Directions:

1. Wherever you manage to park in Hebden, you need to head to the road bridge crossing Hebden Beck, and then start your walk on High Green, which will lead you out of the village and towards Hole Bottom (a tiny hamlet with a name that always makes me chuckle.) This part of the walk is along a very quiet country lane. You may experience a vehicle or two, so be wary of this (although the last time we walked here, we saw none!)

2. After around 800 yards, you will see a footpath sign and gate to your right. The footpath is marked Edge Top, and here is your detour if you want to see Scale Haw Force, which is located on Hebden Beck. It’s about a 2 minute walk to the stepping stones and 2 minutes back, but if you want to get up close to the falls, you need to either carefully pick your way along the edge of the bank, or wade right up the middle of the beck. We have done both, and both are achievable with sure footed kids!

3. Once you have seen the waterfall, head back to the lane, and continue on as far as Hole Bottom. There is a collection of holiday cottages in this very pretty hamlet, you simply need to follow the tarmacked lane to the 5 bar gate which gives you access to the little packhorse bridge crossing the beck. Head through it, cross the bridge and carry on along the wide and obvious track (I think it was an old miners track)!

4. You will pass through several gates, and a little waterfall on your right. Dependant on the time of year, this waterfall can be spectacular or virtually invisible! In the summer it’s almost entirely engulfed by ferns, so don’t be surprised if you pass it by! After around 3/4 of a mile, you will come across the remains of some of the old mine workers buildings, which are worth an explore! After this point, head through the gate, and then you need to cross the beck on the stepping stones (pictured above).

5. Continue along the clear obvious track that follows the beck. This time, the water will be to your right. In about half a mile, the path begins to move away from the beck. At this point, you will see the remains of a disused tunnel on your left (pictured above). Shortly after this, the path makes a sharp hairpin turn to the left, then to the right, and the path will climb up towards a wall. Here, you need to head through the gate, along the stony track and into the Grassington Lead Mining Trail.

6. The Lead Mining Trail is a historical monument and protected site. You can take in as much or as little of the waymarked trail as you like. There are information boards dotted around the area to tell you all about the lead mining industry here in the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries. There are the remains of old buildings, shafts and spoil heaps, still visible today. Whatever you choose to do, head back to the track you are on right now. It will lead you to the tiny cluster of pretty farm buildings, Yarnbury. Exit the Grassington Lead Mining trail (marked by the large Information board) and then turn left, heading for a very short distance along the track which takes you down to Grassington.

7. You will see a memorial bench on your left, right next to a public footpath sign, marked ‘Hebden 2ml’. Head through the little gate, Then follow the grassy path across the field. Admittedly, this path is not obvious, but it is there. Your guiding point is the gate in the fence on the far side of the field. You are heading in a roughly diagonal and right-ways direction. Head through the further gate and gap in the wall.

8. Here, once again, the grassy path is a little vague, but again is there, promise! As a rough direction, you are heading across the field to the corner point in the dry stone wall, in a straight on (if not slightly rightwards) direction. When you reach the wall, keep it close to your right hand side. Follow the track (it is clearer to see than the previous paths. There is another gate in the wall, with a Yorkshire Dales way marker. Head through this.

9. Once through the gate, there is a grassy wide path that continues to follow the wall on your right. After a short distance, the path splits in two. You want to head on the left fork that goes downwards to a 5 bar gate. Head through this gate. Cross the field ahead. There is a farm house on your left, and the path crosses a stream over a little stony track. Head up, and aim for the five bar gate in the wall ahead and to your left. Next to it is a small gate too. Head through this.

10. You are now on a track and a crossroads is up ahead. Head straight on and downwards, keeping close to the wall on your left. You will eventually get to another gate and a ladder stile on your left. Climb over it!

11. Follow the path down the hill, with the wall on your right, to another gate and public footpath sign post, head through this gate! (There are lots of gates!)

12. Follow the path keeping the wall to your left, and you will see another ladder stile! Guess what…. ignore it! You want the little gate and stile with a wooden signpost next to it. The signpost points to Edge Lane, Grassington, Hole Bottom and Hebden. Head to Hebden! The path goes straight across the field, to a stone ‘squeezy bit’ in the wall. Squeeze through. Turn left, and keep the wall on your left again, to another ladder stile.

13. After the stile, head across the wide grassy field heading diagonally across it to the bottom left corner. There is a 5 bar gate and a signpost, go through the gate, and then almost meet the track. There is a public footpath sign, turn right head down the track and you will find yourself at the main road through Hebden. Turn left and head back to your start point!

Last walked March 2022