Last Of The Summer Pies: 3.5 mile Walk - Hebden Dale & Hebden Water | Hardcastle Crags | Gibson Mill | Shackleton Wood

Sunday, 14 March 2021

3.5 mile Walk - Hebden Dale & Hebden Water | Hardcastle Crags | Gibson Mill | Shackleton Wood | Foul Scout Wood

Gibson Mill, or Lord Holme Mill to give it its proper name, was built in around 1800 by Abraham Holme, a farmer and cotton spinner from nearby Heptonstall. It was originally a cotton spinning mill powered by a water wheel until the 1840s when weaving sheds were added, along with weaving sheds for the production of cotton cloth. Manufacturing ceased in 1890, then in the early 1900s, the mill was converted into an 'Entertainment Emporium' with a skating rink and dance floor. This continued until 1945, when the building was left to stand empty until it was bought by the National Trust in 1950, along with the surrounding Hardcastle Crags, and restored as a museum.

Distance: 3.3 miles

Ascent: 300 ft

Walking: Andrew & Gaynor

Weather: Overcast with sunny spells

OS Map: OL21 - South Pennines

Starting point: National trust car park on Midgehole Road, Hebden Bridge.

Photography: Andrew using Nikon D750 / Nikon 24-70 mm f2.8

A walk we've done a few times through the deep, thickly wooded Hebden Dale and Hardcastle Crags to Gibson Mill. The bare moss-covered trees were beautiful and Hebden Water was a raging torrent (well, almost) after the recent heavy rain.

One of many moss-covered trees on the walk. I love the way the light catches the moss and defines the shape of the tree.

New Bridge

Hebden Water at New Bridge

New Bridge

Tree lichen

Hebden Water flowing fast after recent heavy rain

Hebden Dale is a steep sided wooded ravine and there are numerous streams and small waterfalls feeding into Hebden Water

The remains an old sluice and weir

The woodland along the valley is made up of many different tree species. The branches of the oaks in particular form interesting gnarled shapes which will be invisible in a few weeks when the leaves come out.