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Cragg Vale Walks

4.04 miles (6.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap The small village of Cragg Vale is located near Mytholmroyd in the Calderdale area of the South Pennines.
There's some lovely moorland scenery, pretty reservoirs and several waymarked, long distance trails running through the area. The village is also known for The Cragg Vale Coiners, a band of counterfeiters that produced fake gold coins in the late 18th century to supplement small incomes from weaving.
This walk from the village takes you to the nearby Withens Clough Reservoir before returning via the elevated spot at Turley Holes Edge. The walk starts in the village where you can pick up the Calderdale Way and follow the waymarked trail west to the reservoir, passing Tenter Wood. You can then follow a footpath around the reservoir where there are lovely views across the water. You then head east up to Turley Holes Edge. There's a cairn here and excellent views across the heather clad moors. From here you descend to Hove Yard Wood and Cove Hill before turning north to return to the village.
To extend the walk you could head north from the reservoir to Bell House Moor. Here you will find the house of David Hartley, leader of the Cragg Vale coiners.

Cragg Vale OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Cragg Vale Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

Back in the village you could head to The Hinchliffe Arms for some post walk refreshments. They do excellent food and also have outside seating and an outside veranda. The inn can be found at Church Bank Lane with a postcode of HX7 5TA for your sat navs. There is ample parking at the pub too.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Just to the north west you will find one of the walking highlights of the area at Stoodley Pike. At the top is Stoodley Pike monument, built in 1856 at the end of the Crimean War. You can climb the stairs of the monument to a viewing platform and enjoy wonderful views over Calderdale.
To the west of the reservoir you can pick up the Pennine Bridleway and the Pennine Way. You could follow the trails south to Warland Reservoir and Langfield Common.
The circular Walk around Todmorden can be picked up just to the west and followed to the nearby Warland Reservoir and White Holme Reservoir. Near here there's also the pretty Gaddings Dam. The small reservoir is notable for having the highest beach in Britain.
For more walking ideas in the area see the South Pennines Walks page.

Photos

Cragg Old Hall, Cragg Vale, Mytholmroyd - geograph.org.uk - 840744

Cragg Old Hall. Originally a manor house, and purchased by the Hinchcliffe family who were important local mill owners. It in Erringden township until Mytholmroyd UDC was created in 1894. This became part of Hebden Royd UDC in 1937, which is still a civil parish within Calderdale District.

New Bridge, Cragg Vale - geograph.org.uk - 389269

New Bridge, Cragg Vale. Arched stone road bridge over Cragg Brook at the western end of Castle Gate, with Sunny Bank Lane winding its way up the hill to the north.

The Lodge, Cragg Vale - geograph.org.uk - 246491

The Lodge. The gatehouse to Cragg Hall, once the local manor house. Note the beautiful stonework up the centre of the gable.

Bell House, Cragg Vale - geograph.org.uk - 26496

 Bell House, Cragg Vale. Looking N across Bell House Moor. Bell House was once home to David Hartley, leader of the Cragg Vale coiners. He was hanged at Tyburn near York on April 28 1770. The house was recently sold and it looks as though the adjoining barn is being renovated by the new owners.

Withens Clough Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 25874

Withens Clough Reservoir

Turley Holes Edge, Withens Clough, Cragg Vale, Mytholmroyd - geograph.org.uk - 840896

Turley Holes Edge. The subject position is of the corner in the boundary of the open moorland, which was in the Turley Holes Moss division of Sowerby township.

Footpath waymarker, Turley Holes Edge - geograph.org.uk - 25883

Footpath waymarker, Turley Holes Edge. Looking S along the footpath to Higher House. To the left is Hove Yard Wood.

Cairn, Turley Holes Edge, Mytholmroyd - geograph.org.uk - 1444045

Cairn, Turley Holes Edge, Mytholmroyd. A well-built cairn, but without a commemorative plaque. Lovely views across the heather moors from here.

GPS Files

GPX File

Cragg Vale.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Cragg Vale.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)