Walking

I have always been an avid walker however, more recently as I've gotten older and got a car I have been more independent and enthusiastic about doing walks. This initially started with my family and I doing the Calderdale way in 2020, when the world was in lockdown. The thoughts and challenge of these walks, especially completing them, captivate me. On top of this the beautiful landscapes and varied terrains tempt me in and I am able to have an incredible experience when walking. I am able to connect with the landscapes and feel like I know a secret world, a different world compared to the rest of the busy Earth going about their day.

You may notice Paul Hannon is recurring in the guides. After walking the Calderdale way and noticing Paul's style of writing I became a fan and looked for his guides on other walks. I would strongly recommend his books if you live in Yorkshire.

See you on the footpaths! - Oscar

25 Walks in West Yorkshire

I have successfully completed every walk in the book. This has been a magnificent achievement - starting in 2020 and ending in September 2022. I honestly cannot commend the book higher, every walk has been fantastic, well labelled and easy to understand. You don't even need a map to complete them (although I would recommend it just in case).

This book has taken me all across my local area from Todmorden to Holmfirth. From moorland to forests and streams to urban areas it has enabled me to see beautiful sights I've never seen again before.

I have thoroughly enjoyed it and it has opened up more wonder and adventure for me to get out and about.

The walk locations are:
Bride Stones - 6.25 miles
Walsden Moor - 5.75 miles
Stoodley Pike - 5.75 miles
Blackstone Edge - 6.25 miles
Hardcastle Crags - 6 miles
Walshaw Dean - 6.75 miles
Heptonstall - 5.75 miles
Scammonden Water - 5.25 miles
Upper Ryburn - 5.75 miles
Cragg Vale - 6 miles
Wessenden - 7.25 miles
Marsden Moor - 7.25 miles

Luddenden Dean - 6.75 miles
Norland Moor - 6.5 miles
Black Brook - 6.75 miles
North Dean Wood - 5.75 miles
Shibden Dale - 5.75 miles
Ovenden Moor - 5.25 miles
Mag Dale - 6 miles
Castle Hill - 6.25 miles
Holme Valley - 5.5 miles
Marsden Clough - 7 miles
Meltham Moor - 7.25 miles
Colne Valley - 7.25 miles
Buckstones - 7 miles

Calderdale Way

The Calderdale Way is a 50 mile circular walk around Calderdale. It climbs 2,600 metres with a climb rate of 43 metres per mile.

I started the Calderdale way with my family and followed the sections in the book, sometimes splitting stages into more parts. I have added the different parts and dates I did them.

Section 1: West Vale - Ripponden (27th May)
Section 2: Ripponden - Todmorden (29th May)
Section 3: Todmorden - Heptonstall (14th June)
Section 4: Heptonstall - Catherine Slack (20th June)
Section 5: Catherine Slack - Norwood Green (27th June)
Section 6: Norwood Green - Brighouse (6th June)
Section 7: Brighouse - West Vale (Done previously as we live near)

We did the walk in these sections due to transport links and such. Where we have ended and started there is accessible links via road and rail. We did not camp and just commuted to and fro.

The Calderdale way is up there with one of my most favourite walks. It is very well signposted and the footpaths I believe are in a pretty good condition overall. There are challenging and varied sections, but thats what makes the walk as great as it is! I would definitely recommend.

Brontë Way

The Brontë way is a 43 mile long distance footpath starting in Oakwell Hall and ending in Gawthorpe Hall. It is rich in Brontë history linking places that have strong associations with them. The Paul Hannon book was difficult to find and is a bit of a rarity, however the ISBN is ISBN 10: 1870141563.

I started the Brontë way in July 2020 with my family and finished it on the 20th September. Like before, me and my family split the sections into smaller sections due to accessibility. I have added the sections and dates below.

Section 1: Oakwell Hall - Shelf (19th July 2020)
Section 2: Shelf - Howarth (2nd August 2020)
Section 3: Haworth - top withins - Ponden Reservoir (9th August 2020)
Section 4: Ponden Reservoir - Wycoller (15th August 2020)
Section 5: Wycoller/Watersheddles Reservoir - Gawthorpe Hall (20th September 2020)

I absolutely love the Brontë way, it feels like a secret walk but a magnificent one. You climb up and down hills, go through villages and towns and see just about everything. I really recommend it , it's fantastic!

Oakwell Hall to Shelf Video

On the 19th July 2020 my family and I completed the first part of the Bronte way. I wanted to test out a new action camera and play around with my editing software on my old laptop and produced this! It's not by proudest/best work by a long stretch, however watching the footage does bring back some memories and I might as well have it out there for the amount of hours battling with slow, glitchy software! Some of the scenes are amazing and it does give a taster about the walk. Due to the software limitations, this was the only part on video that I did.

Kirklees Way

The Kirklees way is a 72 mile footpath encircling Kirklees. It was founded in 1990.

One of the main challenges of the walk is the lack of guides especially walking books. As best to my knowledge the guides are no longer being published therefore I have had to buy the 'one in 12 walks, walk the Kirklees way' book second hand. Despite this the guide is relatively current - being published in 2000. The ISBN of this book is 9780903603331.

I am currently in the process of completing the way and, as of writing this, have managed to go from Ainley top to Flockton (7th January 2023).