Jackson Bridge And Hepworth, Near Holmfirth, West Yorkshire

Introduction

With it being so cold this week, I decided on travelling a little further afield, thus spending more time in the car, and not too far on the walk! But then, I ended up walking nearly 7 miles. And, the ascent totalled 1350feet, so the climbs soon got the juices moving to warm me up.

It’s an hour’s drive over the Woodhead Pass and then the A616 to Jackson Bridge.

The weather in West Yorkshire was somewhat worse than in Greater Manchester. Murky, drizzly, dank and dark. Not great for the photographs, but as I’d arrived, I just got on with it.

The walk took about 3.hours 15 minutes, plus a 15 minute break.

This isn’t a great walk for dogs, though most of it is on fenced tracks. Many of the tracks had signs requiring dogs to be kept on the lead.

I walked in an anti-clockwise direction.

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL1.

I parked on the road outside the Red Lion Inn, postcode HD9 7HB.

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Morton Wood

I walked down into the centre of Jackson Bridge where the brook was noticeably orange in colour looking downstream.

Looking upstream, it was clear that the orange water emanated from a small stream entering the brook below the weir. Weird!

The town’s huge mill has been demolished, and the site cleared.

After passing the church a short walk down the road brought me into a lovely wooded valley.

I left the road and followed the path up the valley, through Morton Wood. The path is next to the water and this is a gorgeous spot.

The path criss-crosses the brook, often by bridge, but here, by stepping stones.

Further along I flushed a grey heron from its hunting spot; clearly not many humans had walked here today. Then there were more stepping stones forming the path along the brook’s edge.

Eventually, the stream split off to the right, and I slowly emerged from the valley, via recently erected metal steps.

Barnside Via Farming Country

A sharp left turn led along a narrow straight path up the valley’s side and on along field edges to a road.

I came upon a strange garden, decorated with life size dolls heads!

I hurried on!

At a junction, I went straight over onto a track which led to Ox Lee, then left to the hamlet of Barnside.

Cheese Gate Nab And Hullock Bank

I crossed a couple more fields and the A616, I climbed a muddy bank to Cheese Gate Nab. As I did so, I heard geese above, and there they were!

The walk around The Nab and Hullock Bank largely follows the contours of the hills, and provides magnificent views into the valley below.

Jackson Bridge

After passing High Brow, I turned down a steep track which soon became a minor road, returning to Jackson Bridge. I caught sight of the former mill site, with Hepworth Church behind it, as I descended into the village.

The very dull weather meant that I didn’t see this area at its best, but it was still good to get out, and the Morton Wood valley is well worth another visit.

And Finally….

Folk rock band Show Of Hands have released a compilation of their works of the last 15 years or so. The album is called Roots 2, and this track is “Haunt You”.