The night was fairly calm with a slight mist but first light approached the wind got stronger and there was enough mist about to obscure the valley bottom. I wasn’t in a particular rush to get away as the planned route was relatively easy going along a mix of path, minor road and canal bank. I was on my way by 8:40am and continued along the path edging the moor in a NE direction. Eventually I reached the car park at Norlan Town as was surprised to find a rubbish bin in the corner where I could unload the empty and crushed water containers. There was an interesting War Memorial with a Celtic design in stone.

War Memorial at Norland Town

Fallingworth Hall dated 1642

I passed the School and down the narrow lane to the Impressive Fallingworth Hall dated 1642. Further down was the Blue Ball Inn with a ludicrous looking half blue sphere on the front wall. Still farther down I left the road after another old hall being refurbished and followed an old track down to a lower road then down Fall Lane to the railway and then the Rochdale Canal. I joined the towpath and wandered along aimlessly.

Canal Basin at Sowerby Bridge

Passing through Sowerby Bridge the canal goes into tunnel but there is no way marker to show where the towpath goes. I guessed the route was across the busy main road and up a branch road. I found the canal again at a very interesting deep lock directly at the other end of the tunnel. I soon left the town and was in open country again.
It was so nice to have easy walking and taking in the passing scenery along the canal. The weather continued dull and overcast with slightly increasing drizzle. The only down side was the constant presence of piles of dog excrement which seemed to have the highest density per mile of any canal towpath I’d walked along. Every marker post and, every mooring bollard had piles of it round the base. Somehow the gloomy weather seemed to suit the towpath views and mirror flat canal surface. The miles slipped by as I headed towards Hebden Bridge but at Luddendenfoot I was stopped in my tracks by a sign by the towpath. "Hickory’s Cafe". A short way off the towpath in the middle of a small industrial estate was the cafe. I went in and enjoyed a delicious bacon sandwich and proper mug of tea. It was an enjoyable break and I resumed my walk with batteries re-charged. I had to cross the road again at another short tunnel and then I was on a long straight stretch that took me in to Hebden Bridge.

By the canal at Hebden Bridge

As the canal goes through the town it is evident how much man-made work has shaped the valley. Multi storey terraces of stone houses, the canal lifted over the river Calder and the canal basins and warehouses that would have seen the products of industry moving too and fro. Approaching Stubbings Bridge I saw a ginnel to the right and followed it down to a footbridge over the river then I crossed the road to Head up Church Lane.

At the first sharp bend a lesser but wider road continues. I followed it up the valley side. I was now above Colden Clough and I followed it to Hebble Hole, which isn’t a hole, and the point where the Pennine Way crosses. I turned right to cross the river at the interesting stone footbridge and followed the Pennine way route up through the fields across the road and up to High Gate Farm and May’s Aladdin’s Cave shop. By now the slight drizzle was a lot heavier and the wind was much stronger. I saw the young lady in the farmyard who OK’d me to pitch on the small camping ground. There is still no charge for camping. It was a delight to fill my water bag from the crystal clear spring in the farm yard. It was still quite windy as I struggled to erect the flapping tent. As I inflated my carry mat the internal cells separated causing the top end to inflate like a balloon. This is the second time I’ve had this happen with one of these mats.

Stone footbridge at Hebble Hole