Pennine Way Day Four - Hebden Bridge to Haworth

Distance: 13 miles
Ascent: 600m
Weather: dry and sunny start and finish, but mostly wet.

So today we were out on the wild and windy moors, but thankfully there was no rolling or falling in green. And no Kate Bush impressions either, as there was to be none of that, apparently.

Getting down to Hebden Bridge and back along the canal (saw a Muscovy Duck) seemed a lot easier this morning with gravity on our side.

We then crossed the road and headed up the other side of the valley, up a very steep little cobbled path. There are paths in all directions here and we had to make a choice between the official route and the Wainwright route. We went with the official. A muddy, overgrown little path takes you by an odd water spout thing, then to a tree lined lane and then up on to farm land and fields.

The path crosses a pretty dell with bluebells signposted Hebble Hole (although that doesn't seem to be marked on the map) with a stone footbridge that looks very old and worn indeed, and is even a listed building.

Out on the tops there were lots of curlews and lapwings chirping, especially when we stopped for lunch on a wall, watching the black clouds and impending rain approach over the hills. A hasty pack up was called for and we walked in the rain for a long time after.

The Way goes down a wide tarmac lane with signs forbidding mountain biking, around a couple of reservoirs, one of which was nearly completely empty despite the weather, then up Dean Stones Edge over the rolling moorland (between Round Hill and Dick Delf Hill) to Top Withins. There were quite a few visitors to the ruins out in the rain.

The sun came out as we approached Ponden Reservoir, where we turned off down a lane to get to The Old Silent Inn.