New route celebrates historic trail
Walkers can enjoy a new waymarked route to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Pennine Way.
The Hebden Bridge Loop route, masterminded by Hebden Bridge Walkers Action, will take in the town and the renowned trail via Heptonstall.
The launch of the route - with entertainment along the way - will begin at 10.40am on Saturday, April 25.
The walk is in five stages and people are welcome to join or leave at any stage.
Mo Ludlam, Hebden Bridge Walkers Action secretary, said: “The entertainment will be a great mix, with a running quiz all the way, Calder Valley Voices performing some new songs as we arrive in the town, an exhibition of photographs of Hebden Bridge from 1965 in the centre of Hebden Bridge, a performance of the famous Pace Egg play at Heptonstall and finally the Peace Artistes will lead us out of Heptonstall and will perform at the New Delight at the end of the walk.”
The route begins with a 3km walk up to Swillington, below Stoodley Pike and back down the track towards the Calder Valley.
It then turns off the Pennine Way on to the Pennine Bridleway, before a 2km walk to Horsehold and down into Hebden Bridge town centre for a lunch stop.
At 2pm walkers will set off for a 1km walk up to Heptonstall via Hell Hole rocks. They will then walk 2km from Heptonstall to Hebble Hole, back on the Pennine Way. From Hebble Hole it is a 1km walk The trail was the inspiration of walker and writer Tom Stephenson in a 1935 article in the Daily Herald titled “Wanted: A Long Green Trail”. In 1965, the Pennine Way was named Britain’s first National Trail. Today, the Pennine Way is one of the most famous and popular walks in the country, providing access to the hills of England. The trail passes through three to the New Delight, Colden, for refreshments.
Visit www.hbwalkersaction.org.uk/pennine-way for more information about the weekend’s events.
And to top a weekend of walking off, Pennine Horizons will launch e-trails on the Pennine Heritage website - www. pennineheritage.co.uk