Country walk at Hebden

HEBDEN’S Old School Tea Room set us up for the day. A bit of sun shone on the Dales village and we set off along Hebden Beck, in a small valley, on the way to Grassington by a roundabout route. Scala Falls were a bright rectangle, but there was bigger water to come.

After a sequence of view or rest benches we reached Hole Bottom and Jerry and Ben’s holiday cottages that are named after a popular story written by William Riley in 1919, that The Times recommended for its “finely described background of Upper Wharfedale”.

A major part of the background to this walk is the lead mining country to the north; the remains of works and the dug out and tunnelled land. We kept below that and crossed to Tinkers’ Lane and then joined Edge Lane, both tracks and once a drove road.

There’s a good view into Wharfedale, to the curve of the river, the dry stone walls, the field barns and to the rooftops of Grassington.

Our way came nicely down a wide, open slope of pasture and connected with the top tiny streets that turn down into town. Grassington and its National Park Centre were our planned tea and dawdling zone.

However, we hurried now, to Linton Falls and the River Wharfe, with luck with the last of the sunshine. The falls were roaring, cold blue-green and blasted white in the shadow, lit in the slice of sun. After that, the river walk was serene.

Fifty or more oystercatchers fed on pastures, alongside jackdaws, gulls and a couple of mallards, all were quiet. A monochrome duck and its mate edged upstream, swimming tight to the bank.

Then there is a mile right by the bank for the walker, a lovely length that brings us to, but not across, the Hebden Suspension Bridge. Generally I like pedestrian bridges, they go with the job, but I love this one, it hangs so low and slim, it flirts with the great wide river.

The ‘Swinging Bridge’, as it’s called, was made in 1885, for corn mill workers, and by the local blacksmith, from scrap material from the Hebden lead mines.
 

Directions

When in doubt look at the map. Check your position at each point. Keep straight on unless otherwise directed. (wm=waymark, fp=fingerpost).

1. From roadside in Hebden, north through village, cross main road, dead-end road to Hole Bottom. Option to look at waterfall – after green shed, fieldgate (fp) on right, 200 yards down to waterfall and back.

2. Through holiday cottage car park on left, up farm track (fp Tinkers’ Lane), gated squeezer to right of cattlegrid, cross track, uphill across field, two squeezers/wallstiles, diagonally right to gate near house.

3. Left to track downhill.

4. Right to road uphill. Pass bench and old quarry to your right.

5. Wallstile (fp) on left, diagonally left across field, stile/gate, path down in trees, ladderstile, by wall, gate, stile, join track, gate.

6. Left to unsurfaced road, left to road. Right downhill at Devonshire Institute/benches into centre of Grassington.

7. Left on pavement by main road. Pedestrian crossing, path on right on Sedber Lane to Linton Falls (fp).Or pop into National Park Visitor Centre and join Linton Falls path (signed) 8. Squeezer (sign Hebden) on left before footbridge, riverside path, mostly surfaced, two squeezers, stile. Right to private road, pass fish farm, track.

9. Fieldgate and left to path (fp) across field then by river, through wood, three gates, one squeezer.

10. Left to path opposite suspension bridge, gate, across corner of field, gate and left to road uphill into Hebden.

Fact file

Distance: Six miles.

Car Parking: Roadside in Hebden.

Right of way: Public.

Date walked: February 2014.

Tourist information: 01756 751690.

Refreshments: Cafe and inn at Hebden, cafes and inns at Grassington.

Map: OS Explorer OL2 Yorkshire Dales southern and western areas.

Terrain: Hills and riverside.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Please observe the Country Code and park sensibly. While every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers set out at their own risk.