Calderdale Way Link

This short but steep linear link starts and finishes in the hilltop village of Heptonstall, high above the Calder valley in West Yorkshire. Despite covering only a little over three kilometres, the route packs in more than 300 metres of ascent, giving a proper taste of the steep-sided cloughs that define this corner of the South Pennines.

From Heptonstall the path drops down towards Midgehole Farm before climbing back up past the Blue Pig and returning to the village. Along the way you pass a rich scatter of local landmarks, including Tinker Cross, the old Pinfold, and the Smeekin Hill War Memorial. The ruined church of Saint Thomas a Becket sits at the heart of Heptonstall itself, while nearby Joan Wood adds a patch of green cover to the otherwise open moorland edge.

It is a compact walk best treated as a taster of the wider Calderdale Way, ideal for an afternoon when you want views, a bit of history, and a solid leg-stretch without committing to a full day on the hills.