A Circular Walk Around Mytholmroyd

Michael Palmer
Dec 18, 2025
8 min read

Updated: Aug 5

Mytholmroyd Circular Walk – 4.51 Easy Miles in West Yorkshire

Looking for an easy circular walk around Mytholmroyd? This 4.51-mile Mytholmroyd Circular Walk takes you from the village up Scout Hill, across the countryside above the Calder Valley and down towards Cragg Vale, with some lovely views along the way.

Lyn and I personally walked, photographed and GPS recorded this route for The White Shire. We found it to be an enjoyable and relatively easy walk overall, although there is a steady climb up Scout Hill near the beginning.

One of our favourite parts was reaching Cragg Vale and stopping at the Robin Hood for a well-earned drink before making our way back towards Mytholmroyd.

A quick note about our GPS route: there is a small section missing from the recorded walk – a mistake on my part – and an additional section that isn't necessary. The walk up Cragg Road was simply our detour to the Robin Hood. Very nice it was too!

Discover more West Yorkshire circular walks

Mytholmroyd Circular Walk at a Glance

Distance: 4.51 miles

Route type: Circular

Difficulty: Easy overall, with a steady climb at the beginning

Location: Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire

Area: Calderdale / Calder Valley

Nearby: Hebden Bridge, Cragg Vale and Sowerby Bridge

Terrain: Country lanes, paths, tracks and hillside countryside

Highlights: Scout Hill, Calder Valley views, Cragg Vale, surrounding Pennine countryside and a possible pub stop

Route note: Our GPS recording contains a small missing section and an unnecessary additional section

Walked and photographed by: Michael and Lyn Palmer, The White Shire

About the Mytholmroyd Circular Walk

At 4.51 miles, this is a good distance for an enjoyable few hours exploring the countryside around Mytholmroyd.

Lyn and I found the walk relatively easy overall.

There is a steady climb at the beginning as you head up Scout Hill, so don't interpret "easy" as completely flat.

Once you've gained some height, though, you're rewarded with some lovely views across the Calder Valley.

That's one of the things we particularly enjoyed about this walk.

Mytholmroyd sits deep within the valley, surrounded by steep hills, so gaining a little height completely changes your perspective on the surrounding landscape.

Climbing Scout Hill

Starting from Mytholmroyd, Lyn and I headed upwards towards Scout Hill.

It's a steady climb, but there's no need to rush.

As you gain height, the views begin to open out behind you.

The village gradually drops away below and the wider Calder Valley starts to reveal itself.

We found the climb worthwhile simply for the change in scenery.

Once you're higher up, you can appreciate just how dramatic this part of West Yorkshire really is.

Across the Tops Above Mytholmroyd

After the initial climb, the character of the walk changes.

The landscape opens out and you're able to enjoy views both up and down the Calder Valley.

Rolling hills, fields, stone walls and scattered properties create the classic Pennine landscape associated with this part of Yorkshire.

This was one of those sections where Lyn and I found ourselves stopping simply to look at the view.

We're never particularly interested in completing a walk as quickly as possible.

If there's a good view, an interesting building or something else worth looking at, we'll stop.

That's half the point of being out there.

Mytholmroyd: A Brief History

Mytholmroyd is a village in the Upper Calder Valley between Hebden Bridge and Sowerby Bridge.

Its unusual name has ancient origins, while the surrounding valley has been occupied and worked for centuries.

For much of its early history, the area consisted of scattered farms and small settlements.

Water would eventually transform everything.

The fast-flowing streams and rivers of the Calder Valley provided power for mills, helping turn communities such as Mytholmroyd into important centres of textile production.

If you enjoy discovering the history behind the places Lyn and I explore, discover West Yorkshire attractions and historic places to visit.

Mytholmroyd and the Textile Industry

The Industrial Revolution dramatically changed Mytholmroyd and the surrounding Calder Valley.

Water power had already been used for smaller-scale industry, but increasingly large mills were constructed along the valley.

Textile production became particularly important.

The steep hillsides restricted where buildings could be constructed, resulting in mills, houses, roads, the canal and later the railway all competing for space along the narrow valley floor.

You can still see the influence of that industrial development in Mytholmroyd today.

It's one of the things that makes walking around the Calder Valley so interesting.

The countryside can feel wild and rural, yet you're rarely far from evidence of Yorkshire's industrial past.

Mytholmroyd and the Rochdale Canal

Another major feature of the Calder Valley is the Rochdale Canal.

The canal crosses the Pennines between Manchester and Sowerby Bridge, where it connects with the Calder and Hebble Navigation.

For communities along the valley, waterways provided an important means of transporting raw materials and finished goods.

Today the canal has a very different character.

Its towpath provides an excellent walking route through the Calder Valley and gives Lyn and me another way of exploring the area.

We actually have another White Shire walk following the canal between Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge, so there's plenty more walking to discover around here.

Ted Hughes and Mytholmroyd

Mytholmroyd is also famous as the birthplace of one of Britain's best-known poets, Ted Hughes.

Hughes was born at 1 Aspinall Street in Mytholmroyd on 17 August 1930.

He spent his early childhood exploring the surrounding countryside, including Redacre Wood and the Rochdale Canal.

Those early experiences of the Yorkshire landscape and its wildlife would have a lasting influence on his writing.

Hughes eventually became Poet Laureate in 1984.

Knowing that the hills, woods and waterways around Mytholmroyd helped inspire one of Britain's major poets adds another layer of interest when you're exploring the area on foot.

Down Towards Cragg Vale

From the higher ground, our route began descending towards Cragg Vale.

Cragg Vale is a beautiful narrow valley running south from Mytholmroyd into the surrounding Pennine hills.

Like Mytholmroyd, its history is closely connected with water-powered industry.

Mills and workers' cottages once occupied the valley, using the streams flowing from the surrounding hills.

Today it's much quieter.

The combination of old stone buildings, woodland, water and steep valley sides makes it a particularly attractive part of Calderdale.

Cragg Vale and Cragg Road

Cragg Road is well known amongst cyclists.

The road rises continuously from Mytholmroyd through Cragg Vale towards the higher Pennine countryside and has become famous as one of Britain's notable road cycling climbs.

The area received even more attention when the Tour de France Grand Départ came through Yorkshire in 2014.

Fortunately, Lyn and I weren't cycling up it.

Walking was quite enough.

Our route brought us onto Cragg Road before we headed towards a particularly welcome stopping point.

A Stop at the Robin Hood

The walk up Cragg Road took us to the Robin Hood.

And yes, this was partly responsible for the extra section you'll see on our GPS recording.

We thought it was worth it.

The Robin Hood is tucked into Cragg Vale and made a very pleasant place to stop, rest our legs and have a drink before continuing the walk.

For Lyn and me, a pub or café stop can be part of the enjoyment of a walk rather than something that needs avoiding.

We're out to enjoy Yorkshire, not set a speed record.

If you're following our route, you don't need to include this additional section unless you fancy doing the same.

Returning to Mytholmroyd

After our stop in Cragg Vale, we made our way back towards Mytholmroyd to complete the circular walk.

The return gives you another opportunity to appreciate the shape of the valley and the countryside surrounding the village.

By the time we arrived back, we'd covered approximately 4.51 miles.

It's a relatively short route, but the climb, views, local history and Cragg Vale give it plenty of variety.

Is the Mytholmroyd Circular Walk Difficult?

We found it easy overall.

However, there is a steady climb up Scout Hill near the beginning.

If you're expecting a completely flat 4.51-mile walk, this isn't it.

Once you've gained height, though, we found the route enjoyable and manageable.

As always, weather can change conditions considerably.

Paths can become muddy or slippery after prolonged rain, so we'd recommend sensible walking footwear.

How Long is the Mytholmroyd Circular Walk?

Our GPS-recorded route is approximately 4.51 miles.

How long you'll need depends on your pace and how often you stop.

The climb at the beginning may slow things down slightly, and you'll probably want to stop to enjoy some of the views.

And if you follow Lyn and me to the Robin Hood, you'll obviously need to allow a little longer.

We're certainly not going to tell you how long that particular section should take!

Where is Mytholmroyd?

Mytholmroyd is situated in the Upper Calder Valley in West Yorkshire.

It lies between Hebden Bridge and Sowerby Bridge within the Calderdale district.

Halifax is also within easy reach.

The village has its own railway station, making it one of the Yorkshire locations where exploring the area without relying entirely on a car is possible.

Its position makes this an interesting option if you're searching for circular walks near Hebden Bridge, Halifax or Sowerby Bridge.

Is Mytholmroyd Good for Walking?

We think it's an excellent base for exploring the Calder Valley.

You have hills, woodland, countryside, the Rochdale Canal and neighbouring Hebden Bridge all within a relatively small area.

The steep-sided valley also means you don't necessarily need to walk huge distances before finding impressive views.

We've completed several walks around Mytholmroyd, and each one has shown us a slightly different side of the area.

Is Mytholmroyd Worth Visiting?

Yes.

Even if you're not planning a particularly long walk, Mytholmroyd makes a good starting point for exploring the Calder Valley.

There's industrial heritage, the Rochdale Canal, Ted Hughes connections and some lovely countryside.

Hebden Bridge is also only a short distance away, making it easy to combine the two if you're planning a fuller day out in Calderdale.

For other ideas while you're in the area, see what's on in West Yorkshire.

When is the Best Time to Walk Around Mytholmroyd?

The Calder Valley has something to offer throughout much of the year.

Spring and summer bring greener hillsides and longer daylight hours, while autumn can be particularly attractive as the trees change colour.

The area's steep terrain and Pennine weather mean conditions can change quickly.

Following heavy rain, paths may become muddy or slippery, so we'd always check the forecast before setting off.

A Note About Our GPS Route

We want to make this particularly clear before anyone follows our recording.

There is a small section missing from our GPS route due to a mistake on my part.

There's also an additional section that isn't necessary for completing the main circular walk.

That extra bit was our walk up Cragg Road to visit the Robin Hood.

So use our GPS recording as a guide, but look at the route carefully before setting off rather than following it blindly.

That's good advice for any GPS walking route, including ours.

Explore More of West Yorkshire

If you've enjoyed discovering Mytholmroyd, there are plenty more places to explore with us around West Yorkshire.

Discover more West Yorkshire circular walks and find another route personally walked, photographed and GPS recorded by Michael and Lyn.

Or explore our complete collection of Yorkshire circular walks, covering routes across West, North, South and East Yorkshire.

Looking for somewhere else to explore? Discover West Yorkshire attractions and interesting places to visit.

You can also see what's on in West Yorkshire for events, shows, festivals and ideas for another day out.

About Michael and Lyn

Michael and Lyn Palmer explore Yorkshire together on foot, personally walking, photographing and GPS recording the routes featured on The White Shire.

Our walking guides combine first-hand experience with practical route information, local history and the character of the towns, villages and countryside we discover along the way.

We're not professional hikers – we simply enjoy getting out together, finding somewhere interesting to walk and discovering more of Yorkshire as we go.

Mytholmroyd is somewhere we've enjoyed exploring more than once, and this walk gives you a lovely mixture of Calder Valley countryside, views, local history and – if you fancy following our detour – a very pleasant pub stop.