Ever since my closest friends moved to Mytholmroyd in 2006, I've been entertaining the idea of walking there or back, but that plan has a couple of major drawbacks, most notably the fact that it is a really long way. Morley to Mytholmroyd is 19 miles, by the direct route and 26 by the prettiest, and doing that I'd probably be in no state to socialise if visiting or having to walk off the hangover from the previous night if going home. Walking back to grab the train at Mirfield looks like a possibility, but there are virtually no trains on a Sunday, my favoured travel-home day, and doing that on a Saturday after the work/booze mix of Friday does not appeal all that much. So if that walk does ever get done, it will probably be done in pieces, starting today, kicking off Active May.
Active May: Day One
Sowerby Bridge to Mytholmroyd via the Rochdale Canal path 4.2 miles
plus Bonus Stroll 2.8 miles
 |
| Puzzle Hall Inn, Sowerby Bridge |
Despite having had friends living locally for more than 5 years, I've only ever been to Sowerby Bridge once before and that was for an engagement do a dozen years ago, and all I really remember about that was a lot of curry and seeing local lads in one of the pubs being encouraged by a DJ to simulate sex with barstools to a Robbie Williams song. It's not much of an impression to have of a town that I have ridden through so many times, so it's useful to get an impression from ground level, and it's a town that manages that trick of looking prosperous and down-at-heel at the same time so I warm to it immediately, and there are lovely bits of mill and commercial architecture around the place. The River Calder is quite a feature too, with its ever-present canoe slalom, and the path from the railway station to the Rochdale canal path offers three places worth checking out for drinks; the Victoria Tea rooms, The Works and Puzzle Hall Inn. Such a pity that it's a bit far for the stagger home after hours on a Saturday night.
 |
| Bridge 2 |
After my midday start in lovely un-Calderdale-ish weather, getting off Hollins Mill Lane to get on the Rochdale Canal path is fun, as the first obvious joining point actually takes you up and over the canal, and the point to ascend actually looks like step that somebody put in place when part of the retaining wall was removed. Join the canal, and as soon as you pass under bridge 2, actually a short tunnel, you feel like you have left Sowerby Bridge behind and you are out into the country of Calderdale and the signage indicates that we are already a mile from the start of the canal (where I didn't start). The day cools off a bit as we hit the stretch to Luddendenfoot and doesn't offer much to see, observing that a mill conversion is an odd place for an evangelical church, and that the Rochdale Canal had some very graceful bridges in its pattern book. Also there's a lot more industry around here than I'd thought, at least two of the mills are still quite clearly industrial, though the most attractive is now at outdoors good suppliers. The familiar sight of the Luddendenfoot Congregation church passes above us, and then it's time to find a spot for lunch in the woods between canal and Calder, where signs are hung on trees stating things like 'Holly - Energy', 'Goosberry [sic]- Ancient Wisdom' and 'Alder - Defence'. Notably, none of these signs are on the correct type of tree, it must be an art project left to the confusion of time.
 |
| Bridge 6 & Vintage Bus |
Approaching bridge 6, we get the surreal sight of a vintage bus passing over it, which makes a lot more sense when you recall that there is a vintage bus depot along here somewhere, also an aqueduct as the canal crosses Luddenden Brook. The canal provides cyclists, geese and Highland cattle, before we finally meet lock 5 near Brearley and I finally meet some territory that I have ambled through before. The stroll to Brearley and back has been a feature of a few New Year's Day walks, but today the canal does not have an inch thick cover of ice on it which looked so tempting to walk on. I love the houses and old church school hiding in the landscape around here, the building style feel that bit more rural. Just as well that this bit is pretty because the stretch into Mytholmroyd isn't, clearly the industrial units along here went up without any sympathetic thought for the surroundings, and I'm glad that the Canada Geese and their cygnets are here to prettify the view up a bit. Trying to get a picture of bridge 10, under the A646, is a challenge as I keep standing in the blind spot where the many cyclists passing under it can't see me, and then we conclude the canal walk at bridge 11, before heading over Calder bridge, and noting a building with an inscribed stone of 'Man Know Thyself', so nice to see something that doesn't have biblical quotation. Thence on to my friends' place, passing the Shoulder of Mutton to wonder if that is where our day will end.
 |
| Bridge 10 |
 |
| The Shoulder of Mutton, Mytholmroyd |
After a bit of catch-up and r-n-r at IH & AK's, we go for the bonus stroll for the day, and it's not as long as I would have planned for, but my pals have chosen different life plans to me, and an hour of leg stretching seems a lot more sensible for them. So off we go, to admire the views and shoot the breeze, from Cragg Road, up Nest Lane to Park Lane along the high hillside discussing all the potentially squishy descent routes (the ground is always wet in Calderdale, apparently) before choosing the steep concrete path of Wood Top Road and meeting the Sainsbury's Online van struggling its way up the hill. From just behind Hebden Bridge station, we head back along the permissive path by the railway and note that this would be a good spot to be on the next time that a steam railtour comes this way. Then to Carr Lane and its mill, and along Calder Brook to meet that van that got stuck because his sat-nav sent him this way, and then down Caldene Avenue with it mix of nice houses facing less nice ones, and noting just how many are pretend stone builds. Finally down Thrush Hill Road and homeward to dinner, wine, the predicted trip the Shoulder and falling asleep in front of the Baseball on TV.
The bonus stroll is really worth noting because it puts me over the 100 mile marker! Edit: Actually, no it doesn't, I had miscalculated!
1,000 miles Cumulative Total: 104.7 miles
No comments:
Post a Comment