Hardcastle Crags and Hebden Dean

[@glennswalks7693]

Hi Nick I loved this walk it’s got everything in it Birds and History great Scenery and some lovely music me and mum did a walk round Gibson mill and you went past the Lodge where we parked, I see what you meant about that Bridge. anyway fantastic Walk mate thanks for taking us with you atb Cheers Glenn. It’s a 👍from me 👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️

[@nickgcbond]

Thanks Glenn, Yes there is something magical about venturing out and about walking. Like you say, just passing and appreciating the nature around us, the woods and the wildlife and then there are the historical buildings reminding us of earlier generations. Then one always seems to come across a nice little house in the perfect spot with the woods seemingly on the doorstep and you think to yourself, Wow, what an ideal spot to live. 😃 It's all good fun. Cheers Nick

[@rosebooth7367]

Hi Nick- I've just discovered your channel and it's fantastic to see that you've done lots of walks around my old stomping ground (Colden,Heptonstall, Hebden Bridge etc). I just wanted to say a great big thank you as I never thought I'd see any of it again, and now I can -yipee! :) I used to love just sitting on the moors and listening to the curlews. I haven't looked but have you done a walk up to Rivington Pike up through the gardens? That's another favourite of mine ;) Thank you once again you've made an old Coldenite very, very happy xx

[@nickgcbond]

Hi Rosemary and thanks for the kind words. The whole Hebden Bridge/Heptonstall area and surroundings has been an amazing and exciting discovery for me. What started as just a bit of random footpath walking has turned into discovering local history and appreciating historical architecture in the old surviving buildings as well as finding some thrilling and remote landscapes. And the curlews? I can't believe I actually captured one on video on this walk, though heard them quite often. Did you once live in the area? I've had comments from a gentleman in Australia who used to live at or near Shibden Head but moved away as a youth and recognised the places he once played and frequented on a couple of my videos. Another gentleman in the USA was doing his family history and came about his ancestral lands in Brearley, Luddenden foot area on some of my Videos. I'm really pleased that they have been so useful and interesting for them. Is Rivington Pike in Lancashire, Chorley way? I'll put in on the to do list and search for some Videos meanwhile. I watch a lot of walkers/hikers videos here on you tube. Cheers. Nick 😊

[@rosebooth7367]

@@nickgcbond Yes,, I was born in the front bedroom of our small farm at Colden,one field away from the Pennine way. Me and my sister had the most magnificent playground where boulders in Ragley Valley became aeroplanes and just next to the Clapper bridge we had our own private swimming pool ! ;).I've still to look to see all your walks but have you done one following the flagstone mill paths from the lower valley near Lumb Mill? Upto Lumb Bank and follow the snicket straight up from the gates, left towards pikestone bank and take the route along to Slater ing then along the track to Great Learings and go through the old farmyard to Little learings. Past Colden Row farm and Colden Row, across to goose hey and through the next farm (High Pilling I think) go up to the road (Smithy Lane) and down to Jack Bridge past the New Delight (or into it!) then follow the track all the way back down to Lumb Mill. Ooh yes Rivington is near Chorley. I sent a link to my friend who usually lives in the Philippines but at present is in lock down with her dad in Australia. They lived at Hoarside which you passed on your walk to Raistrick Greave, they loved it but were a bit disappointed that the camera wasn't on going past Hoar side. Enough of my ramblings .. I'll away and watch some more :)

[@nickgcbond]

@@rosebooth7367 Hi Rosemary, I recognise those places/farms etc close by to Lumb Bank. I'm not sure if I have walked those paths exactly but I've been at least very close by, on the Calderdale way. One one video I pass the big Mount Zion Chapel at Slack so I must have been very close to your route as I turned off the Calderdale way. I can see those paths though, on my OS map. I do recognise the New Delight Inn and the long track back to Lumb Bank. I trust the clapper bridge you mention is the one on the Pennine way known as Hebble Hole bridge in Colden Clough. (you refer to this as Ragley Valley ?) I remember the Raistrick Greave ramble via Noah Dale, and Hoar Side moor where I didn't quite find the path heading Northwards and strayed a bit. Nice to hear your Australian friend is watching to see any places she recognises. All being well I expect to explore a bit more in Hebden/Heptonstall. I'm in Huddersfield, so the area is not quite in my back yard so to speak, though I've been wandering there numerous times, sometimes with friends and then on my own where I usually get to do a video. Let us know anything you recognise or have a story to tell on any of my other videos. Cheers and ATB Nick. 😊

[@steveriggan8944]

Another wonderful video, Nick! Heptonstall church was where my ancestor William Farrar of Ewood requested to be buried in his will 1571. He married Margaret Lacy of Brearley, of the Lacy and Savile of Thornhill family. Their grandson William Farrar went to Virginia in 1618 (my father’s ancestor). Very moving video for me and the music just added to it.

[@nickgcbond]

Thanks Steve, what would be interesting is if on a future visit I might find his buriel place if his request was granted (William Farrar of Ewood) if with a memorial stone that's in good order and legible? I do recall a cluster of buildings on MIdgley Road (on my Luddenden Midgley Walk video) with a particularly grand one called Ewood Hall, though it's a later building (1878) presumably the original one was pulled down etc? The first time I came across Heptonstall and it's old church, I felt like I'd travelled back in time. It's a magical spot and with Hardcastle Crags close by.

[@steveriggan8944]

@@nickgcbond William Farrar’s tomb at Heptonstall was destroyed when the church began deteriorating. The only record we have of his burial place is the will. I have no idea if Margaret, his wife, was buried there near him or elsewhere with her family. As to Ewood Hall, the old hall was torn down in the 1970’s. The barns were still there and are now dwellings. Ewood was conveyed by the Pilkington family in 1471 to my ancestor Henry Farrar and it was in the family until about 1798 when Dr. John Fawcett took over the property for a Baptist seminary. That’s about all I know regarding the property and house. My ancestor William Farrar was still drawing an annuity from Ewood while living in Virginia but sold his rights to his brothers about 1631 after returning to England to settle his inheritance from his father John Farrar of Ewood and Brearley who left a will proved in 1628. The Farrar name carried all the way down to my gr-gr-gr grandmother in America as her middle name to commemorate the family heritage.

[@nickgcbond]

@@steveriggan8944 I think next time I visit Heptonstall old church yard, I will take some time having a detailed look around at the memorials and the names and dates on them.

[@GrizzlyGaz]

The trestle bridge is just below you at 34-35 mins in mate. You can see the remains on the banking on the other side. I'm doing a hike up Hardcastle Crags and wild camp up Blake Dean next plus a dip in lumb hole falls next weekend. Will hopefully be telling the story of Gibson mill and the trestle bridge along the way.

[@nickgcbond]

Thanks Gaz, All being well, I expect to revisit the area sometime and explore a bit more in depth. Look forward to your upcoming Video here and also Lumb Hole Falls. Both fab places. I remember when I first 'discovered' Lumb Hole Falls, I felt a bit like I was exploring in Namibia in deepest Africa or something. lol

[@GrizzlyGaz]

@@nickgcbond yeah it's nuts to have somewhere like that on the doorstep!

[@GrizzlyGaz]

You should get yourself a decent water filter so you can get water on the go Nick. I'd recommend the sawyer micro squeeze 👍

[@nickgcbond]

Yes great Idea, I've been caught out very thirsty a couple of times before on the Sunnier day walks. I'll check out more of your channel wild camping vids. Would be a very useful tool to keep in the rucksack. Cheers.

[@GrizzlyGaz]

@@nickgcbond the katadyn befree filter is also a good one.

[@LezleysAdventures]

that looked a really nice walk, all that sunshine helped, I stayed home on those hot days lol, you should get a water filter or purification tablets for emergencies

[@nickgcbond]

Cheers Lezley, I've watched many of the more 'equipped' hiker/wild camper videos (including yours) showing their water collection and purifying systems and wondered if I should carry a kit just in case, but the weather has been so cool and damp, I had forgotten how difficult a sunny day can really be and underestimated what I would need (to be comfortable, that is). Drank two pints of water when I got home. Amazing how much water loss the body can endure. I run on sunny days too and experience similar dehydration. Maybe a straw Mexican style hat is needed too! lol Still, I enjoyed Hardcastle Crags especially as I've never done the multi bridge crossings path before. It felt like remote Africa (not that I've ever been) and because the footpath was technically 'closed', I did have it all to myself down to Gibson Mill.

[@LezleysAdventures]

NickGC Out and About on smaller walks I take a cloth to filter debri & tablets, but usually if my thermos of tea runs dry it’s time to finish 🤣

[@nickgcbond]

@@LezleysAdventures Yes the Tea! lol A luxury. A can of Irn Bru is probably my luxury drink. I always feel an energy boost afterwards, but I think it's had it's sugar content reduced alot since the sugar tax, so I may now be experiencing a placebo effect of what used to be a big energy boost.

[@LezleysAdventures]

NickGC Out and About I’m in Tod going to attempt some more lol

[@nickgcbond]

@@LezleysAdventures Look forward to seeing the video update. Tod 's one of my favourite spots. When I planned my route there along the Calderdale Way, I ended up on the Millenium Way and every other way! lol Still, it was a great spot whatever route I took.

[@vandalmeida.30.09]

Wish I was doind this walk, cos I'm fed up with these quarentine days ... had my weekend shut into my house... gosh, can't do this anymore. It is 120 days in jail... 😔❣💔!

[@nickgcbond]

Hi Vanda, Are their any mountains/countryside close by to where you live in Brazil? I always imagine it's Sunny and warm in Brazil with dramatic mountains surrounding. After I did this walk, the weather turned cold and it rained for nearly two weeks, with some blustery winds. lol I think the UK is famous for wet rainy days. We should perhaps have the umbrella symbol in our national flag.

[@vandalmeida.30.09]

@@nickgcbond yes, it has nice long way to walk, but it is all closed yet, 😥.. parks, everything... sometimes I go to walk on bicycle path to relieve tension.... I live in a big city, called Curitiba, is in the south of Brazil... there are people all over, we get scard going out and meet all, cos all want to relieve theirselves too... if u know what I mean... So, it is our winter time now, but yestarday n today, it is sunny n warm here... Today is very brigth, shinning, so beautiful... I will do some walk .... Tks for your great documentary videos and for your attention, my regards to you...🙏🇧🇷!

[@vandalmeida.30.09]

Hi Nickyyy... 😁