Calderdale Way #5: Illingworth to Brighouse 27/10/12

Self near Illingworth

Back to the North Country, and having missed out on extra walking opportunities in the Peak District, I can still set out on my last weekend of the holiday to get down the last stage of the Calderdale Way, and the odyssey back up to Illingworth commences on that sort of clear and crisp day that you hope for in Autumn. Along the way, I draw the conclusion that Halifax is one of those towns which looks good when it has its face on and arrival high above the town reveal that the icy blast of Autumn has arrived in force. The cold wind tears down off Ovenden Moor and the temperature has dropped by about 6 degrees from a couple of days ago, and the wind chill would have it feeling like below freezing point. There's little shelter to be had so one can hide to put on an extra upper layer, and I'm glad I chose to wear my thermals, and so priority for the morning is to get a move on and off the high lands...

The Calderdale Way #5: Illingworth to Brighouse.  10.7 miles

Calderdale Way #4: Heptonstall to Illingworth 13/10/12

Self in Heptonstall

The morning looks like the Autumn might be coming on hard, suggestions of fog up on the hillsides as I ride out into Calderdale, and I wonder if this might be the day when the local weather catches up with me, or maybe the first occasion of getting lost on a misty moor side. Anyway, arrive via the train in Hebden Bridge and there's no way on Earth that I'll be walking up to Heptonstall, as that is one unnecessary ascent too many, and I love the fact that the bus service E, my chariot to the hills, waits at the railway station to check that any passengers wanting the service will have time to catch it. I'm one of two patrons for it, and it's a slow grind up the hill, but still entirely preferable to hoofing it, I do seriously wonder about the walkers that we pass on the way up...

Calderdale Way #4: Heptonstall to Illingworth.  9.6 miles

Calderdale Way #3: Todmorden to Heptonstall 06/10/12

Self in Todmorden

Having mostly shaken off my bout of what I think must have been Fresher's Flu, I return to the trail, assuming that a walk of just over 9 miles shouldn't be all that strenuous. I ought to know better of course, as the rote guide warns of this being the hardest section of the walk and I know that one of the paths I'll be ascending is one of the most brutal gradients I've ever attempted and that there really are no easy paths in Calderdale. So out comes my new stick, to aid me on the ascents and descents, and feeling hopeful for another good day on the trail as the morning sunshine blazes through and the sting of a cool Autumn morning greets me as I arrive in Todmorden, ready to hit the apex of the Calderdale Way, and to start on the eastward stretch.

Calderdale Way #3: Todmorden to Heptonstall.  9.3 miles


Calderdale Way #2: Ripponden to Todmorden 22/09/12

Self in Ripponden

After all that talk of the End of Summer over the last few weeks, the Summer has now passed and we can move into Autumn. I know that the year always seems to descend quickly but the chill in the morning air is palpable and there's mist hanging over the Calder as I ride out through Mirfield, so now Autumn is here and I hope it remains as walkable as the last few weeks have been. I need to bus out to Ripponden from Sowerby Bridge, and I catch the 531, the minibus that bounces along the back roads as it's the first one to show up and it's always a good idea to make the local buses feel needed, so I can an early look at the field I'll be walking as we bounce through Mill Bank and Soyland, and the day looks as clear and bright as you could want, and the paths look inviting too. So off the bus and I'm ready to walk.

Calderdale Way #2: Ripponden to Todmorden.  10.5 miles

Calderdale Way #1: Brighouse to Ripponden 15/09/12

Self in Brighouse

The end of Summer is upon us and despite it being 'the wettest ever', for me it has been just fine, all those weekends of walking and only took two brief dousings, with only one weekend being ruined by the weather. The coming Autumn is an unknown of course, and projections of 'indian summer' and 'constant rain' are heard, and I'm going to go with my instinct that it will be nice enough to complete my Autumn plan of taking on my second long circular walk, namely the Calderdale Way. I may joke that the weather is always grim in Calderdale, based on past experience, but it has been good to me this year, and I'm going to thumb my nose to the fates of weather and hope for five more good days to get down the 50 miles of this trail, so let's head out to join this trail at the closest point to home.

Calderdale Way #1: Brighouse to Ripponden.  10.4 miles