A Ramble in the Harden Valley

This was a walk with Bingley Walking Festival.  Originally I’d been going to go on a Ride 2 Stride walk up around the Three Peaks but it was a very warm day and I wanted to do a few things at home so this walk from Bingley suited me as it didn’t start until 1pm.  There was about 30 of us on this walk so a good turn out. It started by going through Myrtle Park – across the river and across Harden Beck via the old pack horse-bridge. 

Up Beck Lane we took a path on the left crossing the beck again and made our way through the golf course.

From here there was a steep ascent to start with then at a crossing of paths on Black Hills we took the path veering slightly right. This is a permissive pathway, so is not marked as a Rights of Ways on O.S. maps. However, half way through there was known locally as the St David’s Folly or Harden Grange Folly. It’s a monument built as a ruin – a folly – by the Ferrand family in the 19th Century. Carrying on the path we came out onto Harden Lane.

Up Harden Lane we turned right after the cottages along Cherry Tree Row – the entrance to the path is by the field gate. We walked through Cragg wood arriving at a static caravan park. We went left to Goitstock waterfall. 

Past the waterfall we came to an old mill now converted into luxury apartments. 

After crossing a main road and going through a stile we followed the beck reaching the Hewenden viaduct, going under the arches we walked to the top! We walked along the viaduct into Cullingworth we walked on a pathway bringing us to Catstones Moor and across to Ryecroft Road. From here was a hard pull up the road to the quarry where we turned onto Harden Moor. 

 Here we took a path right arriving at a farm known as Ether Glen eventually coming onto Keighley Road.  From here we entered St Ives Estate and followed the path through to Altar Lane and back down to Bingley. 

The time was now 6.45pm and we’d walked 10.25 miles.  I was ready for home and tea. An excellent bank holiday Monday walk.