A two way riverside ramble between the Blue Pig and Gibson Mill
A printable pdf version is available here.
(Red waymark arrows)
Length and time
1¼ miles (2km or about 3-4000 steps). Should take you about an hour with stops.
Start and finish
Start at the car park at the Blue Pig or at Gibson Mill.
Highlights
This is an exciting walk for both children and adults with a sense of adventure. You can see how the stream changes all along the route, spot the weirs, the occasional Heron, wagtail and dipper and have a chance to try out the stepping stones.
Gradients
It is mainly flat with three places where you have to climb away from the stream and then drop back down.
Terrain
There are several very uneven rocky sections. Parts can be slippery or muddy after rain.
Obstacles
There are a couple of steep flights of steps and a couple of boulders to negotiate.
Getting back to the start
Get back on the estate track (quickest) or on the Mill (upper woodland) path or re-trace your steps on the Riverside path – allow ½ – 1 hour, depending on which you chose.
Extending your walk
From Gibson Mill you can add on the Crags constitutional walk or the Railway path. From the Blue Pig you can walk back to Hebden Bridge.
Detailed Directions from the Blue Pig to Gibson Mill
Link to detailed directions from Gibson Mill to the Blue Pig
1) Head across the Blue Pig car park, at the junction turn right across the bridge over Hebden Water and at the end of the bridge go through the narrow gap stile down the steps and head alongside the stream on your left.
2) The path pulls away from the stream with some rocky steps at the top, where you turn left down some stone steps with a wooden handrail arriving back beside the stream
3) Cross the small bridge into a flat stretch of path going through some pine trees. You will pass a curved weir, which diverts the water to Mills downstream.
4) Cross another small bridge and go up a flight of wooden steps. Go along the level path higher above the stream which then descends a rough stone slope covered in tree roots back to the stream.
5) Head along another wide path through Pines Sycamore‘s Oaks with some nice benches to stop and look at the stream. Pass another bridge and head up the flight of wooden steps to a rough paved path slowly climbing.
6) The path then heads downhill back to the streamside near a set of stepping stones. If you’re feeling adventurous you could cross and re-cross the stones but not after rain! You will notice some tree trunks secured by steel ropes. This is part of the natural flood management techniques used in the upper reaches of Hebden water. It slows the water as it rushes down to Hebden bridge.
7) Carry on a wide path going through Pines Oaks and Sycamores. Cross the small stone bridge and ascend the rocky path passing a huge fallen tree and then descending back to the stream.
8) Next is another delightful flat stretch through Pines. Cross another small bridge then continue ahead on a wide flat path close to the river passing two sets of stepping stones to emerge at Gibson Mil
Detailed Directions from Gibson Mill to the Blue Pig
1) Come out of the Gibson Mill yard and just before you join the track take the narrow path going down to the right along the Riverside. You will pass two sets of stepping stones crossing the main stream.
2) Go over a small stream crossing and just after a footbridge, through a flat section and then take the stone steps up to the left on to a path a little above the river.
3) At the waymark post turn left going up the stone steps. Just past a massive fallen tree, the rocky path descends back down to the Riverside.
4) Go through another flat stretch with benches to sit and watch the stream. Just before you reach another set of stepping stones, take the path going up to the left. At the top, turn sharp right.
5) Follow this rough paved path until you drop down back to the stream on a set of wooden steps. The next stretch is right by the river on a partly paved and partly Rocky surface.
6) Then ahead on another flat bit with benches, at the end, the path becomes quite rough and climbs uphill but quickly levels out.
7) Cross the small stream and keep ahead. The Path descends back down to the river on a rocky path and then comes out into an open meadow where you go straight ahead still following the stream.
8) The path emerges on to a bridge at a gap stile where you turn right and then left to get back to the Blue Pig.