HEBDEN BRIDGE WALKERS ACTION

Towards Stoodley Pike

Gwen Goddard has submitted this walk:

This is a walk of about 8 miles with splendid views, first of Hebden Bridge , then across steep sided valleys. It goes near the famous landmark of Stoodley Pike and takes in a short stretch of the Pennine Way , finishing with a pleasant and easy stroll across grazing land and downhill through deciduous woods.

To follow these notes accurately have the appropriate OS map with you.

Start outside the post office in Holme Street, in the centre of Hebden Bridge.

Walk to the canal and cross it using the packhorse bridge at the end of Holme Street .

Turn right and in a few yards go up the steps on to Palace House Road.

Turn left on the road and cross the railway, taking care to observe the traffic lights at the narrow bridge.

Shortly after the railway, take the footpath to right, going steeply uphill through trees.

Where it branches right to a gate, carry straight on and go under an arch.

At track turn left and go past Old Chamber (renovated farmhouse and associated cottages).

Carry on, crossing a cattle grid and pass Great Jumps farmhouse on left.

Go through gate and up the grassy track.

Turn left and go through wooden gate.

Pass Hawthorns on right.

Pass Moorside Farm on left and join track.

At FP sign turn right and go steeply uphill above a sunken walled path.

Cross the stile in fence.

Cross Erringden Moor.

At fork in path keep right.

At 986247, at a finger post follow Dicks Lane to Pennine Way .

If you wish, go on to Stoodley Pike, the memorial commemorating various historical events and providing wonderful views from its viewing platform, and then retrace your steps, if not

Turn right, following the Pennine Way away from Stoodley Pike.

At London Road , near Swillington, go left along London Road and drop down across the rough hillside to stile near Strait Hey.

Here you will be very near the Woodcraft Folk's camping barn, Height Gate, which was converted from a near derelict farmhouse with work on it done largely by volunteers. Worth a very short detour to see it.

Leave Height Gate uphill, skirting Height Gate's fields.

Go through gate and turn right following the path towards Swillington.

Turn left on to Pennine Way passing a farm on the right.

At FP sign go right across fields to Pinnacle Lane .

Follow Pinnacle Lane to Horsehold Road .

Go straight over, crossing narrow fields and successive stiles to pass a TV mast.

At track, go right skirting Crow Nest Wood.

Take FP on left signposted Crow Nest Wood.

Go over stile into Crow Nest Wood and follow path down to Old Palace Road and thence back into Hebden Bridge .