Length and Time: 1.5 miles (2.3 km) – should take about 1 hr
Gradient: Quite a steep climb of about 1,000ft (300m)
Terrain: Roads and footpaths
Obstacles: Some steps and muddy footpaths
Facilities: None on the walk
Public Transport: Bus or Train to Mytholmroyd
Mytholmroyd to Crow Hill
1) Head North up the minor road opposite St. Michael’s Church by the side of the large Russell Dean furniture store. Go past Calder High School, Banksfield Avenue and Hullett Close. Then turn left on a wide track.
2) Keep left over a bridge, then turn left over cobbles, through Throstle Bower Farm. Turn right up a muddy lane and follow the lane round to the left.
3) Immediately before some stables, turn right up a small flight of steps.
4) Pass through a gap in the wall and continue straight up the field with a wall on your right.
5) At the top of the field by a large post with signs on it, turn right on a footpath.
6) This joins a lane . Pass to the left of a building and go straight on through a small gate.
7) Continue straight ahead, pass through a gap in the wall and go up steps to a road.
8) Take the left fork, uphill on the road. When you reach another road at the top go straight across, over a bridge and ascend just to the right of a stream. (If this path is very overgrown you can go right here then immediately left to re-join the route).
9) At a track, go straight ahead over a stile by a gate.
10) Just after the gate, watch out as the path goes up, left of the vehicle track and follows the stream uphill to join the Calderdale Way just below a bench.
On your right you will be able to see a standing stone called Churn Milk Joan.
Churn Milk Joan dates from about 1600 and was probably erected to settle a boundary dispute. Ted Hughes commemorates this stone in one of many poems reflecting on childhood folk tales. Follow the local custom for good luck by putting a coin or two in the hollow at the top of the stone, taking away coins left by earlier walkers.
Crow Hill to Mytholmroyd
1) Start at the bench near Churn Milk Joan (see above). Head downhill passing to the left of a wall. Keep right and stay by the wall and the stream. Follow the stream downhill.
2) Cross a track and continue downhill keeping well to the left of the stream to pass to the left of a farm.
3) Go through the gate or over the stile and go straight across to join a footpath that goes to the left of the stream. (If this path is very overgrown you can go left here then immediately right at the road to re-join the route).
4) Turn right on the road over a bridge and then immediately left, downhill on a small road.
5) At the bottom go down some steps to the left of two large garages.
6) Pass through a gap in the wall and keep right towards a building. Go through a small gate and pass to the right of the building.
7) Immediately after the building, bear left and leave the track on a footpath. After about 50 metres turn left by a large post with signs on it.
8) Head downhill through a field, keeping a wall on your left to arrive at a gap in the wall in the corner of the field.
9) Go through the gap in the wall and continue downhill between a wall and a fence. Go down a small flight of steps to a track by some stables.
10) Turn left and then soon bear right down a muddy lane.
11) At the bottom of the lane bear left over the cobbles of Throstle Bower Farm.
12) Bear right over a bridge to the road. Turn right on the road, downhill to reach Mytholmroyd.