Burnley to Hebden Bridge via Hardcastle Crags - 15 miles

Join us for a superb linear walk from Burnley to Hebden Bridge, taking in rolling countryside, historic estates, peaceful reservoirs, dramatic moorland and one of the North’s most beautiful wooded valleys.

Our walk begins at Burnley Manchester Road Station, from where we’ll climb to Healey Heights for excellent views over Burnley and the surrounding Pennines. We then make our way into the beautiful Towneley Park, home to the magnificent Towneley Hall. Dating back over 600 years, Towneley Hall was the ancestral home of the Towneley family, one of Lancashire’s most influential Catholic families. Today, the Grade I listed hall is a museum surrounded by parkland that has been enjoyed by generations of Burnley residents.

Leaving Towneley Park behind, we’ll head towards the picturesque village of Hurstwood. Once part of the medieval Forest of Pendle, Hurstwood has changed remarkably little over the centuries, with its stone cottages and narrow lanes providing a glimpse into Lancashire’s rural past. We’ll pass Hurstwood Reservoir, one of several reservoirs built in the 19th century to supply Burnley’s booming textile industry with clean water.

Our route then continues across the moors to Gorple Lower Reservoir. The Gorple reservoirs were constructed in the 1800s by Burnley Corporation Waterworks and sit in wonderfully wild Pennine scenery, where curlews, lapwings and birds of prey are often spotted soaring overhead.

From here we’ll head to Blake Dean, where the dramatic valley marks the historic county boundary between Lancashire and Yorkshire, before descending into the enchanting woodland of Hardcastle Crags. This beautiful National Trust estate is famous for its tumbling streams, ancient woodland and old mill history. We’ll stop here for a well-earned break at Gibson Mill, an iconic 19th-century cotton mill built in 1800. Powered entirely by water from Hebden Water, the mill is now one of the UK’s best-known examples of sustainable heritage, operating as an off-grid visitor centre.

After our break, we’ll continue through the hamlet of Midgehole before following the valley into the colourful market town of Hebden Bridge. Once an important centre for textile manufacturing, Hebden Bridge has reinvented itself as one of Yorkshire’s most creative towns, known for its independent shops, cafés, arts scene and welcoming atmosphere.

We’ll finish the day with a well-earned drink in one of Hebden Bridge’s pubs before catching the train back to Burnley Manchester Road Station.

Walk Information

• A full-day linear walk.
• A mixture of woodland paths, moorland tracks, reservoir trails and country lanes.
• There are several steady climbs and descents, so a good level of fitness is recommended.
• Please bring suitable walking boots, waterproof clothing, plenty of food and water, and money or a bank card for refreshments and the return train journey.
• Dogs are welcome. There might be some sheep on the way, so if you are letting your dog off the lead make sure you have got good recall.
• Meet outside the entrance to Burnley Manchester Road Station, postcode BB11 4HU. Free parking is available in the car park.
  A fantastic day out showcasing the very best of Lancashire and West Yorkshire, combining spectacular scenery, fascinating local history and great company.