Day 4: Hebden Bridge to Cowling
28.7km along the Pennine Way
This day doesn’t stand out too much in my memory if I’m honest. I’ve since been back to the area and walked a tiny part of the Pennine Way again, so that helped to jog my memory but on the whole I think this is one of those days to get over and done with. It’s not in any way an unpleasant walk, but it’s a fairly long stretch which is probably why some people decide to end the day in Ponden or Haworth rather than Ickornshaw/Cowling.
If you’ve taken the Hebden Bridge Loop you’ll have a little further to walk today to get back onto Pennine Way but the loop wanders through Heptonstall, which is a lovely village to pass through at the start of the day. After that the day is relatively uneventful, although not unenjoyable. Signposting is good but there are lots of twists and turns so keep an eye on your map.
Once you re-join the Pennine Way at Colden you can head off-path slightly to visit May’s shop but I was in the mood to keep going and didn’t need any supplies, so carried on instead. After Colden you’ll cross Heptonstall Moor until you reach Gorple Lower Reservoir. Keep going and you’ll pass Walshaw Dean Reservoirs and, eventually, Withins Height.
No doubt you’ll encounter plenty of tourists visiting Top Withins, which would be a nice place to stop and enjoy but it’s hard not to feel a little out of place carrying a huge backpack and walking poles when surrounded by ‘normal people’! Finally you’ll cross Wolf Stones and Ickornshaw Moor before descending into Ickornshaw/Cowling.
Check out my walk on Relive to see the elevation »
This was my first night camping, I stayed at Winterhouse Barn where there were just two other walkers camping. The facilities were pretty basic but you don’t need more than a shower and some flat ground! This is one place to make sure you have supplies though, as the shop down the road doesn’t open late/early.
Happy walking!
Kate x