Calendar 2023

Snowfall in Cragg Vale canoe heavy at times, but rather than interrupting normal business, it adds an extra layer of beauty to this charming valley and its through-routes

Sometimes bleak but always compelling, skirts the edges of Cragg Vale, passing the historic Stoodley Pike monument, as it winds its 268 mile journey from the Peak District to the Scottish Border

Although street signs are absent, many of the area's green lanes have names which have been retained over many years, acknowledging their historic use as recognised through-routes

The construction of Cragg Road, eve as a toll road, must have come as a relief to the merchants who previously used the pack horse trails to transport their wares. Its claims to fame include being the longest continuous gradient in England, and more recently, its inclusion within the Tour de France cycle route, hosting the worlds longest length of bunting and being the venue for the annual Cragg Challenge competitions

on the east side of the valley are a number of routes linking Cragg Vale to places further afield - trading centres such as Halifax and Huddersfield would have been likely destinations for locally produced items

Being the site of a former village, and now a local beauty spot, many routes converge on the reservoir, and then wind their ways over the hillsides to provide plenty of options for exploring the area

The woodlands around Cragg Vale contain some lovely sheltered walkways, with lots of native trees, wildlife and secluded beauty spots, where walkers can rest and enjoy the tranquil surroundings

The more prettily named "Swan Bank lane" can be found on older maps under the name :Swine Market Lane" - a clue as to the farming trade once carried out in this area?

The moorlands above Cragg Vale can be rugged, but provide some fabulous views and have some interesting trails and history. Standing stones date back to early times, whilst the deer park and grouse farming have kept gamekeepers busy until recent times

The waterways running through Cragg Vale have shaped the landscape and the industry in the area, and now provide some stunning walkways which include some interesting reminders of previous activities

The Calderdale Way is a 50 mile (80Km) circular walk, making use of many ancient trails, exploring the delightful hills and valleys of Calderdale, passing through Cragg Vale, beside Withens reservoir, on the section between Ripponden and Todmorden

Rudd Lane was laid in the late 19th century, to provide an easier route transporting labour and materials for the construction of Withens reservoir. It even hosted a tramway during the construction period. How long before such modes of transport are re-introduced?