Loop - Challenge hike - Calderdale Woodland Way - 9.5-24mi/16km-39km

Join us for our first challenge hike of the year. Have you got what it takes to walk from one end of the Calder Valley to the other end? We will pass multiple train stations so you can always just come for a shorter hike if you wish.
Start Time: 9:05am - we will set off as soon as those on the train arrive.
Miles/Kilometres:
9.5mi/15km from Brighouse train station to Sowerby Bridge train station.
14.5mi/23km Brighouse to Mytholmroyd train station.
15.5mi/24.5km Brighouse to Hebden Bridge train station.
21.5mi/34.5km Brighouse to Todmorden train station.
24mi/39km Brighouse to Walsden train station.
Total ascent:
525m from Brighouse train station to Sowerby Bridge train station.
795m Brighouse to Mytholmroyd train station.
885m Brighouse to Hebden Bridge train station.
1230m Brighouse to Todmorden train station.
1445m Brighouse to Walsden train station.
Difficulty:
Moderate from Brighouse train station to Sowerby Bridge train station.
Hard from Brighouse to Mytholmroyd train station.
Hard from Brighouse to Hebden Bridge train station.
Strenuous from Brighouse to Todmorden train station.
Strenuous from Brighouse to Walsden train station.
Estimated length of time: 8+ hours (including a lunch break)
Dogs Allowed: Yes.
Public Transport: Yes - Train leaves Leeds at 08:45am arriving at 09:05am.
Parking: On-street parking near the station.
Payment: £1 for the walk - Use this link to pay - https://settleup.starlingbank.com/jamiepope1?amount=1.00- please put "Woodland Way" as reference.

Itinerary

Brighouse to Sowerby Bridge
Meet outside the The Shrub cafe near the train station. The walk starts by walking along Huddersfield Road over the river and canal where we can then turn off onto the canal towpath. We then walk along the canal for a mile (1.6km) until we can cross over the canal onto a road. We walk up here, cross over the A6025. Then ascend up the disused packhorse road on the otherside through Freeman's Wood.

It is then a bit of descent down to the farm below where we turn onto another disused packhorse road along the bottom of the hill into Cromwell's Wood. We continue until the woodland ends, then follow a path up to Ashday Lane which we follow around the hillside and then we turn off onto a path that will take us up through Binns Wood and through Elland Park Wood. We then descend down to a farm road and follow this down and then through the housing area at the bottom. We walk along the A6025 briefly before turning onto Exley Lane. Its then up here until we can turn off onto a footpath that criscrosses over the railway and through more woodland.

The path descends down to the A629, we cross over, cross over the canal and then walk down the B6112 for a bit until we can ascend up into North Dean Wood above us. We walk through the wooodland steadily ascending to the top, then walk along the edge of the woodland above the clifftops (fenced off) on one-side. Farmland on the otherside. Before descending down through the woods to Pickwood Lane. We walk around the hillside, then its a few footpaths up and over the hill and then descending down to Sowerby Bridge train station.

Sowerby Bridge to Mytholmroyd
We walk through the subway to the otherside of the station, cross over the road and then take an alleyway across the river and into Sowerby Bridge town centre. We cross over the A58 to the canal. It is then along the canal for about 2mi/3.2km to Luddenden Foot. We then walk along the A646 shortly, until we can turn off onto Ellen Royd Lane.

We ascend up this narrow country road through the woodland. Until we can turn onto a footpath and descend down to Brearley Wood. We walk through the woods to Midgley Road. Cross over and walk through more woodland. We then take footpaths back down to Midgley Road. We then descend down to my old High School. If reached your limit, continue down the road to Mytholmroyd.

Mytholmroyd to Hebden Bridge
We veer off to walk through a housing estate to the woodland on the other side. We walk through Redacre Wood, through a farm and then through Burlees Wood, descend down to Higher May Royd Wood, through the woodland until we can take a footpath down the A646. We cross over and then walk to the train station.

Hebden Bridge to Todmorden
We take the dirt road under the railway, and then veer off onto a footpath that ascends up the hill through Crow Nest Wood. We then walk through the woods around the hillside to Horsehold Road. We walk up the road briefly until we can take a footpath continuing through Horsehold Wood, around the hillside, with cliffs for views of the valley. We continue through Callis Wood until we come out onto another road and follow this down almost to the canal.

We ascend through more woodland and then walk through farmland around the edge of the hill, then descend back down through woodland to the canal, we walk alongside the canal through the woodland here, along a road, through woodland to the canal which we now cross over. We walk along the A646 until we can take a road under the railway.

We turn off into the woods here, we follow the footpath through the woods and then farmland around the hillside. Then along farm roads to Cross Stone Road. We then follow this road and other access roads down the hill back to the A646. We then take the back streets to Todmorden centre and walk up to the train station.

Todmorden to Walsden
Last section, we cross over the road at the back of the station car park, through the woods here to another road, we can then use to cross over the railway. We ascend up the road through the woods and follow this road through the farmland at the top. Then take a footpath down the hill to the A681. We cross over and take a footpath around the hillside to Fir Wood, before one last footpath brings us out into Walsden at the train station.

We can then go celebrate our achievement at the only pub/bar in Walsden before getting the train back to the start or home.

Disclaimers

The walk organisers do not have training or insurance. Therefore, anyone who joins the walk is accountable for their own safety and anyone they bring with them. By signing up you accept this.
Check the weather (on multiple websites) before leaving your residence. Bring clothing & footwear suitable for the forecast. We advise you to bring walking boots for any medium or harder walk. Trainers are only recommended for leisurely and easy walks. Bring a coat just in case (this is Britain after all...) and extra layers if it is going to be cold.
All proceeds go towards equipment for leading walks, group events & trips. A percentage will go to charities.
Bring a packed lunch and snacks. Bring enough food & water to last the estimated time.
We recommend bringing some cash just in case. Especially if parking. Not everywhere is contactless yet.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the walks organiser.