A 50-mile circular walking route runs through the hills, moors and valleys of Calderdale. The region includes part of the South Pennines and brings together river valleys, moorland and hilly terrain. You can explore this landscape in different ways: on longer-distance trails, shorter circular walks or along canals. There are also historic places whose stories range from Anne Lister to the textile and industrial past.
Long-distance trails, shorter circular walks and canals
The Calderdale Way is a 50-mile circular walking route. Connecting paths from nearby towns and villages make it possible to divide the route into shorter circular walks. The 47-mile Mary Towneley Loop, by contrast, is a section of the Pennine Bridleway: it passes Blackshaw Head, Heptonstall, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Walsden. On the Pennine Way, Blackstone Edge marks the entrance to Calderdale; the route passes Stoodley Pike and runs via Callis and Colden, across the moors to Widdop. The distances and routes listed give you different options to consider when choosing a longer route or a shorter walk.
The canals also shape the options for walking. The 33-mile Rochdale Canal runs from Sowerby Bridge in Calderdale to Manchester, passing through Luddendenfoot, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Walsden, among other places. Its towpath offers a flat walking route close to the railway stations at Sowerby Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Walsden. The Calder and Hebble Navigation is different: it runs for 21 miles from Wakefield to Sowerby Bridge and has 27 locks.
There is a network of marked and unmarked cycling routes on roads, greenways and bridleways. It ranges from family cycling to technical mountain biking. Check local signs and route conditions before setting out.
Gorges, moorland and nature reserves
Hardcastle Crags features rocky gorges, rushing streams, oak, beech and pine woods, and upland meadows. Its marked walking trails are considered suitable for all abilities and include stream crossings via stepping stones and opportunities to spot wildlife. Cromwell Bottom Local Nature Reserve offers a different setting: it includes wetlands and meadows along the River Calder and the Calder and Hebble Navigation. There are almost two miles of wheelchair-accessible paths, including the canal towpath. As accessibility information can change, check it before your visit.
Bridestones Moor brings together nature and history. It is Calderdale’s first community-owned nature reserve and a hotspot for rare animals and plants. It is also an important historic site, with numerous unusually shaped stones on a steep slope overlooking the Calder Valley.
Anne Lister, architecture and industrial heritage
Shibden Hall dates from 1420. A visit offers insights into the lives of the people who lived and worked there, including diarist Anne Lister. The adjoining barn-like hall and 17th-century workshops house a carriage collection and displays about the trades of blacksmiths, coopers, wheelwrights and saddlers. Shibden Park also has a miniature railway, a boating lake, walking paths, a playground and an orienteering course.
At Halifax Minster, you can trace history across a long period: a church has stood here in some form for around nine hundred years. Inside is Anne Lister’s rediscovered grave, which attracts visitors from around the world. Customisable tours cover historical, educational, architectural and stained-glass topics, as well as Anne Lister. The Piece Hall offers a Georgian landmark: it is the world’s oldest surviving Georgian cloth hall and a Grade I listed masterpiece. Its courtyard hosts live music, dance, film and spectacular events throughout the year; it also has independent shops, bars, cafés and a restaurant.
Wainhouse Tower tells an unusual industrial story, too. The Grade II* listed tower was commissioned as a chimney for a local dyeing business but was never used as a working chimney; it is therefore considered the world’s tallest folly tower. Visitors can climb 369 steps to the viewing gallery. Opening times may vary, so plan your visit accordingly.
The museums add a range of collections to these stories. Since 1887, Bankfield Museum has used its collections to tell the story of Halifax and Calderdale; its displays include local history, costumes, art, toys, military history, jewellery and textiles from around the world. Calderdale Industrial Museum displays industrial machinery and artefacts across four floors, including some machines described as the only surviving examples in the country. Eureka! The National Children's Museum has six themed zones, hundreds of interactive exhibits and extensive outdoor areas.
Getting around Calderdale
The Caldervale railway line runs through Calderdale and serves Brighouse, Halifax, Sowerby Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Walsden. Check the current timetable before travelling. Regular bus services run to Calderdale’s main towns; buses are less frequent in smaller villages and rural areas. Checking current timetables can help you plan here, too.
Discover more destinations: Hebden Bridge, Halifax, Todmorden, East Riding Of Yorkshire, Leeds, Rotherham, Barnsley, Bradford.
For the main travel overview: Yorkshire And The Humber.
