Week 20 - Yorkshire Water Way Walk - back to Top Withins

After the 32 miles of the Haworth Hobble on Saturday, I just had a short walk to loosen up the muscles on Sunday then on Wednesday returned to Yorkshire and again to Widdop Reservoir (where I'd been at 9.30 on Saturday) for this Irregulars midweek LDWA walk. The route to Top Withins nicely varied from that used by the Hobble.



Thus started the purpose of the walk to - a section of The Yorkshire Water Way Walk to Hebden Bridge, initially back-tracking then across the seemingly endless tussocks of Middle Moor and eventually to our lunch time stop at the Hare and Hounds in Old Town. This is a really excellent pub - great value lunches for £3 and a wide range of Timothy Taylor brews.
Drop down to the Calder-Hebble Canal for a bit of flat walking before coming through Hebden Bridge and up the lovely cobbles on the way to Heptonstall (and so back to the Hobble route!) However rather than continue up the road, leader Mick had found a good path to the west of the road which to stay off road most of the time.

Through Heptonstall then across the top edge of Hebden Wood before dropping down to the river.


Walking through Hebden Vale must be one of the most pleasurable ways to pass time and brought back memories of my childhood when a group of friends would catch the bus from Brighouse to Hebden Bridge and walk up through the valley.
Finally a good strong climb up to the road for the final stretch back to Clough Foot Car Park. A good day out, 19 miles and 3000ft of ascent.
Most bizarre was that while driving home what do I hear played on the car radio - Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights!