Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill

The walk starts from the National Trust's Midgehole car park, north of Hebden Bridge, and makes a circuit of the wooded valley of Hebden Water. A path leaves the estate track and follows the river upstream, over rocks and tree roots, to Gibson Mill, a cotton mill of about 1800 that now makes its own power. The riverside path goes on for another 500 m to the foot of Hardcastle Crags, the gritstone outcrops that give the valley its name. The route then climbs to the upper track and follows it back through the woods to Midgehole.

It is 4.9 km with 159 m of ascent; allow about 1¾ hours. The grade is Easy: it is short, but the riverside path is rough underfoot.

The riverside path has very uneven, rocky stretches that are slippery and muddy after rain, and it climbs away from the river three times. The broad estate track from the car park to the mill, about 1.6 km, is the easy alternative. The National Trust asks for dogs to be under control in the woods, and on a lead near livestock and at the mill.

The car park costs £5 for up to four hours or £8 for the day and is free to National Trust members. Hebden Bridge station is 3 km away, about 40 minutes on foot.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.