Updated 16/02/2024
Length and time 5 miles (8km). Should take you 2½ hours. Highlights Wonderful views from Norland Moor, the Old bridge Inn and exploring the centre of Ripponden Gradients Mainly level with a downhill at the end Terrain The route is on stony paths, tracks and some road walking Obstacles There are 2 step-over stiles and 2 squeeze stiles Facilities The Fleece Inn, Old Bridge inn at Ripponden Bus access to the route To Norland 562 from Halifax, 561 from Ripponden 901 to Hebden Bridge
1. Cross Clough Bridge and just after take a waymarked rough path on the left. Cross a small stream and turn left and follow a wall. This is Norland Moor – a fine gritstone plateau.
Norland Moor Local Nature Reserve is a gorgeous in autumn and when the heather is in full bloom, when its clear the views are spectacular. When the cloud is in, it can be an atmospheric place to wander.
2. At a fine cairn, turn right on to path which crosses the moor is dead straight line (keep ahead at crossroads). Turn left when you reach iron railings.
Soon after, above an overgrown quarry on your right, Link Path A leaves the route to follow a series of posts to a car park and bus stop (561/2). The Link path carries on to New Longley farm and Sowerby Bridge for trains and buses.
3. Keep straight ahead with the quarries on your right and fine views of the Calder and Ryburn Valleys. Ignore path on left to the trig point. Pass the prominent outcrop called Ladstone Rock and after about 400 metres, the path descends to the road where you turn left.
4. Pass a static caravan site, then a bus stop and after about 130 metres, opposite a house, the route turns sharp right onto a tarmac lane. Pass the farms and houses and where the lane turns left, keep ahead on the track. The track descends, passing a small open area and shortly after, you turn left on a waymarked path through a field-corner gap in the wall.
5. With the Ryburn Valley and a wall on your right, cross a field, pass along a wide grassy wall track and follow the lane to the main road down to Ripponden.
6. Turn right, passing the Fleece Inn, ignore a farm track on the right. About 75 metres after the Fleece, leave the main road bearing right on a narrow tarmac lane to descend the steep Old Bank into Ripponden.
7. Pass St Bartholomew’s church, cross a 16th century packhorse bridge and go up the setted street passing the 14th century Old Bridge Inn and a 16th century vicarage with an 18th century front.
You now have three options:
To continue on to the next section, you cross the main road.
You can get several buses back to Halifax, the 901 to Huddersfield or Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge or the 528 to Littlebrough. (The bus stops are on the other side of the road to your right).
To stay a while in the Old Bridge Inn or one of the several places to eat and drink nearby