8:00 start with 16:30 return
13½ miles (22km) with 2000ft (620m) Total Ascent
Black Hameldon sits squarely on the main watershed of Britain (and two River Calders) and would certainly meet Private Frazer´s definition of ‘A Wild and Lonely Place’.
We start from Holme Chapel (bizarrely just outside of Burnley) and follow the Pennine Bridleway up onto The Long Causeway, leaving this at the windfarm for a trackless tramp across Black Hameldon (479m/1,572ft) to the pass at Gorple Gate below the dramatic Gorple Stones. Here we rejoin the Pennine Bridleway and head down to Widdop Reservoir, thence via Clough Foot and Gorple Lower Reservoir and a short climb to the ancient Reaps Cross. Leaving the Pennine Bridleway we ascend Standing Stone Hill (a trig point here, nothing more) before descending into the deep-cut valley of Colden Clough, which leads directly to Mytholm and Hebden Bridge. If the weather is really bad we will stick with the Pennine Bridleway between The Long Causeway and Gorple Gate.
9½ miles (15.3km) with 1830ft (558m) Total Ascent
We leave Hebden Bridge and head west along the Rochdale canal before climbing up through Callis Wood and joining the Pennine Bridleway to Swillington and London Road. Dropping down we will pass through the beautiful village of Mankinholes with its 18th century cottages and stone water troughs, a sure sign that this was an important stopping point on these old packhorse trails.
Heading south from Mankinholes we join the Calderdale Way and start the steady climb up to Stoodley Pike monument which dominates the moors for miles around. It was first built in 1815 to celebrate peace at the end of the Napoleonic war but it collapsed in 1854 and was replaced 2 years later by the present structure. The internal spiral staircase can be climbed, using torches as it is pitch black, to reach a viewing platform. Well worth the effort.
We descend by Law Hill, Pinnacle and the tiny hamlet of Horsehold to follow the steep lane back to Hebden Bridge. Don´t forget your torches!
7½miles (12.1km) with 1000ft (304m) Total Ascent
At the time of writing these details I have been unable to recce the walk due to a felled tree on a vital part of the route (no pun intended). The local authorities where working on it and I am assured this tree will be gone well before we do the walk today. This means that all the details are as accurate as I can get without having been able to recce the walk.
So, starting our walk from Hebden Bridge we head up towards Mytholm and Heptonstall. Here, we continue north to Lee Bank before baring west to continue through woodland paths towards Shackleton and round to Hardcastle Crags. Further along we reach Walshaw where we turn to open field paths to head East to Lumb Hole Waterfall at the top of Crimsworth Dean. Turning back towards Hebden Bridge we now start a steady decent through woodland paths down alongside Crimsworth Dean. At New Bridge we continue south to Midghole and Lee wood. Our descent steepens here for a short while till we reach Nutclough and follow the road back in to Hebden Bridge.
5½ miles (8.8km) with 600ft (182m) Total Ascent
Leaving Hebden Bridge we pass the Railway Station and go under the railway track to join the path through Crow Nest Woods. It is a good steady climb all the way through the woods, we then exit onto a hard track. Crossing the track we take the path signposted to Pinnacle Lane, which goes through open field, and involves more climbing to the Brents, and the junction at Pinnacle Lane. Then it´s along a good path on Kilnshaw Lane to Kershaw Farm. Sadly, this is our nearest point to the Stoodley Pike Monument.
We now join the Pennine way at Lower Rough Head for a short distance, before crossing fields to Pinnacle lane. Then it is a descent through open field to the edge of Callis wood and onto Horsehold and a further long descent on the road back down to Hebden Bridge. At this point we will have walked 4 miles. At Hebden Bridge the walk will continue along the canal and the river Calder for approx 1.5 miles.