The pretty village of Heptonstall is a real hidden gem in West Yorkshire. This guide will show you how to walk to Heptonstall from Hebden Bridge. Plus, what to do in Heptonstall and Hebden Bridge on your visit.
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How to walk to Heptonstall from Hebden Bridge
This Hidden Yorkshire guide is packed with double the adventure, as you’ll have the opportunity to explore two beautiful places in West Yorkshire. You’ll start your walk in the more widely known Hebden Bridge, a town full of artisan coffee shops and independent boutiques. Then a short uphill walk will take you to the quaint village of Heptonstall, a true Yorkshire hidden gem.
At a glance: What you need to know about walking to Heptonstall from Hebden Bridge
Location: Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall are located in the Upper Calder Valley in West Yorkshire, about 8 miles from Halifax. The drive from Halifax is approximately 20 minutes, 40 minutes from Bradford and 45+ minutes from Leeds.
Where to park: There are a handful of small pay and display car parks within Hebden Bridge. The main car park is Market Place (HX7 7BL) but it only has 31 spaces so you will want to arrive early. Alternatively, there are on-road parking spots available on the main roads surrounding the town.
Walk time: The walk to Heptonstall is short but steep, so you will want to allow 30 minutes to walk up to the village. You will also want to factor in about an hour to explore the village once you arrive. If you want to enjoy Hebden Bridge too, you can easily fill a half-day to a full-day trip.
Terrain: The route between Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall is very steep and stepped in parts. Includes cobbled and paved streets as well as some on-road sections.
What to bring: Your basic hiking essentials will be more than sufficient for this route. If you want to pack a map, you will require OS Explorer 21. Walking boots or sturdy shoes are advised.
When to visit: Heptonstall can be accessed and explored year-round. Parking in Hebden Bridge can be challenging on weekends during the spring and summer months so you may prefer to visit on a weekday or arrive early to avoid disappointment. As the walk is steep, I would advise not visiting on extremely hot days.
Starting point: What to do in Hebden Bridge
While this guide mainly focuses on what to do in Heptonstall, you can’t possibly visit without pausing to admire Hebden Bridge. This bustling town is a popular spot for day-trippers, due to the variety of unique speciality stores and independent coffee shops.
Before you follow the walk to Heptonstall, you can enjoy an amble around the village. Or, if you’re like us, you can enjoy the walk first, then head back into Hebden Bridge and grab a delicious coffee and slice of cake from Lovegrows Tearooms.
Where is Hebden Bridge?
Hebden Bridge is a pretty market town that is located in the Upper Calder Valley in West Yorkshire, about 8 miles from Halifax. It can be reached by car from Halifax in approximately 20 minutes, or 40 minutes from Bradford and 45+ minutes from Leeds.
How to get to Hebden Bridge
Hebden Bridge is easiest reached by car, however, with limited parking options, public transport might be preferable.
There is a train station in the town which has regular, direct services from Leeds and Bradford, plus can be reached from York or Huddersfield with just one change.
Buses also run to Hebden Bridge from Halifax (590 or 592), Huddersfield (900 or 901) or Keighley (B3).
How far is Heptonstall from Hebden Bridge?
Heptonstall is located less than a mile from Hebden Bridge, making it a short, picturesque walk. It is worth noting that the route to get to Heptonstall is all uphill and is pretty steep in parts.
It will take you about 30 minutes to walk from Hebden Bridge to Heptonstall. And no matter how much of an avid walker you are, you are likely to be a little breathless by the time you reach the village!
How to get to Heptonstall from Hebden Bridge
Once you’ve taken in the beauty of Hebden Bridge and you are ready to set off to Heptonstall, here is the route that you need to follow.
Hebden Bridge to Heptonstall walk
Start your route at the Old Bridge which is a pedestrian footbridge over Hebden Beck. You can locate it on Bridge Gate (HX7 8EX). From here, you’re going to cross the bridge and take a cobbled street on the opposite side of the road and to the right, called The Buttress.
The Buttress is a pretty route with some impressive views of Hebden Bridge and the surrounding area. But don’t be deceived, the climb is a steep one!
Continue to follow the path straight ahead in the same direction until you meet a road. When you emerge onto the road, continue to the right approximately 200 metres.
Don’t take the track between the houses when you reach it. Instead, you’re looking for a public footpath sign and a set of steps on the opposite side of the road. Take extreme care as you will need to walk on the road here, and cross this busy street.
Once you have crossed the road, continue your climb upwards using the steps. You will emerge onto another road. Here, stick to the right and simply follow the road into the village of Heptonstall. Please note, this section of the walk doesn’t have a footpath.
Heptonstall History
The little village of Heptonstall dates back to 1274. The name translates as “the stable in Hebden”.
Despite being a sleepy village, a battle was fought in Heptonstall during the Civil War in 1643.
Like much of the West Yorkshire region, Heptonstall has a history in the textiles industry. It was a centre for hand-loom weaving. Keep this in mind when you stroll through the village. You might notice that the cottages and houses have large first-floor windows to maximise the light for this activity.
You might be surprised to learn that Heptonstall opted to shun some of the modern comforts it has once seen. The village regained its traditional charm in the 1980s when the paved roads were removed in favour of the original stone setts. At this time, they also chose to replace the street lights with cast-iron gas lamps.
Things to see in Heptonstall
Now that you’re here, you might be wondering what to see in Heptonstall. Here is some inspiration of things to do in Heptonstall on your visit.
Walks around Heptonstall
The best way to see Heptonstall is to take a walk around the village. There are a number of Heptonstall walks you can take, both around the village or throughout the surrounding countryside.
We located the map in the centre of the village and plotted a circular route to take in all of the highlights. I’ve included our stops below, but you can plot your own route using the Heptonstall map.
Where is the Heptonstall map?
You can locate the Heptonstall village map on the wall of Towngate Tearoom. It is located on your right as you enter the village where the road you are walking on (Heptonstall Road) meets Hepton Drive.
Top tip: snap a photo of the map on your phone to reference as you go. It is tricky to determine from the map just how small the village, and therefore, how close together the sights are. On a few occasions, we almost overshot the mark as we were expecting a much longer walk!
Heptonstall Methodist Church
We started our walk by heading down the road to the left of the tearoom and along the path that skirts to the left of the car park.
The route that we plotted took us past what was intriguingly called The Dungeon. Although a little rudimentary by today’s standards, this wooden and barred door was in use in the early 19th Century.
Continue beyond the dungeon along the path which will pass by ‘Pinfold’ on the right. This is a pretty picnic area with an alarmingly low entranceway!
Follow the track as far as the farm with chickens strolling around. Don’t pass the farm, instead, turn left up the footpath as you reach it, and it will bring you to Heptonstall Methodist Church.
The Methodist Chuch is a unique octagonal shape and has stunning views over the valley below. It is also the oldest Methodist chapel in the world in continuous use. The foundation stone was laid in 1764!
Stoodley Pike
If you fancy a slight detour to admire the surrounding area, continue straight ahead as you leave the other end of the church yard. Head beneath the archway and you will come to a footpath beside a field. If you follow the path, you will be treated to impressive views of Stoodley Pike on your left, at the far side of the valley.
Stoodley Pike is a 1,300-foot hill in the south Pennines. It is instantly recognisable due to the 121-foot or 37 metre monument at its summit. Once you’ve admired Stoodley Pike, simply turn around and head back into the village to see more of Heptonstall.
Heptonstall Museum
Heptonstall Museum is situated in the Old Grammar School, directly opposite the church ruins. Sadly, a decision was made by Calderdale Council in 2021 to close Heptonstall Museum.
However, a working group has been set up with the aim of taking on the museum as a community asset. Hopefully this historic place will be saved and will continue to be celebrated by the community. In the meantime, you can still admire the building from the outside.
Heptonstall Church Ruins
Heptonstall is probably best known for its church ruins. the Church of St Thomas a’ Becket was built between 1256 and 1260. Sadly, in 1847 it was badly damaged in a storm, but temporary repairs took place and it remained in use until 1854.
The church ruins are striking and the most famous sight in Heptonstall. They are a great place to capture some photographs and admire the architecture. I was amazed that we didn’t see another soul on our visit to the ruins!
Another unique fact about Heptonstall is that the graveyard is shared by two churches. Directly next to the ruins, you will find the newer church, St Thomas The Apostle Church. This church was completed in 1847, when it replaced the Church of St Thomas a’ Becket.
Today, both churches sit side by side and are carefully maintained for the community and visitors to enjoy.
Top tip: take a stroll around the graveyard. At the back of the newer church, you will find a pinnacle that was struck down by lightning on the 5th April 1875. It is now stood behind the church for you to discover!
Heptonstall Cemetary
It isn’t just the church that Heptonstall is known for though. Heptonstall Cemetary has a collection of notable graves throughout its sprawling graveyard. One surprising fact about this tiny English village is that American poet, novelist, and short-story writer Sylvia Plath is buried in Heptonstall.
You’re probably asking, “why is Sylvia Plath buried in Heptonstall?” and it is a valid question. The writer, originally from Boston, Massachusetts, is probably best known for her novel ‘The Bell Jar’ and her poetry collections.
Sylvia Plath is buried in Heptonstall due to her marriage to English poet, Ted Hughes. Hughes was born in Mytholmroyd, a village also in the Calder Valley, very close to Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall. Although the pair were separated at the time of Plath’s death, Hughes picked the quote that you can read on Plath’s headstone, “Even amidst fierce flames the golden lotus can be planted.”
Pubs in Heptonstall
If you are looking for some pub grub or a tipple before you descend back into Hebden Bridge, there are a few pubs in Heptonstall to choose from.
Cross Inn Heptonstall – the Cross Inn is located in the heart of Heptonstall. They serve homemade food and refreshing drinks. Their menu features a range of classic pub dishes, Sunday roasts, pizzas and a selection of vegetarian options. They also offer accommodation (Covid restrictions permitting) if you want to spend a weekend soaking up the peace of Heptonstall.
White Lion Heptonstall – the White Lion is a traditional country village inn, with a range of real ales, an extensive gin and spirits selection, alongside premium lagers and good choice of wines.
Etiquette for visiting Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall
If you are planning a visit to Heptonstall, here are some things to keep in mind. Following this guide ensures that all visitors and local residents have an enjoyable experience:
- Minimise cars in the area – both Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall are small and not designed for high volumes of traffic. Travel via public transport where possible, park in Hebden Bridge rather than Heptonstall as it is better suited to cars. If there are no parking spaces available, come back on another day to avoid overcrowding these pretty locations.
- Don’t litter – use the bins provided to dispose of your rubbish. If there are no bins nearby, take your rubbish away with you. We want to keep the area beautiful for residents and visitors. Go the extra mile by picking up any litter that you see and putting it in a bin.
- Be mindful of local residents – please keep in mind you are visiting someone else’s home. Be respectful of that by ensuring you help to keep the area tidy, sticking to footpaths and being conscious of your noise levels. And while you’re visiting, why not support the local businesses by purchasing food and souvenirs from them?
Thank you for helping to look after Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall!
How to walk from Hebden Bridge to Heptonstall
So once you have thoroughly explored the village of Heptonstall, simply retrace your steps back down the hill into Hebden Bridge and to your car.
If you want to discover more hidden gems in the county, you can find the complete Hidden Yorkshire series here.
If you’ve enjoyed this walk and want to see more of the West Yorkshire countryside, check out these circular walks in West Yorkshire.
Before you go
So, if you’re ready to walk from Hebden Bridge to Heptonstall, be sure to bookmark this page or pin it so you can revisit this guide!
Until our next adventure,
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If you like this Hidden Yorkshire guide about how to walk from Hebden Bridge to Heptonstall, be sure to follow Get Lost on Pinterest. That’s where I’ll be sharing all my great West Yorkshire travel guides.
Hello, I’m Hannah! I’m a writer and photographer who loves experiencing the wonders of Yorkshire. My guides will help you escape from your daily routine by showing you that you don’t have to go far to find an adventure.
I just love the picturesque villages that you post. So quaint. The octagonal Methodist church looks interesting. Very unusual. I also love old cemeteries. I would love to hike between the two villages.
I’m very lucky to be surrounded by so many quaint villages…it is a real treat to explore them! The Methodist church was such a unique building! I hope you get an opportunity to explore the trail from Hebden Bridge to Heptonstall!
What a lovely walk! I’m enjoying your series on hidden Yorkshire. The one time I visited the area, hoof and mouth disease had resulted in closures and I couldn’t walk very far. I would love to return!
I am so glad to hear you are enjoying the Hidden Yorkshire series! What a shame the disease put a stop to your exploring. But what a great excuse to return and admire it all again! I hope you’re able to visit soon!
This is a great post! I love the tip about Sylvia Plath, I recently read the Bell Jar and had no idea she was buried here, seems like a great day trip!
Thanks Rebecca! To be honest, I haven’t read much of Plath’s work. I should definitely brush up then take another trip to Heptonstall! It is a lovely day out, I’d happily do it all over again!
You always manage to find the most beautiful and charming places to explore. And I hope they are able to save the museum!
I’m lucky to be surrounded by so many beautiful places, it makes tracking down gems like this surprisingly easy! I hope they are able to save the museum too, it would be a real shame to lose it!
What a beautiful and charming village Heptonstall is! The walk does look pretty steep but well worth it to spend a day exploring it. I would definitely enjoy a drink at a pub after that walk before visiting those lovely church ruins!
A walk around Heptonstall is definitely worth the steep climb! Plus, there are plenty of pretty views to admire on the way. Getting a drink from the pub sounds like a refreshing idea after the climb!
Love this guide on how to walk to Heptonstall from Hebden Bridge. I’m also fascinated with cemeteries – love the history and beauty so would love to visit.
Ah I love that this guide is attracting so many cemetery lovers! They’re always such fascinating and peaceful places! I hope you get an opportunity to visit and admire it in person!
What an amazing place to visit, the living history is absolutely inspiring! Thank you for all of the tips and historical background. I would love to visit and see it all in person.
Heptonstall is such an interesting place! It always amazes me that such a tiny place can have so much history! I hope you get an opportunity to visit Heptonstall in person one day!
Wow this is really a true hidden gem. I would love to cross the bridge and visit the museum. Pictures look amazing also.
Thanks! Heptonstall is such a picturesque place, it was a real pleasure to photograph! It’s a real hidden gem just waiting to be explored!
I’m from Yorkshire but have never heard of Heptonstall – what a gorgeous looking place! Sharing with friends and fam back there
I only heard of Heptonstall recently, it is certainly a bit of a hidden gem! I hope you and your family and friends have an opportunity to explore Heptonstall!
I can tell that I would LOVE this walk. The scenery is fantastic and looks historic. Some find it unusual, but I find graveyards have some a calm atmosphere. I will definitely add this to my bucketlist on my next trip to the UK!
The walk from Hebden Bridge to Heptonstall is a beautiful one! The views overlooking the valley are incredible! I completely agree about graveyards! They always seem so peaceful and relaxing to me. I love to sit in them and admire the silence. I hope you’re able to visit Heptonstall and the UK soon!
Looks like such a great quaint village! I’d love to do the walk you beautifully detailed.
Heptonstall is definitely a beautiful village! I hope you have an opportunity to enjoy the walk one day!
That is a steep climb, although I guess steep climbs do mean you sometimes get some good views. Love the historic places you see along the way, what a great walk. And the fact that there’s always a pub within a stone’s throw makes any walk in England good in my book.
The climb is a bit of a challenge! But the views are incredible! I loved peering over the valley while pausing to catch my breath! Haha you’re definitely never far from a pub in England! That is often the reward at the end of a challenging walk!
Sounds like a perfect day, complete with coffee shops 🙂
Haha I agree! I think all of my adventures seem to end in a coffee shop!
What a beautiful town to explore! The church ruins are beautiful!
Heptonstall certainly is a beautiful hidden gem! The church ruins are stunning, many people visit just to visit them!
So unexpected that Sylvia Plath is buried here, I love learning odd tidbits like this!
It does seem strange that she was buried in Heptonstall! It is such a quiet little place that most people have never heard of! What a stunning final resting place though!
So many lovely hidden nooks in England! Love the trivia on Sylvia Plath…always enjoy literature links when visiting places of note!
I’m definitely lucky to be surrounded by so many beautiful hidden gems in England! I’m a literature lover too! Any destination with literary links is a bonus in my book!
Hannah this is such a lovely part of Yorkshire! Both Heptonstall and Hebden Bridge look beautiful – like stepping back in time.
This might be a strange comment, but I love seeing it in winter when the flowers and spring time leaves are not quite yet out…It reminds me of chilly walks that finish in the pub. 🙂
It is such a lovely area, isn’t it? I think West Yorkshire is often overlooked for other parts of the county, but it has so many beautiful places to discover! Heptonstall is such a stunning place, it was fun to explore it. I know what you mean about walking around it in winter, I think it made it look even more hauntingly beautiful!
Thorough, detailed directions. Really good advice to take a photo of the map with your mobile phone. Great post.
Thanks Joanna! I’m glad you found the guide helpful! Taking a photo of the map on my phone was a lifesaver! The distance around the village was deceptively short, we’d certainly have overshot the mark without the map on hand!
This looks like such a great walk with a lot of pretty stops along the way for photos! I’ll keep this in mind when I head back to the UK.
I loved this route from Hebden Bridge to Heptonstall! It really is picturesque with beautiful views over the valley. I hope you get an opportunity to try it out!
It looks like a lovely place to visit. I like that you can do a walk and visit some great features to expand your knowledge about the place.
Heptonstall is such a lovely village, it is well worth exploring! Hebden Bridge is a pretty little town too…together they guarantee a great day out!
Sunday Roast at the Cross Inn sounds like a lovely way to end such a delightful hike. Thank you for the detailed directions, photographs, and history of why Slyvia Plath is buried in Heptonstall. Interesting.
Ah Sunday lunch after a hike the ideal celebration! That would certainly make for an incredible visit to Heptonstall! I’m so glad you found the guide interesting!
The Heptonstall Church Ruins look so beautiful. I have always wanted to visit Yorksire it has been on my list for so long. Definitely pinning so I have this guide when I am able to go. Excellent guide for how to walk to Heptonstall from Hebden Bridge.
The church ruins are by far the most famous sight in Heptonstall. They are so hauntingly beautiful! Yorkshire is such a beautiful area to explore, I hope you’re able to plan a visit and enjoy the walk from Hebden Bridge to Heptonstall!
I love hidden gems and this to walk to Heptonstall from Hebden bridge tempts me too. This sleepy and quaint village looks very beautiful and photogenic too.
It is so rewarding to unearth a hidden gem, isn’t it? Heptonstall is a beautiful spot that is worth walking to. It is certainly a photogenic location! I had so much fun taking photos here!
Oh, my. I can’t wait to get back to England. I miss visiting these quaint destinations! What a lovely town!
England has some of the cutest towns and villages, doesn’t it? I hope you’re able to visit soon to explore some of them!
I love finding these hidden gems! I would love to have a visit here!
It’s great unearthing a hidden gem, isn’t it? I hope you’re able to visit Heptonstall one day!
Gosh, I would love to see some off the beaten path attractions like this next time I’m in the UK. Thanks for the tips!
Heptonstall is a beautiful hidden gem, isn’t it? I hope you’re able to visit the UK soon to explore some of the charming villages!
This does look like a hidden gem! So quaint in Yorkshire, can’t wait for lockdown to end so I can explore!
Yorkshire has some stunning hidden gems! I love all of the sleepy villages like Heptonstall. I hope you’re able to visit soon!
I have family ties to Yorkshire and loved reading all about Heptonstall and Hebden Bridge. I’m looking forward to visiting the next time I’m in England. Loved the photos too!
Ooh that’s amazing! I hope you’re able to visit soon to explore Heptonstall and Hebden Bridge! It’s such a beautiful part of England!
Beautiful article, really enjoyed such a vivid description of Heptonstall in West Yorkshire. Great work! I love reading your blog! Looking forward to visit!
Thank you so much! I’m so glad that you enjoyed the post! I hope you’re able to visit Heptonstall soon! Thanks for reading!
I love your ‘Hidden Yorkshire’ series and love the fact that your posts are so detailed and helpful for anyone trying the visit and explore Yorkshire. Kudos & great post yet again!
Thanks so much! I’m glad to hear you enjoy the Hidden Yorkshire posts! I love discovering hidden gems in Yorkshire and sharing them with others! Thanks for reading!
The sceneries from Hebden Bridge to Heptonstall are so charming! I love the architecture! I never thought that I will be saying this about a graveyard, but I would love to visit that graveyard! The ruins and the churches look stunning! I will definitely save this for my next visit to the UK! 🙂
It is such a picturesque stroll from Hebden Bridge to Heptonstall, isn’t it? It’s a steep climb but the views are worth it! Haha! I have a bit of a weird obsession with graveyards, I find them such peaceful places! I can totally relate to wanting to visit! I hope you’re able to explore Heptonstall soon!
I love it! I am a big fan of these types of church ruins, I visited many in Ireland, but didn’t yet explore enough of England to see any. There’s something hauntingly beautiful about them and this one definitely looks that way.
Oh I agree! Ruins are such fascinating places! They are like a window into the past that we’re clinging on to. They always have such a a fascinating history! I hope you’re able to explore these ruins and others throughout England soon!
Beautiful! This brings back happy memories! I found West Yorkshire countryside is really underrates (compared to the Yorkshire Dales) . Hopefully, it will be possible to come back up North soon!
Ah, I agree! West Yorkshire is known for its industrial history but there are so many charming villages and beautiful countryside that people often overlook! I hope you’re able to visit soon and explore it!
What a gorgeous part of the country. This was where my husband bought his first house, but I have yet to make the journey from the South West. Reading this, I think it is about time to discover the pretty walks of the Yorkshire Dales. Love the fact you can see still the lightning destruction in the churchyard.
It is such a stunning area, isn’t it? What a beautiful place to live! It is well worth exploring when you get the chance! I love that they kept the spire that was stuck down! It is such an interesting feature to hold on to!
These hidden sights look so beautiful!
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Heptonstall is definitely a wonderful Yorkshire hidden gem! Thanks for reading!
There are so many interesting places along the way! It looks really charming and full of history around here! Thanks for all the info!
There are definitely a love of great gems around the Hebden Bridge area! It is such a beautiful and interesting place! I hope you get an opportunity to experience it in person. Thanks for reading!
What a beautiful town and how amazing to think it dates back to the 1200s! I love to explore historical places and especially hidden gems like this one.
Heptonstall is a wonderful hidden gem! It is amazing that such a small place has so much rich history! It is a fascinating place to visit!
Wow the place looks so rustic and little spooky too..would love to visit
Heptonstall is so pretty, it is like stepping back in time! I can see why it might look a little spooky! It certainly didn’t feel it though when we were there, it felt very peaceful.
I’ve never been to Heptonstall but it sounds like it’d be a pretty cool place to visit–so rich with history!!
Heptonstall is such a pretty village! It’s fascinating to uncover so much history in such a small place!
This is a great guide! 🙂 I visited Hebden Bridge last weekend, and I absolutely loved it. I also walked from Hebden Bridge to Heptonstall, but I wish I was wearing better shoes.
Hebden Bridge is such a pretty place, isn’t it? That walk to Heptonstall is a steep one! Good shoes are a must! It’s such a pretty walk though, we loved exploring Heptonstall! Thanks for reading!