Length and Time: 2.3 miles (3.7 km) – should take about 1 hr and 30 mins
Gradient: Mostly on the flat. About 140 ft (50m) of climbing
Terrain: Roads and tracks
Obstacles: A long flight of steps over the railway line
Facilities: There are two pubs on the route: the Shears Inn on leaving Halifax (about 30 mins from Halifax) and the Water Mill (Brewers Fayre) near Salterhebble.
Public Transport: Halifax station can be accessed on Northern rail from all the surrounding towns. The bus station is also nearby.
This route is based on the Hebble Trail devised by Calderdale council to illustrate the industrial history of Halifax. The route has changed over time and has not been maintained. We have adapted it to make it passable and as interesting as possible. An information board can be seen enroute. This link path is now well waymarked.
Halifax to Salterhebble
1) Leave the station and at the main road turn left. After 120 metres turn left down Bath Street then right along School Street.
2) Cross left over the metalled railway bridge and down a steep flight of steps. The steps can be slippery but there is a good handrail. Go through the tunnel at the bottom to exit right on to a set of cobbles that joins the street called Waterside. Continue along Waterside for 300 metres and make note of the stream (Hebble Brook) to your right and Hargreaves Foundry on both sides of the road. At the T junction turn right uphill on Water Lane to the main road.
3) At the main road turn left for a short distance before taking the left fork and immediately right up the hill on cobbles to the left of a tower block.
4) At the top of the hill by the tower block turn left on Shaw Lane on a beautiful fantail cobbled road. The road forks after about 80 metres. Take the left fork down Boys Lane towards the Shears Inn at the bottom, passing a stone carving workshop on your right.
5) On reaching the Shears Inn (Paris Gates), take the cobbled path uphill to the right of the pub. Continue up the path to meet the cobbled lane at the top.
6) Turn left here to re-join the fantail cobbles and walk for 80 metres past where the cobbles turn to tarmac before seeing a cobbled path heading downhill on your left. This path leads you into the mill complex of Phoebe Lane Mills.
7) Follow this path downhill and across a bridge, follow the road, and where the road bends to the left, continue straight ahead to enter on to the recreational track, signposted ‘Hebble Trail’. There is an information board further along.
8) This path is easily followed for 1.5 km to the Salterhebble locks. Towards the end of this section, fork right and use an underpass to cross the A629 road. The Water Mill pub is at this point.
9) On arrival at Salterhebble locks, cross over the lock bridge and fork left to meet the Calderdale Way on the main A629/A6026 road.
Salterhebble To Halifax
1) The link path off the Calderdale Way begins here at Salterhebble off the main road. Follow this path across the lock bridge and to the left of the canal. This path is a good recreational path with exercise equipment along the way.
2) At the end of the recreational path you will see mill buildings and yard straight ahead. Go through the mill yard and left through the yard and up the cobbled link path on the other side of the mill.
3) At the top turn right on to the tarmac road that turns into fantail cobbles. Continue until a right fork going downhill on a cobbled path where the link path is signed.
4) Continue downhill, past the Shears pub and up ahead (ignoring the road going off to the right). Go past the mill buildings and a stone carving workshop to the top of Boys Lane.
5) Continue straight ahead here towards a tower block on Gaukroger Lane and there turn right downhill.
6) At the main road turn right for a few metres, then turn right down Water Lane
7) Towards the bottom of the road turn left at Waterside
8) Follow this road for a short while, where it turns into a cobbled lane around the left hand bend. Notice the stream on your left and Hargreaves Foundry on both sides of the road. Continue uphill and fork left to go through a tunnel and up a long flight of steps, across the bridge over the railway line, with Eureka children’s museum on your right. The steps can be slippery but there is a good handrail.
9) Turn right on to School Street and shortly afterwards turn left up Bath Street. At the top turn right on the main road towards the rail station to catch the train to your destination. The bus station is further along on the left past the station.