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.
Walkers from the upper Valley are improving the design of this web page and will be making sure all the information is up to date. Italic text indicates what is being worked on. We hope to complete everything by Spring 2024.
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
- Downloaded GPX maps of the Link paths from this web page
- Following Calderdale Way dedicated waymarks.
Detailed walking directions for the main route
In 2018 we wrote a set of detailed directions for the main route (these are being checked and re written in 2024). 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.
- Section 1 Brighouse to West Vale
- Section 2 West Vale to Norland Moor
- Section 3 Norland Moor to Ripponden
- Section 4 Ripponden to Cragg Vale
- Section 5 Cragg Vale to Lumbutts
- Section 6 Lumbutts to Todmorden
- Section 7 Todmorden to Blackshawhead
- Section 8 Blackshaw Head to Heptonstall
- Section 9 Heptonstall to Pecket Well
- Section 10 Pecket Well to Luddenden Dean
- Section 11 Luddenden Dean to Brockholes
- Section 12 Brockholes to Shibden Valley
- Section 13 Shibden to Norwood Green
- Section 14 Norwood Green to Brighouse
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)
A. Sowerby Bridge to Norland Moor (middle of section 3) – 1.5 miles
B. Luddendenfoot to Catherine Slack (middle of section 4) – 2 miles
C. Mytholmroyd to Cragg Vale (middle of section 4) – 2.5 miles
D. Castle Street to Lumbutts (beginning of section 6) – 1 mile
E. Tod to Hole Bottom (middle of section 7) – 1 mile
F. Jumble Hole to Hippins (start of section 7) – 1 mile
G. HB to Heptonstall (start of section 9) – 0.5 miles
H. HB to Alls Well farm (near start of section 10) – 2.5 miles
I. Mytholmroyd to Crow Hill (middle of section 10) – 2 miles
J. Luddendenfoot to Jerusalem Lane (start of section 11) – 2 miles
K. Wainstalls to Moorfield Farm (middle of section 11) – 0.5 miles
L. Halifax to Simm Carr (start of section 13) – ? miles
M. Halifax to Salter Hebble (near start of Section 1) – ? 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 have recently completed rewaymarking the route. Thanks to Ramblers Holidays Trust and Calderdale Ramblers for supporting this work.
You will see several kinds of waymarks on the route:
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)