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Home> Walks> England> West Yorkshire> Exploring Rishworth Moor

Exploring Rishworth Moor

Recommended by
Our view
"A bracing ramble on old moorland tracks, with extensive views all the way."
Walk directions

Take the path across the dam, a track beyond climbing past a farm to a lane. Turn left and walk for 0.5 miles (800m). Some 50yds (46m) after swinging over a bridge, leave through a waymarked gate in the right-hand wall.

Follow a tumbledown wall uphill towards Blackwood Farm. Entering between outbuildings, walk beyond the farmhouse to a gate at the top of the yard. Walk up the next field to a gate and continue steeply uphill, following the wall on your left. Look for views of the Ryburn Valley as you approach the crest of the hill. You will come to a ladder stile, next to a gate in the wall.
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Location
Nearest postcode:
Additional information
  Terrain  - Moorland paths, may be boggy after rain
  Landscape  - Open moorland
  Dog friendliness  - Keep on lead near livestock
  Parking  - Car park beside A58 at Baitings Reservoir
  Toilets en route  - None on route
Walks in West Yorkshire Dog-friendly walks in West Yorkshire
About the walk
Beginning in the upper reaches of the Ryburn Valley, this walk sets out across the dam of Baitings Reservoir, built in 1956 to supply Wakefield. Climbing Rishworth Moor onto Blackwood Edge, the view opens across the neighbouring valley to the M62 motorway as it rises from Scammonden across the...
Read more
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Walking in Safety

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About the area
Everybody knows that Yorkshire has some special landscapes. The Dales and the Moors first spring to mind, but what about West Yorkshire? That’s Leeds and Bradford isn’t it? Back-to-back houses and blackened mills… Certainly if you had stood on any of the hills surrounding Hebden Bridge a hundred years ago, and gazed down into the valley, all you would have seen was the pall of smoke issuing from the chimneys of 33 textile mills.
Explore West Yorkshire
Area image

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)
Inn
The Fleece Countryside Inn
★★★★★
awardaward
"A warm welcome in a stylishly restored 18th-century inn...."
  • Rooms 7
  • Free TV
  • Wifi
  • Lounge with TV
Self-Catering
Cherry Tree Cottage
★★★★
award
"..."
Self-Catering
Cherry Tree Cottages
★★★★
award
"Traditional stone cottages set in acres of natural heather and woodland..."
  • Total units: 2
  • Private garden
  • Lawn area
  • Garden furniture
Nearby places to stay
The Fleece Countryside Inn
The Fleece is a sympathetically restored 18th-century inn with stunning views over Ripponden and The Calder Valley. The interior has many original features including half-timbered walls...
★★★★★    Rating
Cherry Tree Cottage
Awaiting description...
★★★★    Rating
Cherry Tree Cottages
Cherry Tree Cottages are two warm, traditional stone cottages, set in two acres of natural heather and woodland garden, with extensive views over the South Pennine countryside. Halifax ...
★★★★    Rating
Stormer Hill
Situated in Littleborough in the Upper Roch Valley of the Pennines, Stormer Hill is a luxury holiday apartment in the sensitively converted Bar House, which dates to 1838. There are exc...
★★★    Rating
Stormer Hill
Situated in Littleborough in the Upper Roch Valley of the Pennines, Stormer Hill is a luxury holiday apartment in the sensitively converted Bar House, which dates to 1838. There are exc...
★★★    Rating
Sands Farm Cottage
Sands Farm is a beautifully renovated stone-built cottage set in peaceful countryside, offering picturesque views over the valley. There are two bedrooms, one en suite and the other wit...
★★★★★    Rating
Hollingworth Lake Caravan Park
A popular park adjacent to Hollingworth Lake, at the foot of the Pennines, within easy reach of many local attractions. Backpackers walking the Pennine Way are welcome at this family-ru...
★★★    Rating
The Green Route Apartment
Comfortable, tastefully furnished and close to the town centre in Todmorden, the Green Route Apartment is a perfect spot for exploring the town’s cobbled streets, the Calder Valley and ...
★★★    Rating
View all (8)
Places to eat nearby View all
The Fleece Countryside Inn
   AA Rosette Award
Briar Court Hotel and Venue
The Lantern Room
   AA Rosette Award
Grandpa Greene's Luxury Ice Cream
Places to eat nearby
The Fleece Countryside Inn
   AA Rosette Award
Briar Court Hotel and Venue
The Lantern Room
   AA Rosette Award
Grandpa Greene's Luxury Ice Cream
The Old Bell Inn
The Old Bell Inn
   AA Rosette Award
Shibden Mill Inn
   AA Rosette Award
Shibden Mill Inn
View all
Route details
3hrs
Dog-friendly
Difficulty:
Hard

Gradient:
Challenging


Distance:
7.5 miles (12.1kms)

Ascent:
1115ft (340m)

Stay in the area  
Eat or drink nearby  
Discover more walks in West Yorkshire
If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.
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Exploring Rishworth Moor

Recommended by
Our view
"A bracing ramble on old moorland tracks, with extensive views all the way."
Walk details
3hrs
Dog friendly
Difficulty:
Hard
Gradient:
Challenging
Distance:
7.5 miles (12.1kms)
Ascent:
1115ft (340m)
Walk directions

Take the path across the dam, a track beyond climbing past a farm to a lane. Turn left and walk for 0.5 miles (800m). Some 50yds (46m) after swinging over a bridge, leave through a waymarked gate in the right-hand wall.
1 of 5

Follow a tumbledown wall uphill towards Blackwood Farm. Entering between outbuildings, walk beyond the farmhouse to a gate at the top of the yard. Walk up the next field to a gate and continue steeply uphill, following the wall on your left. Look for views of the Ryburn Valley as you approach the crest of the hill. You will come to a ladder stile, next to a gate in the wall.
2 of 5

Don’t cross, but strike off right over rough moorland; the path is distinct but narrow. Occasional yellow-topped markers confirm the route, which runs roughly parallel to the M62, aiming to the right of a tall mast on the far side of the motorway. After a mile (1.6km), the path begins a gentle descent, giving good views down to Green Withens Reservoir ahead. Keep forward above the head of a gully then over a plank bridge as the path falls across the hill to a bridge spanning a reservoir catchment channel.
3 of 5

Cross and walk right, following this watercourse towards the reservoir. Ignore the next two bridges across, but at the third, which is about 300yds (274m) before the reservoir embankment and waymarked ‘Blackstone Edge and Baitings’, revert to the northern bank. Bear slightly left to follow a path uphill – soon quite steep – before it levels and swings left around Flint Hill. It later curves right to crest the watershed into the Upper Ryburn Valley where there is a junction of paths by a water channel.
4 of 5

Go right here (a sign indicates Baitings Reservoir), continuing to skirt the hill on a good, level path. After a mile (1.6km), watch for a fork marked by a wooden post and bear left, gradually descending towards Baitings Reservoir. When you come to a wall corner, keep straight ahead, following the wall on your left. A developing track leads out to the lane. Go left and take the second right, reversing your outward steps to the car park.
5 of 5
Location
Starting point
Nearest postcode:
Additional information
  Terrain - Moorland paths, may be boggy after rain
  Landscape - Open moorland
  Dog friendliness - Keep on lead near livestock
  Parking - Car park beside A58 at Baitings Reservoir
  Toilets en route - None on route
Walks in West Yorkshire Dog-friendly walks in West Yorkshire
About the walk
Beginning in the upper reaches of the Ryburn Valley, this walk sets out across the dam of Baitings Reservoir, built in 1956 to supply Wakefield. Climbing Rishworth Moor onto Blackwood Edge, the view opens across the neighbouring valley to the M62 motorway as it rises from Scammonden across the...
Read more
Been on this walk placeholder

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more
Walking in Safety placeholder

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more
Get an AA guide placeholder

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more
About the area
Area image
West Yorkshire
Everybody knows that Yorkshire has some special landscapes. The Dales and the Moors first spring to mind, but what about West Yorkshire? That’s Leeds and Bradford isn’t it? Back-to-back houses and blackened mills… Certainly if you had stood on any of the hills surrounding Hebden Bridge a hundred years ago, and gazed down into the valley, all you would have seen was the pall of smoke issuing from the chimneys of 33 textile mills.
Explore West Yorkshire

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)
Inn
The Fleece Countryside Inn
★★★★★
awardaward
"A warm welcome in a stylishly restored 18th-century inn...."
  • Rooms 7
  • Free TV
  • Wifi
  • Lounge with TV
Self-Catering
Cherry Tree Cottage
★★★★
award
"..."
Self-Catering
Cherry Tree Cottages
★★★★
award
"Traditional stone cottages set in acres of natural heather and woodland..."
  • Total units: 2
  • Private garden
  • Lawn area
  • Garden furniture
Nearby places to stay
The Fleece Countryside Inn
The Fleece is a sympathetically restored 18th-century inn with stunning views over Ripponden and The Calder Valley. The interior has many original features including half-timbered walls...
★★★★★    Rating
Cherry Tree Cottage
Awaiting description...
★★★★    Rating
Cherry Tree Cottages
Cherry Tree Cottages are two warm, traditional stone cottages, set in two acres of natural heather and woodland garden, with extensive views over the South Pennine countryside. Halifax ...
★★★★    Rating
Stormer Hill
Situated in Littleborough in the Upper Roch Valley of the Pennines, Stormer Hill is a luxury holiday apartment in the sensitively converted Bar House, which dates to 1838. There are exc...
★★★    Rating
Stormer Hill
Situated in Littleborough in the Upper Roch Valley of the Pennines, Stormer Hill is a luxury holiday apartment in the sensitively converted Bar House, which dates to 1838. There are exc...
★★★    Rating
Sands Farm Cottage
Sands Farm is a beautifully renovated stone-built cottage set in peaceful countryside, offering picturesque views over the valley. There are two bedrooms, one en suite and the other wit...
★★★★★    Rating
Hollingworth Lake Caravan Park
A popular park adjacent to Hollingworth Lake, at the foot of the Pennines, within easy reach of many local attractions. Backpackers walking the Pennine Way are welcome at this family-ru...
★★★    Rating
The Green Route Apartment
Comfortable, tastefully furnished and close to the town centre in Todmorden, the Green Route Apartment is a perfect spot for exploring the town’s cobbled streets, the Calder Valley and ...
★★★    Rating
View all (8)
Places to eat nearby View all
The Fleece Countryside Inn
   AA Rosette Award
Briar Court Hotel and Venue
The Lantern Room
   AA Rosette Award
Grandpa Greene's Luxury Ice Cream
Places to eat nearby
The Fleece Countryside Inn
   AA Rosette Award
Briar Court Hotel and Venue
The Lantern Room
   AA Rosette Award
Grandpa Greene's Luxury Ice Cream
The Old Bell Inn
The Old Bell Inn
   AA Rosette Award
Shibden Mill Inn
   AA Rosette Award
Shibden Mill Inn
View all
Stay in the area  
Eat or drink nearby