up the hill to the main road. You have to cross this road, do take great care. If you look over to your right you will see a bus stop, just beyond it, turn left on to Bar Lane (signposted Public Bridleway).  You will now follow this lane for about 1½ km.
4. At the new housing development, follow the cobbled road to the right of the houses up hill, and at a garage on a sharp bend, take the little path going off to the left, around the side of the garage. Heading up to the right will take you to the top of the Ryburn Reservoir dam, where there is a picnic area.
5. Cross the dam and turn right on the reservoir path.  After 500 metres ignore the path going off to the right over a footbridge, following the wide path ahead, way-marked Long Causeway and Blackwood Farm.  Ignoring turnings off, when you reach the T junction at the top, turn right for 150 metres until you reach the minor tarmac road. Turn right for 100 metres and take the footpath going off to the left.
6. The path follows walls up to Blackwood Farm, where you take a path on the left of the farm, cross the front of the house and go up some steps on the far side of the yard. Go straight ahead across the field to a small gate. Follow the path keeping to the right of the wall, climbing steeply to the top of the ridge where a ladder stile will be seen. Do not cross the ladder stile, continue straight ahead then bear slightly right, following a faint footpath towards another wall ahead. Look for a stone stile about half way along this wall (easy to miss).
7. Cross the stile and descend to the farmhouse below, going to the right hand end through a gate and a stile. The path now joins the farm track which you follow for about 1km. First it goes downhill and then it bends left, passing Rishworth Lodge on the way.
8. At the bottom where you reach the road, turn right for 50 metres and then turn left into a lane which runs through a hamlet. At the end, the track bends to the right ending on the main road. Turn left and walk down the road for 200 metres and then turn right along the road with a blue Cycle path sign. Follow this road beneath the dam of Booth Wood Reservoir and up to the other side of the valley.
9. Follow the road above the valley bottom (becoming Smithy Lane) for about 2 kms (ignoring turnings off to the right). As it starts to descend the lane becomes semi cobbled. 
10. After passing a row of terraced houses on the left look for a metal gate on the right, pass the barn on your right, through a second metal gate, then take an indistinct path diagonally left across the field down to the stream. Cross the stile in the corner of the field and then follow the stream for 200 metres until you reach a footbridge. Cross the bridge and take the path up towards a kissing gate. After a house, the path emerges on to a track which you follow gently down to the bridge which you passed on your way out at point three.
11. Turn right on to the riverside path and retrace your steps to Ripponden where you can find refreshments while you wait for your return bus.