Photograph Gallery Stage 44 Oakworth Moor to Hebden Bridge
Photograph Gallery Stage 44 Oakworth Moor to Hebden Bridge, Thursday 7th July 2011
The Story:
Boys own day again as after a week of wonderful company Strolling Steve and I were stuck with each others company for the walk. The rain fell overnight as we camped on Oakworth Moor and came again just as we decamped. Blooming weather, especially when camping as it didn’t allow us to dry things and with a similar forecast ahead we decided to get to Hebden Bridge and find accommodation rather than camp again. Determination set we dropped down from the moor to the valley floor and then climbed through overgrown unused but official tracks to join the Pennine Way and follow it to Top Withins, famous for being identified with Wuthering Heights and as such signposted in both English and Japanese. We struggled up that hill to join the way though, unused means undergrowth, locked gates and broken stiles. We got them all and as a result we stopped off at Top Within for our first break. After quick refreshment and phone calls to our wives we were on our way again.
The next stage was over moor which we thoroughly enjoyed despite stone paths and bog sections. We passed a number of high moor reservoirs too and while on the high ground we passed a number of single Pennine Way walkers going the other way. Most were women, five of them to just one man. It was a surprising but impressive. Well done.
We could have continued on the Pennine Way, it was my original plan but as we had agreed on accommodation in Hebden Bridge we followed the valley directly down toward Hardcastle Crags. We stuck to the edge of the water and it was a fantastic journey down with stretches of easy path followed by sections of tough rock and tree in the way scrambling, up and down, up and down, up and down. Eventually we reached a mill where we took a break before following the river for a while longer before following the Calderdale Way into Hebden via a stiff climb to the Heptonstall Road and then a steep descent on a cobbled path to the centre of Hebden Bridge. Then we found accommodation at Bar One and rested. We were pleased to be indoors for in the early evening as we relaxed with a pint there was a terrific storm in the town which caused local flooding. We may have been washed away in the tents.
Strolling Steves Daily Statistics:
Scenery: 7/10 – High moor reservoirs and a pretty riverside walk into Hebden Bridge.
History: 6/10 – Bronte country.
Interest: 7/10 – Lots to see.
Track: 6/10 – Well marked with stone pavements, and the inevitable Pennine Way bogs.
Comment: Good variation and worth a ramble.
The Photographs:
On our way from our camp pitch on Thornton Hill
Alas the pigs were not playing out
Ponden Reservoir
Good eyesight required
That's better
Stanbury Moor
Top Withins straight ahead
Another mess of a sign
The last time I was here a sheep nicked my sandwiches from my rucksack
Information or myth at Top Withins
Looking back to Top Withins
The Walshaw Dean reservoirs
Poignant memorial stone to 'E Wilkinson, A rambler, died August 31st 1964, aged 35'
Crossing the dam of Walshaw Dean Lower Reservoir
Following Alcomden down to Hebden Dale
Hebden Dale
Old character
Hebden Water
Blue skies emerging above Hebden Dale
One of the many footbridges over Hebden Water in Hebden Dale
Gibson Mill used to produce cotton cloth until 1890. It is now managed by the National Trust
Hebden Wood at Midgehole
The centre of Hebden Bridge
Poser
We were so relieved we didn't camp after torrential rain in Hebden Bridge