Dewsbury to Cottingley
A moderate walk (countryside) starting and finishing in Kirklees, England, about 14.60km (9.07 mi) long with an estimated walking time of about 4:30h. It is suitable for families with children, but unsuitable for prams & pushchairs, wheelchairs.
Elevation Profile
Ascent
205m (672ft)
Descent
204m (669ft)
Max. Elevation
180m (590ft)
Altitude Gain & Loss
409m (1341ft)
Start
Dewsbury
End
Beeston
Distance
14.60km
(9.07mi)
(9.07mi)
Duration
~4:30h
Difficulty
Moderate
Ordnance Survey Map
2Created by mac.hawk on 05 Feb 2015
An urban/countryside/woodland walk that's absolutely lovely when the bluebells are out. Good views from Crackenedge & Howley Hall. Hard to believe a fine mansion stood where the ruins of Howley Hall are (see http://www.leedsowltrail.com/howley-hall/). Cottingley/Dewsbury are on the Leeds-Huddersfield rail line. Buses from all over West Yorkshire to Dewsbury. No55 bus serves Cottingley rail station.
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- $walk->POI array(0)
Waypoints
OS Grid SE242218
From the train (or bus) station walk through the town centre to take a path to the left of the Town Hall.
OS Grid SE248218
Reach the main road and turn left to reach the traffic lights by Dewsbury Baptist Church.
About 0.53 km (~0.33 miles) from 
OS Grid SE251221
Cross the road to take the A653 Leeds Road (there is signage) uphill towards a set of traffic lights immediately before which turn left into Caulms Wood Road.
About 0.47 km (~0.29 miles) from 
OS Grid SE251221
Enter the parkland and take a path that runs behind the pyramid on the right and follow it for half a mile to a waymarker post.
About 0.06 km (~0.04 miles) from 
OS Grid SE249222
At the waymarker post turn right into the woodland and head uphill to reach steps, go up the steps and then continue to rise ahead to reach a fence by the golf course and turn left.
About 0.21 km (~0.13 miles) from 
OS Grid SE249226
At this point keep to the hill summit plateau and follow the path as it eventually veers right to joint the road at Hanging Heaton.
About 0.46 km (~0.29 miles) from 
OS Grid SE254231
Carry on directly ahead along Kirkgate to pass the church on your right and reach a T-junction.
About 0.74 km (~0.46 miles) from 
OS Grid SE258232
Turn right briefly & just beyond the bus stop turn left into a tarmac road for a few yards then take a stile on the right to enter the field, cross heading slightly right towards a large metal gate.
About 0.36 km (~0.22 miles) from 
OS Grid SE260234
Don't use the gate, use the stile beyond it to the left. Cross the B6126 and take another stile and path/track heading to the right of Grange Farm.
About 0.30 km (~0.19 miles) from 
OS Grid SE263243
Follow the track beyond the farm, rising slightly and just before Cross House Farm veer to left of the farm building to reach a gate leading to the road and turn right briefly.
About 0.94 km (~0.58 miles) from 
OS Grid SE265245
Cross a stile on the left (at the end house) and veer diagonally right across the field to reach the edge of Soothill Wood. Once through the fence take a path heading uphill.
About 0.22 km (~0.14 miles) from 
OS Grid SE263249
At the hill plateau take a (usually muddy) path on the right heading downhill following a fence line. Follow the path as it heads right, through woodland, to reach a road and turn left briefly.
About 0.49 km (~0.3 miles) from 
OS Grid SE257251
Turn left down an obvious path/track and follow the fence line to reach a gate adjacent Howley Hall Golf Course. Once through, follow the path right along the track into the next field.
About 0.62 km (~0.39 miles) from 
OS Grid SE253252
Keep to the high ground to reach the ruins of Howley Hall. Once through the ruins carry on a short distance to then turn left down a wide track and descend towards the railway line.
About 0.40 km (~0.25 miles) from 
OS Grid SE249251
Reach a track and turn right to pass under the railway line to shortly reach Scotchman Lane. Turn right briefly then left into a wayposted track.
About 0.40 km (~0.25 miles) from 
OS Grid SE247254
Follow the path into Birkby Brow Wood and continue along to reach Howden Clough Road and turn right.
About 0.42 km (~0.26 miles) from 
OS Grid SE241270
Follow the road uphill to the road junction traffic lights and cross the road ahead. Turn left to pass the pub on your right.
About 1.67 km (~1.04 miles) from 
OS Grid SE249276
The flyover crosses the M621 just beyond which turn right down Nepshaw Lane.
About 0.99 km (~0.62 miles) from 
OS Grid SE247279
Follow Nepshaw Lane through the industrial estate and thereafter pass the 'horsey fields' on the left to reach a road (Asquith Avenue).
About 0.31 km (~0.19 miles) from 
OS Grid SE254287
Turn right to recross the M621 and then immediately left down Horsefall Street.
About 1.02 km (~0.63 miles) from 
OS Grid SE257287
At the next road junction turn left and follow a path that circles the primary school, leads into a short ginnel and then Crompton Drive.
About 0.33 km (~0.21 miles) from 
OS Grid SE259290
Follow Crompton Drive to the road junction with Hargreaves Close and turn right briefly. Turn left into Arkwright Walk then enter the park at the access point on the right.
About 0.31 km (~0.19 miles) from 
OS Grid SE260289
Once in the park turn left to pass the pond and continue to reach an exit point on Rooms Lane. Turn right very briefly and find an entrance point to woodland, just beyond the electricity substation.
About 0.11 km (~0.07 miles) from 
OS Grid SE261289
Follow the path through the woodland to soon reach a more 'formal' footpath and continue following the stream. Exit the wood and directly cross a road into Daffil Wood.
About 0.11 km (~0.07 miles) from 
OS Grid SE265293
Continue along the path and follow it as it soon veers to the right. Reach a junction and take the left hand fork to shortly exit the wood and rise a short incline.
About 0.58 km (~0.36 miles) from 
OS Grid SE268298
At the far end of the small hill descend to the left through a gap in the hedge and initially follow the hedge on your right before passing through open field to reach a wide track.
About 0.51 km (~0.32 miles) from 
OS Grid SE270301
At the track turn right for a hundred yards to reach tarmac road and housing. Take the first left up Digpal Road near the top of which veer right to reach the railway station.
About 0.36 km (~0.22 miles) from 
Cottingley Railway StationOS Grid SE272303
Walk is approx 10 miles long.
About 0.28 km (~0.17 miles) from 
