~Clough 'n Dale~
24th September 2011
The weather demons conspired to deliver grey skies once again to the North-West of England. I travelled the short distance to Hebden Bridge to see where my map and boots would take me. It's generally familiar territory, but maybe I could find something new in this corner of West Yorkshire.
if you go down to the woods today...
Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....
New Bridge, Midgehole
I parked at the Hardcastle Crags National Trust car park and turned away from the track to HC, went down the lane in view and past these houses, over New Bridge and then up a track, heading for Heptonstall. Start time is 09:00hrs.
Up The Track |
Waymarker |
En Route to Heptonstall
Heptonstall is a remarkable little hamlet high above Hebden Bridge, a throwback to the days before mills and mechanisation. Traffic is barred, except for access.
Northgate |
Smithwell Lane |
Streets of Heptonstall
St Thomas a Becket Church, Heptonstall
How unusual to find a derelict church. This one, title above, with an accent missing on the "a" due to the witless webwriter not able to work it out, was badly damaged in a storm in 1847 and a decision was made to build a new one. Many gravestones are now effectively floor tiles, really strange place to be.
The Old Church |
Two Churches |
Church Views
The new church, St Thomas The Apostle, is in the same churchyard. A museum is next to the churchyard, but it doesn't open until 11am.
Graveyard
Cleggs, Sutcliffes, Greenwoods and Utleys seem to dominate the subterranean spaces. When you read the older stones, for a moment it's 200 years ago, it's not black and white, it's real, the trees are green. Social services? I don't think so. Some gravestones have a list of infants, so every year or two they were opening the plot and adding another victim of deadly illness.
Stoodley Pike
In Heptonstall I was chatting to a local man and discussing walk options. He made a valid point, which was that if I timed it right, I could get my lunch at The Pack Horse Inn. There's an idea, that should help with route planning.
Colden Clough
The path descends in to the woods and along Colden Clough.
Colden Woods
Colden Clough
Lumb Bank |
Sculpture Trail |
Colden Clough |
Crossover Bridge |
The mills no longer sit beneath the chimneys. The sculptures are made by the children of Hebden Royd, there's many more on view. The bridge represents the end of the wooded dale and the start of a long spell out on country tracks, often on the Pennine Bridleway.
Great House Farm
Distinctive local style of narrow windows. The hillsides host many such properties, new builds look out of place and won't get darkened as quickly with less coal burning etc. nowadays.
Colden Water Farms
It's raining a little now and any thoughts of finding the summit of neighbouring "Standing Stone Hill" (out of view, right) are dismissed; I'll be sticking to the track, heading for Gorple.
Gorple Lower Reservoir
The white building is The Pack Horse Inn, getting to it involves a walk along the dam and down to the road, then along the road. There is a shorter route, still not direct, but I'm sticking to solid ground, it's a bit soft in places!
Gorple Cottages
Pack Horse Inn
In Pack Horse
It's a cosy pub of many years standing. Food is available and they do not serve chips! Asking for chips results in a 50p "fine", monies to local charity. Check opening times before walking long distances, they are not open on Mondays.
Blake Dean Bridge
This is the top of Hebden Dale, home of Hardcastle Crags. It's not a recommended path, but you can follow the stream all the way down to the Crags. The waymarkers encourage walkers to take a higher path, which is probably a bit drier under foot.
Blake Dean
Bridge Supports
Much brighter now, what is the purpose of these bridge foundations?
Gibson Mill Pond
I've walked past the Crags and by staying close to the beck, I was never in the best place to see the stones. Gibson Mill has two ponds, this top one shows an autumnal scene. At Gibson Mill, a hat business was taking promotional photos. At first, I thought it was a wedding party! There were lots of other folk and a photographer, it's an easy mistake to make. Look for "Kitty Couture" on t'net. My information is that a new website is under construction and therefore may not be ready yet.
Mad Hatters
Gibson Mill, Lower Pond
Anthill
The Walk
The map will mean more to those who know the locality. Hebden Bridge is just out of view to the south.
Research reveals that the bridge foundations supported a trestle bridge which carried 3ft guage railway tracks. Little steam locos would carry materials across Hebden Dale to the dam building projects in the area. I've borrowed a photo from a local historical website:
The Blake Dean Trestle Bridge #
I'll put it back later. Can you see the bridge foundations? This was a good walk; if and when the weather improves, I'll be back on mountain tops and justifying the title of the website.
Walkers: Just me.
Time taken: 5hrs 45mins over a distance of about 11 miles.
Route: Hardcastle Crags Car Park, Heptonstall, Colden Clough, Colden, Pennine Bridleway to Gorple Cottages, Pack Horse Inn, Blake Dean, Hebden Dale, Gibson Mill and back to the car park.
Weather and conditions: Overcast, light rain, brightening up later on.
Greetings Count: The helpful man in Heptonstall, dog walkers in Colden Clough, runners and mountain bikers on the bridleway, lots of folk at Gibson Mill and in the woods of Hebden Dale.
Richard's Refreshment Review: Good daytime menu at The Pack Horse Inn. To order, you go into the kitchen and the smell excites the taste buds. Do not ever ask for chips!
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2011 © # except the one of the Trestle Bridge
Take me back to the start ....