Walking at Hardcastle Crags

Path through woodland, covered with Blubells

From walks along the riverside to hikes into the wider valley, there are lots of walking routes to explore on a visit to Hardcastle Crags.

Hardcastle Crags is made up of over 400 acres of countryside, with tumbling streams, grassy meadows and towering trees. At the heart of the valley you’ll find Gibson Mill, a former 19th century cotton mill which now houses the Weaving Shed Café - the perfect place to relax after a stroll in the fresh air.

With over 15 miles of footpaths to explore, this valley is a walker’s paradise. Grab your walking boots, and choose one of our popular way marked trails to enjoy an adventure in the woods.

To help you plan your walk, take a look at the routes below or take a photo of the map in the welcome hut on your visit, to use as you head out into the beautiful Yorkshire countryside.

All of the below routes can be enjoyed from both car parks, and picked up from Gibson Mill too.

A walking sign on the estate track at Hardcastle Crags, West Yorkshire

Estate track walk 

This one-mile walk will take you from Midgehole carpark to Gibson Mill. Take a stroll through the trees and explore the historic mill at the heart of the woodland. This wide, tree lined route is also wheelchair and pushchair accessible. Click here for the route.

A family walking through the woodland at Hardcastle Crags during bluebell season

Crags constitutional  

Enjoy a quieter part of the woods on this 2-mile walk, with lots of wildlife to spot along the way. Follow the green way markers from Gibson Mill to enjoy this peaceful walk. Click here to help plan your route.

The view from the top of

The Crags 

Discover the rocks that give Hardcastle Crags its name on this short but steep ¼ mile climb. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with long-reaching views across the tree canopy, experiencing a bird’s eye view of the valley. Click here for the route.

The view across the top of the estate from the railway walk at Hardcastle Crags

Railway trail 

Head to the tops of the valley on this 3-mile walk, alongside the stream and dams with great views along the higher slopes. Some of the track follows a former railway, built to transport workers during the valley’s booming industrial age. Click here to follow the route

A family walking in the woodland at Hardcastle Crags

Mill walk (riverside) 

Follow this 1¼ walk from Midgehole carpark along the winding riverside. See how the river changes and look for wildlife along the way. You can pick up this route from Gibson Mill too. Click here for the full route.

A view of the upper woodland on the mill walk at Hardcastle Crags

Mill walk (upper woodland)  

This 1¼ mile route takes you through a stand of pines, with beautiful views over Hebden Valley. You can follow this walk from Midgehole car park and Gibson Mill, with different views to enjoy along the way.

A natural flood management trail marker sign at Hardcastle Crags

Natural flood management trail 

At Hardcastle Crags, we're working with local partners and nature to reduce flood risk. Discover more about this work on a walk through the woodland. Use this map and the NFM marker posts on site to see examples of natural flood management in progress at Hardcastle Crags.