Meet Report: 25-27 April at the Hebden Hey Scout Centre, nestled in the wooded valley above Hebden Bridge in Calderdale, West Yorkshire. This offered basic hostel accommodation with bunk rooms and a kitchen off a main communal room that could well double up as an activity space for scouts on inclement days.

Everyone arrived at various times on Friday, some eating in, some eating out with various hostelries and chippies available within a few miles.

Prior to arrival Helen and Michael Smith walked a round from Todmorden over Stoodley Pike, chancing upon Mark Rothwell cycling by the canal on his way in.

Mark had a reasonably easy day’s cycle ride in great weather from Bury to Hebden Bridge along the Rochdale canal. Once out of Rochdale and away from its less salubrious parts and characters it was quite a nice ride, the only problem was avoiding stopping in the flesh pot that is Todmorden for drinks in the sun. 42.7 km, 339 m ascent, 2.54 hrs.

Steve and Wendy Richards arrived early afternoon at Hebden Hey, so as to allow time for climbing later that day at Heptonstall Quarry; it meant that they were able to bag the ‘Honeymoon Suite’ (as later described by Conrad) – in reality a two bunk room with slightly questionable mattresses. After a quick hoover of all the dorms and mattresses, and lunch, they walked up to Heptonstall Quarry. Disappointed at the amount of broken glass everywhere and the intimidating feel to the quarry, they settled on some shorter climbs on the Right-Hand Outcrop. Both found it a tough challenging afternoon of climbing.

Saturday was a dry cool day with a moderate breeze and after breakfast those assembled set about their activities for the day.

Steve and Wendy had a delightful wander around the reservoirs (Gorple, Widdop and Walshaw Dean) on the moors above the Scout Centre. Beautiful ‘remote feeling’ scenery all the way on varied tracks, old worn paved ways and footpaths. They took a lunch time detour to visit Nick and Conrad climbing at Widdop, well-timed to witness Conrad’s ‘belly crawl’ on a ledge under a very low overhang. They then left to complete their route accompanied by yet more cuckooing (having already spotted a cuckoo earlier) ending with a descent off the moors through the early bluebells of Hardcastle Crags valley. The only downside of the day was missing a well earned cup of tea at the Gibson Mill café by ten minutes.

Beverley, Nick (PM) and Conrad decided on a day’s climbing and went to Widdop where Mystery Buttress captures the attention. Clad in green and brown hues, this magnificent outcrop is home to many routes ranging from VDiff to E1.  After surveying the rock, it was decided to initially put up a top rope with which Nick skilfully navigated Birtwhistle’s Crack (VS 4c) which involved hand jamming a vertical offset crack for approximately 12m out the total of 24m.

The major project of the day was the classic Ordinary Route (V Diff). First ascended in 1929, the route was originally climbed in four pitches; judging by the amount of rope drag, this is still a good idea. This fantastic route, given 2 stars was a challenge from start to finish, involving cracks, ledges and even a belly traverse, easy for Nick, less so for Conrad. Nick led the route in style followed by Conrad with less style and speed. By this point, Bev’s interest in climbing had waned and she went for a walk around the reservoir.

Mark had a rude awakening cycling up the very steep hills out of Hebden Bridge (had to push), then rolling hills all day as he went through Sowerby Bridge, the outskirts of Halifax, Mount Tabor, Wainstalls then along Withins and Cold Edge to the masts and windmills at Withins and Warley Moor reservoir, then  a good downhill to Oxenhope and onto a busy Howarth. Returning the same way it was now a hard climb back out of Oxenhope over Oxenhope Moor/Cock Hill and down into Hebden via Packet Well and Old Town, negotiating yet again the steep Heptonstall road out of Hebden back to the Scout Hut – a hard day 56.2 km, 1272m ascent, 4.28 hrs.

Helen and Michael Smith, Steve McCain, Richard Taylor and Stuart Dix walked a tortuous route linking local OS-map-marked ‘visitor attractions’. Up to the Wadsworth Monument (war memorial above Midgehole), north to Lumb Hole waterfall (passing through gardens and farms), south by Crimsworth Dean up to Abel Cross (post-medieval marker stone), down and west to Gibson Mill, through woodland to scramble Hardcastle Crags (spotting John and Carol way below), across Blake Dean bridge and south to Standing Stone Hill (stone replaced by a trig point aka Hotine pillar), thence by the Pennine Way to Heptonstall (where they lost Steve McCain to visit the Hell Hole climbing quarry. The rest descended to the Blue Pig to join Carol and John for refreshment before returning to the accommodation. Richard stayed behind to wait for some Breton musicians to strike up; he arrived back just in time for dinner.

Martyn T, Neil West (PM), Robert C and Mark Longmore (PM) decided to do a circular route from the hut that would unfold as they went, depending on how they felt. They managed to circle the hut twice at differing levels before finally locating a track to take them to Gibson Mill and across Hebden Water towards Hardcastle Crags where they had a bit of a scramble and look round. Then walked on through Walshaw Woods to Black Dean crossing a footbridge where they found evidence of the area’s industrial past before crossing the water again for a short bit of road then went over a stile and joined the track onto the end of King Common Rough.

From here they headed up to join the Pennine Way and onto Clough Head Hill, Green Hill and Down to High Gate finding a very convenient café and well stocked local shop for local people where refreshments were taken before walking down to The New Delight at Jack Bridge where a pint of local ale was enjoyed. After this, a leisurely walk to Heptonstall was undertaken down Colden Clough, crossing Colden Water and via Eaves Wood, full of British Bluebells, to the village where they saw Steve McCain still looking for Hell Hole Quarry! After a look at the churchyard, they joined Conrad, Beverley and Nick in The White Lion before the walk back through Hebden Wood to the Scout Centre where Mark and Robert enjoyed the outdoor adventure facilities.

In the evening, once Richard had appeared from his music fest, we were treated to the delights of Bev and Conrad’s hosting including an introduction to Chicken Chilli for many of us. Very tasty it was too. Much discussion of the day’s activities ensued along with plans for Sunday, and the last of the stocks of YRC fleeces were finally cleared, thanks to Stuart.

After breakfast on Sunday the clear up began before those assembled moved onto journeys onwards and activities for the day.

The current volunteer wardens at Hebden Hey camp remembered YRC member David Bull who was warden there for many years and familiar with the local climbs.

On Sunday, for Mark R the return back to Bury looked like it might be the hardest day – going back via Cragg Vale from Mytholmroyd which claims to be the longest continual ascent in England; 968 feet of climbing in 5.5 miles with an average gradient of just over 3%. It was a long climb, but ok. The downhill back into Littleborough was great though, where he rejoined the Rochdale canal and his outward journey –  43.0 km, 482m of ascent, 2.54hrs.

Together with Michael and Helen, Richard, Nick, Conrad and Bev, Steve and Wendy drove the short distance to Widdop Reservoir. A short walk on the north side took everyone to the sunny aspect of Scout Buttress and an ample range of short climbs. Helen departed for a solo walk amongst the noisy cuckoos whilst various climbs were completed on typical gritstone problems, with a glorious sunny backdrop across Widdop south beyond Stoodley Pike to the High Peak. Bev was pleased to complete ‘Grey Buttress Chimney’ (D), whilst ‘Pulpit Route’ (VD), ‘Gargoyle Chimney’ (D), ‘The Big Crack’ (VD) and ‘The River’ (D) all provided various lead, second and top rope challenges. Relatively new to trad climbing, Nick took the plunge and completed the tough looking ‘Block and Arete’ (VS), before the group finished on ‘Akela’s Boil’ (VD) – a fitting end to a stay at the Scout Hut and climbs on Scout Buttress, though not without a few too many ribald comments and jokes about the obvious protuberance essential to completing the climb (well at least a hex could be wedged against it – that’s probably enough detail…)!  The group dispersed for the journey home with Nick detouring for an abseil down Mystery Buttress to thankfully retrieve a missing piece of protection left behind the previous day. The location, social climbing and good weather made for a memorable day for all.  

Our thanks to Beverley and Conrad, assisted by John J for laying on a great weekend.

Attending:

Conrad Tetley, Bev Eastwood, Neil West (PM), Richard Taylor, Mark Longmore (PM), Mark Rothwell, Steve Richards, Wendy Richards, Nick Crapnell (PM), Helen Smith, Michael Smith, Steve McCain, Robert Crowther, John Jenkins, Stuart Dix, Carol Whalley, John Whalley, Martyn Trasler.