Updated 23/01/2024
Length and time 1½ miles (2½ km). Should take you a bit over an hour. Highlights Some very old bridleways, quick detour to Smeekin Pike and a longer detour into Hardcastle Craggs. Gradients The route drops quite steeply down to the Hebden Valley and back up to Pecket Well. Terrain The route is mainly on rough stone bridleways. Obstacles There are no obstacles. Facilities There are two pubs, a small shop and a café in Heptonstall, the Robin Hood at Pecket Well is just off the route. Toilets at Midgehole. Bus access to the route Heptonstall 596 from Hebden Bridge Pecket Well, B3 to Keighley and Hebden Bridge 594 to Hebden Bridge
1. Turn right down the main stone setted street called Towngate to The Cross Inn (SD987281). Turn left up Northgate, passing the octagonal Methodist Chapel on the right.
Link Path G continues to descend from here to Hebden Bridge via the steep Buttress.
2. After the chapel, bear right down the bridleway opposite Northwell Terrace. Follow this down to the tarmac road and cross on to the wide path opposite. Go straight ahead where the paths cross, then stay ahead when you cross a narrow tarmac lane.
3. Descend to the stream called Hebden Water, passing a weir and the Blue Pig club. Turn right over the bridge and you will shortly arrive at a junction of paths known as Midgehole.
Turning left on the wide track will take you to the National trust site called Hardcastle Craggs. There is a café at Gibson Mill which is about a mile away.
4. Turn right and continue to a toilet block on the road. Take the path behind the toilets, climb to a house and continue uphill on the bridleway signed to Pecket Well. This very old route called Raygate, winds uphill among the beech trees to cross Kitling Bridge.
Just before the bridge where a fence appears on your left is a short permissive path up to Smeekin Pike. This is a war memorial and is a lovely spot to stop and admire the views.
5. From the bridge, climb the wide stone track to a junction of paths, where you turn left uphill. At the top of the path, you reach the main road from Hebden Bridge to Haworth at Pecket Well.
At Pecket Well you have three choices:
- Continue on to the next section by crossing to the path opposite or
- Get the B3 bus back to Hebden Bridge or Haworth or Keighley (the stops are a few metres up the hill) or
Visit the Robin Hood 100 metres up the road for some great food and drink