Hardcastle Crags walk
A short south Pennines walk (approx 4.5m)
(Photos/words © urban75, March 2008)
Covering more than 160 hectares (400 acres) of unspoilt woodland, this wooded stretch of National Trust land offers eighteen miles of footpaths, passing tumbling streams, rocky landscapes, waterfalls and woods.
Apparently the home of the northern hairy wood ant (we kid you not), walkers can visit Gibson Mill, the National Trust's flagship sustainable building.
Because of its narrow, steep-sided wooded valley, the area is sometimes called Little Switzerland, while Hardcastle gets its name from the millstone grit sandstone stacks above the valley.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-01.jpg) The walk starts two miles out of Hebden Bridge at the end of Midgehole Road, off the A6033 Keighley road. It's also an easy and attractive walk out of Hebden (we walked back into town).
Here's the gatehouse building.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-02.jpg) Oops! Looks like someone's had the signs away.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-03.jpg) Hebden Water runs along the valley all the way to Gibson Mill.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-04.jpg)
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-05.jpg)
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-06.jpg)
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-07.jpg) Curious log bench covered in embedded one penny pieces.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-08.jpg) On the boulder river crossing.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-09.jpg) Coming over the river.
GIBSON MILL
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-11.jpg) Approaching Gibson Mill, now run as an educational and community centre powered entirely by sustainable energy.
The water-powered spinning mill, built around 1800, was derelict since the 1950s and now serves as the National Trust's flagship environmental project, and an international role model for sustainability.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-12.jpg) A turn of the century postcard taken from a similar angle as the contemporary photo above.
Gibson Mill cased textile production in the 1890s and remarkably was quickly converted into an early entertainment complex, offering a tea room, dance hall and rollerskating rink.
The mill was eventually left to the National Trust by Abraham Gibson of Greenwood Lee when he died in 1956.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-10.jpg) Bridge over the the Hebden Water.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-13.jpg) Inside the excellent cafe at Gibson Mill.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-14.jpg) Gibson Mill detail.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-15.jpg) The mill and mill pond.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-16.jpg)
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-17.jpg) Mill reflections.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-18.jpg) Lone walker.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-19.jpg) A look back at the mill showing its remote location.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-20.jpg) Heading back into Hebden Bridge.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-21.jpg) Passing cyclists.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-22.jpg) Mossy trees and rocks.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-23.jpg) The Blue Pig pub.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-24.jpg)
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-25.jpg)
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-26.jpg) Tree growth breaking through river wall.
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-27.jpg)
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-28.jpg) Looking at an Archery competition - the archer on the right looks well on-target!
![Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, National Trust, South Pennines, near Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, England; photos of a short walk](images/hardcastle-crags-walk-29.jpg) Home of Hebden Bridge Cricket Club demands respect!
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