Marsden to Hebden Bridge

17 September 2010 - Marsden to Hebden Bridge

Distance - 16.6 miles

Weather - Fine

We stayed at - Moyles Hotel & Restaurant, 6-10 New Road, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX7 8AD Cost - £119.00

Looking back to Marsden

Marsden is situated around 7 miles from Huddersfield and 18 miles from Manchester and has a train line linking it to both places. The  Huddersfield Narrow Canal also passes through Marsden and we started off our day by crossing over it. We knew that since last night we had a steep descent into Marsden, that there would be an equally steep ascent out of the town and we were correct in this assumption. Once up on the moor, we passed Drop Clough, crossed Slaithwaite Moor to reach the A640 (a straight Roman road at this point), crossed over Deanhead Reservoir and the B6114 before encountering the M62.

Descending to Booth Wood

Path over Drop Clough

The motorway divides at this point to run either side of Stott Hall Farm and I have to say I felt sorry for the farmer who has all the disadvantages of living in the middle of nowhere, but none of the peace associated with it. Luckily an underpass had been included as part of the motorway design and so the crossing was completely safe and stress free! Unlike normal underpasses, this one was very clean and was being used as a place to store agricultural equipment. Interestingly the hard shoulders on the Lancashire side of the M62 are dressed with red schlamme, whilst on the Yorkshire side they used white balliden chippings - it was nice to see the war of the roses still lived on!

Baitings Reservoir embankments

Crossing Baitings Reservoir

We stopped for lunch at the other side of the Booth Wood Reservoir in a pub that was more style than substance. Then made our way over Blackwood Common to Baitings Reservoir, where there were some pretty huge embankments to retain the water. Once we'd crossed over the reservoir we had a brief rest, as we were both starting to get a bit tired, which was a bit concerning as we were only halfway to Hebden Bridge.

Interesting house near High Stones

Descending to Hebden Bridge

We carried onto Cragg Vale (where there was an interesting house) via Far Slack and Slate Delfs Hill. Apparently a notorious gang of counterfeit coiners used to live here in the late 18th century. Crossing over the B6138 there was a pub, but unfortunately it was closed and so we had to press on. I think that because we were tired we got a bit lost on Bellhouse Moor and Errington Moor. It may have been tiredness or the fact that the footpath just seemed to disappear into cotton grass. Eventually, after much splashing about in bog we found ourselves at Errington Grange and started our long descent into Hebden Bridge.

We found Hebden Bridge to be an affluent and lively town, with good independent shops, many of them selling organic and free-trade fayre. We stayed at the Moyles Hotel and restaurant. This was a "tour" hotel and we had a beautiful room overlooking the canal basin. As this was the last walking day of our holiday, we certainly pushed the boat out for our evening meal, which was excellent.

Hebden Bridge Station Sign

The next day we made our way over to Hebden Bridge Station where we caught the 10:36 to Preston arriving at 11:32. We then caught the 11:41 to Glasgow Central arriving at 14:01. We then walked over to Glasgow Queen Street and caught the 14:41 to Stirling arriving at 15:07. A final taxi ride got us home by 15:30. The much shorter journey home being proof, if we needed it, of the progress we were undoubtedly making in our journey north.

Cost of train travel for two adults from Hebden Bridge to Stirling was £72.00