A fantastic country walk that’s become somewhat of a yearly tradition with me and my pals, last week we set off once again on the scenic ramble from Burnley to Hebden Bridge.
Starting near Hurstwood, the trail is full of variety, offering a nice mixture of country lanes, open moorlands, glistening reservoirs and picturesque woodlands – all before finally dropping in to Hebden Bridge for a well-deserved ale at The Old Gate.
Route Info
Route Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 22.75 km (14.2 miles)
Route Elevation: 459m
Route Time: 5-6 hrs
Start Point: Queens Park, Ormerod Rd, Burnley BB10 3AA
Finish Point: 1-5 Old Gate, Halifax, Hebden Bridge HX7 8JP
Step-by-step guide
Starting at Queen’s Park in Burnley, begin by walking along Ridge Avenue.
Follow the road through Brunshaw Road and Red Lees Road, turning left onto Foxstones Lane just before you reach the Kettledrum Inn.
Follow the lane until you reach The Limmers lodge house, where you make a left down to the bridge and then onwards towards Hurstwood.
Entering Hurstwood, walk along the right side of the reservoir.
Continue along the path until you get to Gorple Road.
Following the waymarker for Penine Bridleway, take the path to the right and begin your way up the long, steady incline.
At the top you’ll arrive at Gorple Stones. Take the trail to the right, through the rock formations and down to Gorple Upper Reservoir.
When you descend to the reservoir footpath, take a left turn and follow the trail around the left side of Gorple Lower Reservoir.
After you’ve walked to the end of reservoir, take the left turning onto Widdop Road and head towards the Pack Horse Inn.
Optional: Stop for a brief beer intermission!
Continue along Widdop Road, past Blake Dean until you see the signs where you can turn left and drop down into the woodland of Hardcastle Crags.
Walk beside the Hebden Beck river, past the Gibson Mill and follow the trail until you exit Hardcastle Crags.
Keep along Midgehole Road and after a short walk you will drop down into Hebden Bridge town centre.
Points of Interest
Hurstwood
Located just outside of Burnley, Hurstwood is a quaint rural village that’s steeped in local history.
The hamlet contains three sites that have been categorised as Grade II listed buildings in the National Heritage List for England: Hurstwood Hall, The Great Barn and Spenser House.
The Towneleys, Spensers and Tattersalls were some of the most prominent historical families of the area, the most famous resident being Edmund Spenser – widely regarded as one of the best poets of the English language – who lived here between 1576-1578.
To the east of the village is Hurstwood Reservoir, a popular walking spot for locals which is part of the Penine Bridleway National Trail and the Burnley Way footpath.
Gorple Stones
There’s a lot of speculation and folk lore around the unusual rock formations lying in the quiet hills around Gorple and Widdop.
Unknown to many ramblers who simply pass through here for the spectacular hilltop views, some of the rocks in this area have actually been linked to druids and the occult!
With a particular rock carving showing an uncanny resemblance to the hawk-headed Egyptian god, Horus, researchers have now suggested that this rock could be linked to an old occult group from Bradford named the Temple of Horus.
Pack Horse Inn
Situated on Widdop Road, just a few hundred yards from Gorple Lower Reservoir, lies the Pack Horse Inn.
A 17th Century country inn that still retains its traditional charm, the pub offers a variety of ales and homemade food.
Surrounded by farmland and miles from any of the neighbouring towns, the remoteness makes it the perfect spot to take a relaxing break after a long stroll in the countryside.
HARDCASTLE CRAGS & GIBSON MILL
For over two centuries people have been visiting and working in the gorgeous valley of Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill.
Covering over 400 acres and housing 15 separate trails to explore, walkers can expect to find a mixture of streams, ravines, woodlands, wildlife, waterfalls and ragged rocks during their visit.
One of my personal favourite trails here is the classic Mill Walk at Hardcastle Crags.
Interestingly, Gibson Mill was one of the first mills of the industrial revolution. Being built around 1800, the cotton mill was later repurposed as an entertainment centre at the start of the 20th Century, hosting tea dances and roller skating parties.
Even today Gibson Mill remains a popular spot for locals and visitors, where you can check out the museum or grab a brew in the charming Mill House Café.
FAQs
Is Burnley to Hebden bridge a difficult walk?
The walk is relatively flat throughout, apart from the long incline from Hurstwood Reservoir up to Gorple Stones that is.
The hike is quite a distance however, and can take around 5-6 hours to complete. You’ll definitely be feeling it the next day if you aren’t used to trekking long distances!
What should I pack?
Being quite a long ramble, it’s definitely worth bringing plenty of water and some snacks to keep yourself well fueled.
Clothing will depend on the weather obviously, and just bear in mind that the wind can get quite nippy when walking near the reservoirs (even on sunnier days).
Further Resources
For inspiration on more great rambles in the local area, feel free to trawl through our informative blog posts on walks in Hebden Bridge, Burnley, Yorkshire, and Lancashire!