HEBDEN BRIDGE WALKERS ACTION
906 BUS WALK 2
Walk 2: A gentle walk from Clough Hole car park
to Gibson Mill and Midgehole
Main features of the walk
This woodland walk drops down to Gibson Mill and along to Midgehole.
Length and time
It’s about 3 km (approx 2 miles) and should take you about 1- 1½ hours.
Gradients – how strenuous?
The first part of the walk from Clough Foot National Trust car park to Gibson Mill is quite a steep downhill. The track from Gibson Mill to Midgehole is easy going with a gentle incline and descent.
Terrain – how uneven?
This walk is all on good tracks that are suitable for people who find uneven terrain difficult. It may be possible to do this walk with an ‘off road’ buggy with large wheels.
Obstacles – stiles, steps etc.
There are a couple of stiles with alternative gate access.
Facilities on the walk
At Gibson Mill there are toilets, the HBWA stone steps photo mosaic and the Weaving Shed café (if you show your bus ticket you can have a free hot drink in the café). There are also toilets at Midgehole. There is usually no mobile signal on this walk.
What to take?
Some of the track down may be a bit muddy after rain, so you need a pair of reasonable walking shoes; even if you set off in fine weather.
Detailed directions for walk 2: Clough Hole car park to Gibson Mill and Midgehole
The 906 will take you to Clough Hole National Trust car park on the Widdop Road where the walk starts.
- From the car park, take the sign-posted steps or the path behind the car park ticket machine; both join the track heading down hill.
- Pass through two gates (or use the stiles) to enter woodland and follow the wide track for 300 metres until you reach a junction.
- At the junction, you turn sharp left, heading downhill’ sign-posted Gibson Mill. The track comes out of the wood, passing the toilets and on to the bridge at Gibson Mill.
- Before you leave Gibson Mill, we suggest that take a detour to see the mill pond located behind the mill. Go out of Gibson Mill, go straight ahead and then turn left alongside the Mill. After 50 metres you will see a footpath going off to the left which will take you to the mill pond. From the end of the Mill Pond you will get the best view of Gibson Mill.
A note about Gibson Mill
Gibson Mill produced cotton cloth from about 1800 until it closed in 1890.
After it shut down as a working mill, it became an “entertainment emporium” known as “Little Switzerland” with a cafe, dance hall and roller skating rink until it closed in 1945.
- Return to the entrance of Gibson Mill and take the track sign-posted ‘Car Park’. It starts off with a gentle uphill climb, but then levels out. After about 1km the track begins to descend to the main entrance of Hardcastle Crags where you keep straight ahead (ignore the track heading up to the left).
- You come out to a car park near the main entrance to Hardcastle Crags, with the toilets and the 906 bus stop back to Hebden Bridge a few metres ahead.
If you want to walk back to Hebden Bridge, Hebden Bridge walkers Action have produced a guide to the route