Hardcastle Crags is a stunning wooded valley near Hebdgen Bridge in West Yorkshire. It is part of the South Pennines. You will explore a wide variety of flora and fauna in its woodland. And there are a range of facilities, including an old cotton mill now turned into a cafe. There is an interesting willow sculpture of a horse that reminds us of the area’s industrial past and use of similar horses to work the woodland and a couple of waterfalls.
Stats
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Length | 9.7 mi – 15.6 km |
| Total elevation | 1,371 ft – 418m |
| Highest point | 886 ft – 270m |
| Walking time | 4h00 |
| Terrain | Paths and footpaths |
| Equipment | Good shoes, it can get muddy in places. |
View route (Click on menu to reveal the image)
Getting there
- Driving: Car Park in Heptonstall
- Public transport:
From Manchester: Train from Victoria to Hebden Bridge and bus 596 to Towngate Churn Lane (Heptonstall) (< 1h)
From Leeds: Train to Hebden Bridge and bus 596 to Towngate Churn Lane, Heptonstall (1h)
From York: Train to Leeds then train to Hebden Bridge and bus 596 to Towngate Churn Lane, Heptonstall (1h50)
From Chester: Direct train to Hebden Bridge and bus 596 to Towngate Churn Lane (Heptonstall) (1h55)
From Preston: Direct train to Hebden Bridgend bus 596 to Towngate Churn Lane (Heptonstall) (1h30)
From Sheffield: Train to Leeds then rain to Hebden Bridge and bus 596 to Towngate Churn Lane, Heptonstall (1h55)
Watering Holes
- The red Lion – Heptonstall – at the beginning or end of the walk.
A fab traditional village pub with good selection of real ales.
Sunny beer garden in the summer and roaring wood-fire in winter.
The food is home-made and offers classic pub fayre, including roast dinners on Sundays.
Check with the venue for kitchen hours but note the pub is closed on Mon-Tue and does not open until 15:00 on Wednesdays.
Make a week-end of it – Where to stay and eat
Hebden Bridge is a very vibrant town with a many artists and a solid New Age community.
The lesbian community is also very solid and one of the largest per capita in England. The community was a pioneer in promoting homonormative culture.
British Airways magazine has named Hebden Bridge as the 4th quirkiest town in the world to live in. And you will find a wide range of places to eat and drink.
For music and TV lovers, the town was used by Talk Talk, The Dream Academy and Haddaway for their music clips. Then used for the TV show Happy Valley. And Ed Sheeran grew up in the town.
Whilst property prices are really high; cost of accommodation for the night are reasonable.
For the budget conscious: IOU Hebden Bridge vegetarian hostel
The rooms are very comfortable and reasonably priced. The 6 bed dorm I stayed in (exclusive use for two people) was ensuite with separate loo and shower. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming and the self-use kitchen comes in very handy to store food for your hike the next day. The outdoor and indoor common spaces are very comfortable.
For some luxury or a romantic week-end: The White Lion Inn – Hebden Bridge
Not to be confused with the White Lion Pub in Heptonstall.
The rooms are furnished with quality and attention to details. They are very comfortable.
Fantastic location as it is at the heart of everything: Pubs, bars, restaurants and shops
For a cosy B&B: Hebble End View B&B – Hebden Bridge
Excellent value and incredibly cosy.
There are only two rooms, the bathroom is shared and breakfast is served in the room.
But the owner is very friendly and the breakfast hearty and high quality.
Peregrinating the North West and Beyond 
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