6th April 2024 - Worth Valley to Hebden Dale and back
Walk Details
Distance walked: 16.1 miles
Total ascent: 2529 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 8 hrs
Route description: Penistone Hill Country Park-Drop Farm-Lee Lane-Bodkin Lane-Stairs Lane-Lane Head-Grain Water Bridge-Old Road-Lumb Hole Waterfall-Nook-Shackleton-Walshaw-Black Dean-Ridge Scout-Pennine Way-Top Withins-Pennine Way-Bronte Way-Bronte Bridge-Bronte Way-Moor Side Lane-Penistone Hill Country Park
I stayed close to home for my walk this weekend, making the short drive across to the Worth Valley for a long walk across my local South Pennines moors. This was the fifth time (fourth year in a row) that I've done a version of this particular route, and it involves crossing the Worth Valley to Calderdale and back, making use of bridleways for one crossing of the moors, and the trail of the Pennine Way for the other. A change from last year was the route that I took to the southern end of Shackleton Moor, taking in the footpath along Ridge Scout and the Pennine Way north from there, leaving out visiting the Alcomden Stones and Stanbury Moor trig point, and my way back to Penistone Hill Country Park from Top Withins. Those differences meant a small increase in mileage, and I wouldn't have wanted it to be any more. It was grey and cloudy when I set off from Penistone Hill Country Park, but it was forecast to improve, which it did, as through the afternoon there was increasing amounts of sunshine, good visibility for appreciating the fantastic all-round views from the tops of the moors, though with a strong wind.
From the car park at Penistone Hill Country Park I made my way out to Moor Side Lane and took the footpath along the track to Drop Farm. Just after passing Drop Farm I took the footpath on the left and followed it down past Westfield Farm to Lee Lane where I turned right and walked along the lane past Leeshaw Reservoir, then up the bridleway of Bodkin Lane and Stairs Lane to cross the moor over to Calderdale. I followed the bridleway across the moor to Lane Head (the end of the road at the top of Crimsworth Dean), then walked down the road until I reached the bridleway down to Lumb Bridge on the right, which I took down to Lumb Bridge and up to the ruined farm of Nook. From there I followed a bridleway south down Crimsworth Dean until I reached a track on the right up through woodland, which I took up to the hillside hamlet of Shackleton. I then followed the track up Hebden Dale, through Walshaw, and until I reached New Laithe Farm, where I took a footpath on the left down into Black Dean, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I followed the path west up Black Dean, crossed a footbridge over Alcomden Water, and made my way along a path to the bridge carrying the Widdop Road over Graining Water. A short walk up the road brought me to a footpath on the left, which I followed west along Ridge Scout until I reached the Pennine Way. The Pennine Way took me north above Graining Water to the Widdop Road, and after a short walk up the road I took a track on the right. I then followed the Pennine Way up Walshaw Dean, past the lower and middle reservoirs, before heading up Withins Height End to cross over the moor back to the Worth Valley, where I soon reached the ruins of Top Withins. From Top Withins I kept on the Pennine Way and made my east down to the moorland of The Height, from where I took the Bronte Way down to Bronte Bridge, which I crossed to take the Bronte Way up to Moor Side Lane and the car park at Penistone Hill Country Park.
Total ascent: 2529 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 8 hrs
Route description: Penistone Hill Country Park-Drop Farm-Lee Lane-Bodkin Lane-Stairs Lane-Lane Head-Grain Water Bridge-Old Road-Lumb Hole Waterfall-Nook-Shackleton-Walshaw-Black Dean-Ridge Scout-Pennine Way-Top Withins-Pennine Way-Bronte Way-Bronte Bridge-Bronte Way-Moor Side Lane-Penistone Hill Country Park
I stayed close to home for my walk this weekend, making the short drive across to the Worth Valley for a long walk across my local South Pennines moors. This was the fifth time (fourth year in a row) that I've done a version of this particular route, and it involves crossing the Worth Valley to Calderdale and back, making use of bridleways for one crossing of the moors, and the trail of the Pennine Way for the other. A change from last year was the route that I took to the southern end of Shackleton Moor, taking in the footpath along Ridge Scout and the Pennine Way north from there, leaving out visiting the Alcomden Stones and Stanbury Moor trig point, and my way back to Penistone Hill Country Park from Top Withins. Those differences meant a small increase in mileage, and I wouldn't have wanted it to be any more. It was grey and cloudy when I set off from Penistone Hill Country Park, but it was forecast to improve, which it did, as through the afternoon there was increasing amounts of sunshine, good visibility for appreciating the fantastic all-round views from the tops of the moors, though with a strong wind.
From the car park at Penistone Hill Country Park I made my way out to Moor Side Lane and took the footpath along the track to Drop Farm. Just after passing Drop Farm I took the footpath on the left and followed it down past Westfield Farm to Lee Lane where I turned right and walked along the lane past Leeshaw Reservoir, then up the bridleway of Bodkin Lane and Stairs Lane to cross the moor over to Calderdale. I followed the bridleway across the moor to Lane Head (the end of the road at the top of Crimsworth Dean), then walked down the road until I reached the bridleway down to Lumb Bridge on the right, which I took down to Lumb Bridge and up to the ruined farm of Nook. From there I followed a bridleway south down Crimsworth Dean until I reached a track on the right up through woodland, which I took up to the hillside hamlet of Shackleton. I then followed the track up Hebden Dale, through Walshaw, and until I reached New Laithe Farm, where I took a footpath on the left down into Black Dean, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I followed the path west up Black Dean, crossed a footbridge over Alcomden Water, and made my way along a path to the bridge carrying the Widdop Road over Graining Water. A short walk up the road brought me to a footpath on the left, which I followed west along Ridge Scout until I reached the Pennine Way. The Pennine Way took me north above Graining Water to the Widdop Road, and after a short walk up the road I took a track on the right. I then followed the Pennine Way up Walshaw Dean, past the lower and middle reservoirs, before heading up Withins Height End to cross over the moor back to the Worth Valley, where I soon reached the ruins of Top Withins. From Top Withins I kept on the Pennine Way and made my east down to the moorland of The Height, from where I took the Bronte Way down to Bronte Bridge, which I crossed to take the Bronte Way up to Moor Side Lane and the car park at Penistone Hill Country Park.
Route map
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Having crossed Moor Side Lane, I've walked along the track to Drop Farm
Leeshaw Reservoir below as I follow the footpath down to Lee Lane
Penistone Hill and Leeshaw Reservoir below from Bodkin Lane
Heading up the track of Stairs Lane
Looking back over the moors of Bronte Country as I reach the top of Stairs Lane..
The moors of Calderdale ahead as I follow Stairs Lane down into Crimsworth Dean
Following the track of Stairs Lane and then Old Road down into Crimsworth Dean..
Mare Greave Clough
Looking down Crimsworth Dean from above Grain Farm
and back north along Old Road. The building is the former Crimsworth Dean Wesleyan School.
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I leave Old Road for the bridleway down to Lumb Hole Waterfall in Crimsworth Dean
Lumb Hole Waterfall
Looking up Crimsworth Dean from by the ruins of Nook Farm
From the ruins of Nook Farm I follow the bridleway south down Crimsworth Dean
Then leave it for a bridleway on the right up to the hillside hamlet of Shackleton
Making my way through Shackleton
From Shackleton I follow the bridleway up Hebden Dale towards Walshaw
Looking across Hebden Dale to Slack. I can make out the Stoodley Pike monument in the distance.
On the bridleway from Shackleton up Hebden Dale to Walshaw..
The hamlet of Walshaw
Looking up Hebden Dale from Walshaw
Following the bridleway up Hebden Dale to New Laithe Farm
Looking back down Hebden Dale
Blue skies above New Laithe Farm as I follow the footpath down into Black Dean
Looking down Black Dean from where I've stopped for lunch
and lunch had, the view up Hebden Water and Black Dean
Crossing Alcomden Water
Looking down Black Dean
Graining Water from the bridge carrying the Widdop Road over it
On Ridge Scout above Graining Water looking back down to Black Dean and the Widdop Road
Reaps Water meets Graining Water below, and the Pennine Way crosses the two footbridges over them. The path I'm on will soon join it.
Looking north up Graining Water to Brown Scout from the Pennine Way
The Pennine Way briefly takes to the Widdop Road
Looking back to Brown Scout and the Widdop Road..
..as I follow the Pennine Way up to Walshaw Dean Lower Reservoir
On the dam of a windswept Walshaw Dean Lower Reservoir
Following the Pennine Way north up Walshaw Dean
Walshaw Dean Middle Reservoir. I had expected it to be more or less full given the amount of rain that there's been recently.
The Pennine Way runs beside Walshaw Dean Middle Reservoir before heading up onto Withins Height End..
Looking back to Walshaw Dean Lower and Middle Reservoirs, with Gorple Lower Reservoir in the distance
At the top of the Pennine Way. Broad South Pennines moors around Calderdale to the south.
Following the Pennine Way to Top Withins
The moors of Bronte Country come into view
Approaching Top Withins
The ruins of Top Withins. I have the place to myself, one advantage of being here at 1545 in the afternoon.
Looking down the valley of South Dean Beck
From Top Withins I follow the Pennine Way east towards the moorland of The Height
Looking back along the Pennine Way to Top Withins
On the moorland of The Height
To my left, Ponden Reservoir, with Oakworth Moor beyond
Just ahead I'll leave the Pennine Way for the Bronte Way down to Bronte Bridge
On the Bronte Way down to Bronte Bridge
South Dean Beck and Bronte Bridge
Looking back up the valley of South Dean Beck to the moorland around Top Withins
Taking the Bronte Way back to Penistone Hill Country Park..
Lower Laithe Reservoir below
Taking in the view across the Worth Valley as I make it back to Penistone Hill Country Park..
