Near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire resides one of the U.K.’s most-visited attractions, Hardcastle Crags. Maintained by the National Trust, the Crags feature over eighteen miles of well-kept footpaths among virtually untouched woodlands. Visitors can experience waterfalls, tumbling streams and rocky landscapes. Meandering along the narrow, steep-sided Pennines Valley reminds many of the Alps, and is even frequently referred to as Little Switzerland.
One of the most popular walks begins at New Bridge, perhaps due to it being easily traversed by any and all grade of walker. For that reason, this relatively short (approx. 5 miles) walk is frequented by families.
It’s only a short distance into Hebden Dale and Gibson Mill, a 19th-century cotton mill that was one of Great Britain’s first contributions to the Industrial Revolution. There is an abundance of bird activity on this stretch of the walk, with yellow wagtails and dippers the most prominent.
Past the mill, walkers are soon in open country and the path slowly rises out of the valley. The surrounding moors lead up to the Walshaw Dean Reservoirs, then the well-marked path crosses into Wadsworth Moor, where visitors must take a pause to survey the fantastic view of the valleys. Sparsely vegetated on the top of the moorlands, the contrast with the lush greenery below is striking and magnificent.
Back into the cool of the woodlands, the path descends gently along the valley’s edge, giving walkers even more spectacular sightseeing opportunities. The view of the village of Hebden Bridge is especially picturesque, almost a living postcard.
Another popular Hardcastle Crags walk is the Stoodley Pike walk which begins at Hebden Bridge. This trek is a bit more challenging than the New Bridge excursion, but still a cakewalk for most walkers. The walk is over eight miles in distance, an invigorating good late morning-mid-afternoon walk.
Visible for miles and miles around, Stoodley Pike monument stands 121 feet high and stands at the summit of the Pike. The monument was originally erected in 1815 to commemorate the fall of Napoleon. The original collapsed in 1854, and a second structure was completed in 1856.
The monument has a 39-step spiral staircase which leads out to an exterior balcony from which the view is absolutely spectacular, giving sightseers excellent photographic opportunities of the valleys and quaint villages below.
Coming back from the monument towards Withens Gate, the grade begins to drop fairly rapidly, making the return trip much shorter than the ascent. Several streams serve as accompaniment, offering even more scenic vistas for the sightseeing nature lover.
