Gentle walks
Pop out walks
Town and village trails
Children’s walks
Guided/led/health walks
WALKING CAN BE EASY IN THE HEART OF THE PENNINES
The Heart of the Pennines is a fantastic centre for all kinds of walking, but many people think that because our towns are set in the deep Calder valley and villages are high up, you have to be very fit to walk round here. NOT TRUE, there are plenty of strolls that anyone can do (many walks can be done with young children, even with a buggy).
All the routes that will be on this page are generally level, without any significant climbing. Don’t think that easy walks are just about walking in the valley bottom. With the aid of local buses, you can enjoy easy walks on the tops to take in the wonderful views (or the atmospheric low cloud if you are unlucky!)
Please remember that many of the footpaths go through working farms. Please be respectful of this as you pass through.
And take your time, look at the views, watch out for wildlife – walking is not a race!
AND YOU DON’T NEED LOADS OF EXPENSIVE KIT
Walking needs no special equipment or clothes apart from a decent pair of shoes and a wind/water proof top. Just a note, if you are walking on the tops, always take your waterproof, even if the sun is shining! Weather can change and it can be calm in the valley, but windy on the tops.
Walking gear can be expensive, but you can get relatively cheap waterproof tops from outdoor shops. You are also likely to find walking gear in our charity shops – there’s plenty of those in Todmorden and Hebden Bridge.
AND YOU DON’T NEED TO BE AN EXPERT MAP READER
We always recommend that people get the Ordnance Survey map (paper copy or on your phone), but most of the local walking publications have detailed descriptions and sketch maps. In most cases, these will be adequate.
Many public paths are way-marked with either small plastic discs indicating the direction or wooden finger posts. The absence of a way-mark doesn’t mean you can’t use it, there are so many paths in our area that it’s difficult to way-mark them all!
Gentle walks
Gentle walks will tend to be 1- 5 miles, mainly on the flat, but with some gentle climbs and descents. They are ideal for people who are recovering from an illness or who wants to build up a basic level of fitness.
Check out a range of these walks on the Easy walks page on the Hebden Bridge Walkers Action website.
Pop out walks around Todmorden
Developed by Todwalkers, Pop out walks take under an hour and are ideal for popping out for a summer evening walk or taking a break from work or being indoors. Although they are short, they can be strenuous in places. Each Pop out walk is described so you know what kind of walk you are setting out on.
Town and village trails
There are three of these including Todmorden (booklet and e-Trail), Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall (booklet and e-Trail). All available from one of these outlets.
Children’s walks
Many of the shorter walks will be of interest to children, but Mytholmroyd Walkers Action have produces a series of walks called Making Tracks. The attractive booklet is available from many of these outlets.