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PICTURES AND TRIP REPORTS FROM MY WALKS IN THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT
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E-mail - karl@karlswalks.co.uk |
Our friend Shane who lives over the hill in Yorkshire invited us across for a walk on the moors above Hebden Bridge to hopefully see some lovely Autumn colours.
For various reasons we could only do the walk on Saturday so crossed our fingers for a nice day. And looking up to Broadhead Clough we could already see that we had struck lucky
It's a lovely walk up through the trees but once on to the moor we were treated to a cracking view back down towards Mytholmroyd and beyond.
Shane is really interested in local history so we made the short out and back trip to Bell House, once inhabited by David Hartley the leader of the notorious Cragg Vale coiners
Retracing our steps we headed across the boggy moor to Rake Head from where there is a good view of Stoodley Pike.
Kestrel spotted as we descend to Horsehold.
Cottages in the hamlet of Horsehold.
The path steepens as we near the valley bottom. Once there we have to climb up the other side to Heptonstall which is the village with the church across the valley.
Peacock butterfly sunbathing by the path.
I could just about get Mytholm Church and Heptonstall Church in the same shot. Our way back down when we have visited Heptonstall will be under the rocks and through the trees of Eaves Wood. Our way up takes us on the road you can see by the church then up Colden Clough to Lumb Bank.
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Lumb Bank is the property on its own at the top of the hill. Lumb Bank was once the home of the poet Ted Hughes
Down at valley level now and we have a short walk along the canal.
Passing some typically quaint village streets.
The level walking doesn't last long though and we are soon back to climbing. This is looking back along Colden Clough.
Before entering Heptonstall we had a look at the Eaves Rocks. Here Shane is getting a photo from the edge.
And so do I. Stoodley Pike and our route down from the moor is seen across Eaves Wood.
And a look in the other direction along the full length of Colden Clough.
Our first port of call in Heptonstall was to the grave of Sylvia Plath, American poet and wife of Ted Hughes
There are two churches in Heptonstall, the ( relatively ) modern one and this older structure which dates from around 1260.A.D.
David Hartley's grave complete with coins.
A winding lane in Heptonstall.
Time was getting on now so we were descending through the woods into the setting sun.
Looking up to Eaves rocks.
There were lots of Amanita muscaria in the leaf foliage by the path.
Back down to the valley and the canal which we would follow through Hebden Bridge to Mythholmroyd. The low Autumn sun lights up the houses below Eaves Wood.
Narrow boats on the Canal.
Shane led us on one more short diversion just before we reached the car. We went to have a look at the birthplace of Ted Hughes.
It's always great to see Shane and as his knowledge of his local area is so vast every walk we do with him is chocked full of interest.
Previous walk - Lorton to Braithwaite - Next walks - Fellbarrow - Low Fell and Lingmoor Fell