3 Mile Circular Walk - Ogden Water | Ovenden Moor

Distance: 3.3 miles

Ascent: 400 ft

Walking: Andrew & Gaynor

Weather: Cloudy, cool

OS Map: OL21 - South Pennines

Parking: Ogden Water Country Park, Ogden Lane, Halifax HX2 8XZ

Photography: Andrew using Nikon D610 / Sigma 10-20 mm f4-5.6

A very popular walk, well known locally, starting in the woods next to Ogden Water then out onto Ovenden Moor, passing close to a large wind farm. 

There are loads of different walks starting from Ogden Water, from an easily accessible short circuit of the reservoir to full day explorations of the surrounding countryside. We arrived early to make sure we got a parking space because it is always busy, even in winter.

Leaving the car park, we walked down into the wood as far as the bridge at the bottom end of the reservoir, then followed the stream up Great Scar, past some old quarry workings and a couple of small waterfalls. 

Emerging from the wood, the narrow path up onto the moors was very muddy and slippery and, in places, had fallen away to the stream below, making it quite difficult to negotiate. We decided to cross over one of the small wooden bridges and take the lower path at the other side. This led to a point where we had to cross back over the stream via some very slippery stones but, thankfully, we managed to stay on our feet.

We eventually reached a set of weirs, where we took the lefthand path up a flight of rough steps onto Ovenden Moor. This is where the mud really started. At the top of the steps, the stile was area of mud and we decided to take the easier route and step over the low fence.

It wasn't until we reached the very top of the hill, close to one of the huge wind turbines, that it became more stable underfoot. By this time we were both beginning to feel like we'd done a walk, even though we'd only gone a mile and a half. The turbines were turning very slowly in the gentle breeze as we passed and making a constant low humming noise. They are quite a landmark locally and can be seen from miles away (including from our bedroom window).

After crossing the bridge (or is it a dam?) over Skirden Beck, the path joins a more substantial track which heads back down the hill to the dam on Ogden Water. This appears to have been constructed to transport stone from the quarries on the moor down to build the dam. Despite its appearance, it's actually quite rough and tricky underfoot and over the years a path has been worn at the side of it by people who found it hard on their feet and ankles. It's quite a long drag down the hill and we were glad we hadn't done the walk in the opposite direction. The views over Halifax Golf Club towards the town are worth the effort though and it's great to see the thousands of trees that have been planted on the hillsides.

Back at the reservoir, there was plenty of birdlife to see, mainly seagulls, admittedly, so watch your chips!

Overall, an enjoyable walk with a variety of landscapes and some great views. The path is a bit tricky in places at this time of year but well worth persevering.

CLICK HERE to see a 9.5 mile walk I did from Ogden with Tim & Mark in August.

9.5 Mile Circular Walk - Ogden Water | Thornton Moor | Ovenden Moor | Hunter Hill | Stod Fold

Distance: 9.5 miles

Ascent: 927 ft

Walking: Andrew, Tim & Mark

Weather: Sunny, warm

OS Map: OL21 South Pennines

Parking: Ogden Water, Ogden Lane HX2 8XZ

Slab corned beef pie: B&M Collins butchers, Cleckheaton

Photography: Andrew using Nikon D610 / Sigma 10-20 mm f4-5.6

This is a moderate 9.5 mile walk over open moorland with spectacular views over the Worth Valley and Halifax.

Setting off through the wood from the car park at Ogden Water, having arrived early to ensure we got parking spaces, we were soon following the stream up Great Scar that feeds brown peat-stained water (which looks very much like Timothy Taylor's Boltmaker) into the reservoir from the moors above, eventually emerging onto Thornton Moor.

The heather was still in full bloom, despite the heavy rain of the previous day and night, and it framed the view of the wind farm over on Ovenden Moor perfectly.

From the top of the moor, the views over Thornton Moor Reservoir towards Bradford are great but as we dropped down the track known as Hambleton Lane, the ones over towards Bronte Country - Leeming, Oxenhope, Haworth and Oakworth - were even better.

Turning off the lane, we headed up Hambleton Top past a vast area of disused stone quarries (delphs) with more incredible views over Bronte Country, until we reached a collection of impressive cairns on Nab Hill.

Continuing on through more quarries, we dropped down to Warley Moor Reservoir, where the monument at Stoodley Pike can be clearly seen in the distance.

Walking along the road for a short distance, we made a detour up an old access road to another abandoned quarry and the trig point at the top of Hollin Hill, close to the huge wind turbines, before doubling back to the road to continue up past the wind farm.

Turning off the road, we made our way down a track past an old farm in the early stages of being renovated. It will be amazing when it's done and I can't wait to see if they do something with the beautiful ruined barn next to it. Although there were open views towards the hills around Sowerby Bridge, a welcome pie stop and another reservoir, this part of the walk wasn't really in the same league as the first section and walking on tarmac can be quite tiring.

On reaching Moorfield at the bottom of the valley, we joined the Calderdale Way and began to climb again to the top of Hunter Hill and more disused quarries, along with some great views over to Halifax and Queensbury.

The final leg of the walk took us up Hebble Brook and through Stod Fold and Halifax Golf Club, up another steep hill back to Ogden.