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Stoodley
Pike is about 3
miles from the Hostel. We're going to carry on along the
Pennine
Way for a mile-and-a-half then divert onto the Pennine Bridleway and
drop you into Hebden Bridge.
Once you are in town you're only 10 minutes from the Hostel... a chance
to stock up on supplies, you'll pass a decent Co-op supermarket,
delicatessens, a late-night Spar and an equally late off licence /
general store...
(not to mention many pubs, restaurants & cafe's...
see our Dining Guide for more info)
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Stoodley
Pike is hollow
with stairs up the inside to a 360o
viewing platform.
Have you got your torch handy? Its pitch black in places.
From the top looking north you'll see the PW heading off towards the
left side of a plantation on the horizon.
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Follow
the PW across the
moor, through the narrow stile in the wall. (above, right).
Almost immediately take a left through an open gateway.
Head on down the track...
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...
which joins another
that goes crossways.
We want to go straight across - the path is there, but fainter than the
track. Watch out for the finger post -
it shows the (Pennine)
Way!
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The
'Way goes over a stile
then runs alongside a stone wall...
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...until
coming to another
stile -
again the 'Way is marked.
Head across the field - the path is here but
can be muddy and
indistinct.
You are looking for a stile at the left end
of a
stone wall - actually the wall
doesn't 'end' but is mostly fallen.
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You
may notice the yellow
flash of the way marker before you see the style...
and when you get
there you will see its a
kissing gate, not a stile anyway.
Through the gate into a sheep field,
keep left along the wall.
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Through
the gate at the far
left corner of the field, go left onto the track.
The track continues, generally downward.
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You
will pass the last
Pennine Way marker
on your right soon after you come into
some woods -
carry on...
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Five
minutes later you'll
find a 'Public Bridleway' finger post, along with a blue-marked post
PBW. This is where we
leave the Pennine Way for today...
head
steeply right and down to the stream.
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Cross
the stream, through
the gate and follow the sign towards civilisation.
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The
track is easy to follow
and quite beautiful. The markers now say
'Hebden Bridge
Waymarked
Trail'
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At
the end of the track
you'll emerge onto a cobbled road at Horsehold.
Go left and down hill.
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Ahead
of you (on a clear
day) you can see Heptonstall and its church - the oldest town in these
parts and burial place of Sylvia Plath.
As you round the
bend,
Hebden Bridge comes into view.
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If
you look really hard,
you can see your destination, Hebden Bridge Hostel. Its a
dark
building with three windows at about 2 o'clock from a bright white
gable end and directly above a terrace of two or three light brown
houses. Honest.
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Keep
on down the hill,
passing my
favourite derelict tractor as you go.
When a road
goes
up and right
keep left and down.
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Until
you come to a T
junction.
Here you'll want to go left.
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Head
towards the main road
(diverting through the Co-op car park for supplies if necessary... turn
right at the main road.
Follow the main road for a short distance and bear off left as the main
road curves right.
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Past
the Pet shop and
alongside Hebden Water.
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Until
you reach The Hole In
't' wall, home of Baba Me (see Eating Guide & link).
Here we'll turn right and cross the ancient Bridge that gives Hebden
its name. Directly ahead is the White Swan (same same).
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Over
the bridge turn left
along the pedestrainised street (watching out for cycles &
skateboards).
St Georges' Square is on the right - head diagonally right across it.
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At
the end of the square
follow the pavement left, past the taxi rank up to another T
junction. Straight across you'll see Birchcliffe Road and a
brown
sign for Hebden Bridge GC. Take a breath and head on up...
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...
nearly there now...
...the
road bends right...
...climbs some more...
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...bends
right again... and
then you'll see our sign. Head through the big black iron
gates.
Follow the sign around the right side
of the building...
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...
up two flights of stone
steps...
...through the gate....
Welcome Home... :-)
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