Walking The Pennine Way
So you fancy walking The Pennine Way? The picturesque town of Hebden Bridge is a great stop-off point.
The Pennine Way runs along the backbone of England, from the Peak District to the Scottish Borders. This historic route passes through spectacular secenery, stretching for 268 miles across the wilds of northern England.
The route runs from the hills of the Derbyshire Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales, winds through the stunning Swaledale Valley, across the North Pennines and over Hadrian’s Wall to the Cheviot Hills, and finally ends in the Scottish Borders at Kirk Yetholm.
There are some excellent towns en route that are ideally place for a pleasant rest day. The National Trail website recommends scheduling stop-overs in Hebden Bridge, Skipton, Hawes, Appleby and the Hadrian’s Wall area.
The original route of the Pennine Way skirted past Hebden Bridge. But with the town growing in popularity with walkers, Hebden Bridge Walkers Action created a waymarked route to the town and back to the Pennine Way via the ancient village of Heptonstall.
The Hebden Bridge Loop
The creation of the Hebden Bridge Loop coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Pennine Way. The Loop seeks to encourage walkers on the Way to visit the town and make use of its accommodation and facilities.
You now you can walk the loop into the town and rejoin the Pennine Way a little further on.
The Magic of Hebden
Hebden Bridge is a vibrant little town, renowned for its creativity and independent spirit. This small town is as cosmopolitan as many city centres in England, but the town centre is so small you could walk around all streets in less than an hour. Its heritage as a former milltown is present in both its architecture and landscape, which is scattered with the chimneys that are a relic of earlier times.
The town offers a busy calendar of events and exhibitions, as well as a nationally-renowned music venue, a theatre and a thriving community-owned cinema.
Situated in West Yorkshire’s Upper Calder Valley, Hebden Bridge is in many ways a typical sleepy market town — with its York-stone houses and old cotton mills. However, it’s also renowned as being home to a thriving community of LGBTQ+ people and creatives. Hebden Bridge’s inclusive reputation is believed to stem from the 1970s, when artists and activists were drawn to it by cheap property prices following the mass closure of its mills. Among its quirky cafes and independent shops, Hebden Bridge’s welcoming ethos is easy to see.
The Hebden Bridge Loop is not just for people walking The Pennine Way — it also makes a great circular walk of a little over 6 miles with three get-out points if you want to do it in sections.
This map above gives an idea of the route. A detailed leaflet mapping out the route is available from Hebden Bridge Library, Todmorden Information Centre and local outdoor and bookshops.
If you are walking the Pennine Way and just need the directions for the Loop itself – you can download them here:
From North to South : DirectionsNorthToSouth
From South to North : DirectionsSouthToNorth
According to National Trail, Hedben Bridge and the Calder Valley would be undertaken on day 3 and day 4 (based on the whole route taking 19 days).
Day 3: Standedge to Calder Valley
This part of the route goes via Blackstone Edge, passing reservoirs and the infamous Stoodley Pike. It totals 11 miles (18 Km).
‘The worst part of the journey is behind you,’ says Wainwright, ‘from now on the Pennine Way can be enjoyed.’ The views approaching the Calder Valley are breathtaking, especially as you approach, and pass by, the immense spectre that is Stoodley Pike.
With the route heading along the “tops” for much of this stretch , there’s plenty of flat walking. Much of this section sticks to the high moorland and gritstone edges. Navigation is only likely to be difficult along Blackstone Edge, in bad weather, but there are cairns and poles to guide you.
Hebden Bridge has good accommodation options. However, staying in Todmorden would make it a slightly shorter day. The Riverside Home is perfectly placed (of course!) being situated Hedben Bridge and Todmorden and just a stone’s throw from The Pennine Way.
Day 4: Calder Valley to Ickornshaw
This part of the route goes via Heptonstall Moor, Bronte Country and Ickornshaw Moor. It totals 16 miles (26 Km)
There are some potentially tricky parts to navigate. But for the most part, this section is relatively undemanding, whilst being still being very picturesque. It starts with a steep climb out of the Calder Valley, followed by a beautiful stretch over the wind-swept and dramatic Heptonstall Moor (Sylvia Plath is buried in Heptonstall village). It then passes on to more literary connections, as it makes it way to the epic landscapes of Bronte country. There is plenty of Bronte heritage to enjoy in the Haworth area and the landscapes are wild and brooding.
There’s a little shop and pub en route, as well as Haworth town, which is a little off route but makes for a great stop-over point. Beyond that, you’ll need to look for campsites, as Cowling and Ickornshaw don’t have much to offer in the way of guesthouses.
Further information
You can find a full description of the route, with helpful tips and cautionary notes, on The National Trail website: www.nationaltrail.co.uk
Much of the landscape is hilly, often remote, and the terrain varies underfoot. Uplands and moorlands can often be boggy! Given the varied (and often wet) nature of the British weather, it’s best to be well equipped with waterproofs and sturdy footwear.
The best months to walk the Pennine Way are from mid-May to September, when the weather is usually better. However, the Trail can be walked all year round. It’s wise to be prepared for snow on the northern sections in winter months - and rain at any time of the year!