The Calderdale Way

The Calderdale way is a 50 mile circular walk with link paths that allow you to break it up into smaller circular walks. It is a great way to explore the landscape and some lovely old routes around the area. Please remember that many of the footpaths go through working farms. Please be respectful of this as you pass through.

The Calderdale Way in Blue and Link Paths in Red [Contains information from Open Street Map, which is made available here under the Open Database License (ODbL)]

ACCESSING THE ROUTE

You can start the route anywhere that is convenient. The Link paths provide a walking route from public transport routes. There are further options in the detailed directions.

NAVIGATING THE ROUTE

The OS OL21 South Pennines Explorer map covers most of the route and the Explorer map 288 covers the Eastern end. The main Calderdale Way route is marked as a green dotted line with diamond shaped lozenges, the link paths are not specially marked.

You can also use a combination of:

  • Chris Goddard’s annotated drawn map. This can be purchased directly from Chris’s Website, Todmorden Information Centre, The Bookcase in Hebden Bridge and many other outlets.
  • Detailed written directions from this web page which you can download to your phone or print off.
  • Downloaded GPX maps of the Link paths from this web page
  • Following the Calderdale Way dedicated waymarks.
A section of Chris Goddard’s Calderdale Way map

Detailed walking directions for the main route

In 2024 we wrote a set of detailed directions for the whole of the main route. For each section we include:

  • Detailed updated directions
  • Up to date bus details (see WY metro website for timetables)
  • Up to date refreshment stops (with telephone number to check if open) and other facilities
  • How you can walk the main route in sections.
  • Points of interest.

Mobile friendly directions to read online

PDF files to download or print

Link paths

There are thirteen link paths that give you access to the main route. The starting points are all served by public transport. They make it able to do circular walks completing the Calderdale Way in short sections. They can also be used if you need to shorten your walk because of weather deterioration etc.

As the link paths are not marked on the OS map, we have produced GPX versions for each of them (see below)

The decriptions contain information from Open Street Map, which is made available here under the Open Database License (ODbL).

Sowerby Bridge to Norland Moor (middle of section 3) – 1.5 miles

Luddendenfoot to Catherine Slack (middle of section 4) – 2.8 miles

Mytholmroyd to Cragg Vale (middle of section 4) – 2.5 miles

Castle Street to Lumbutts (beginning of section 6) – 1 mile

Todmorden to Hole Bottom (middle of section 7) – 1 mile

Jumble Hole to Hippins (start of section 7) – 1 mile

Hebden Bridge to Heptonstall (start of section 9) – 1 mile

Hebden Bridge to Allswell Farm (near start of section 10) – 2 miles

Mytholmroyd to Crow Hill (middle of section 10) – 1.5 miles

Luddendenfoot to Jerusalem Lane (start of section 11) – 2.3 miles

Wainstalls to Moorfield Farm (middle of section 11) – 0.5 miles

Halifax to Simm Carr (start of section 13) – ? miles

Halifax to Salter Hebble (near start of Section 1) – 2.3 miles

Downloading Link Path GPX maps

Unfortunately Word Press won’t let us add GPX files to the website, so you will need to download and unzip this file to get GPX tracks for the link paths.

You can then import them into the mapping software of your choice. you may be able to import the zip file itself. Otherwise unzip it and import the files individually. If you are having issues unzipping the file on your phone try doing it on your computer and uploading them to the cloud. You can then access them on your phone.

Waymarking

CROWS (Community Rights of Way Services) have recently completed re-waymarking the route. Thanks to Ramblers Holidays Trust and Calderdale Ramblers for supporting this work.

You will see several kinds of waymarks on the route:

Public Footpath waymarks – main Calderdale Way route, Link path (2) and standard Footpath
Public Bridleway waymarks – main Calderdale Way route (2), Link path and standard Bridleway

Feedback

If any of the directions are wrong or misleading, or anything on this page needs correcting, please tell us. If the condition or waymarking of any part of the route causes concern, please report the issue to CROWS (Community Rights of Way Services)