Hebden Bridge, the country's first town to declare Walkers Are Welcome

Walkers are in for a warm welcome in a Pennine town next month, as it stages a weekend in celebration of its pioneering status.

Hebden Bridge was the first town to gain the Walkers Are Welcome accolade, and the weekend aims to show just how welcoming this Calderdale settlement is. Thirty guided and led walks are on offer, along with presentations by two outdoor luminaries.

Early birds and night owls are catered for, with a pre-breakfast walk and one at night, for which headtorches will be essential. There will also be all-day trips into the surrounding hills and moors, and short strolls round the town for the less adventurous.

Hebden Bridge was the cradle of early industrialisation and the countryside around the town is rich in archaeology and history. There will also be walks taking in evidence of even earlier activity, including Bronze Age settlements and a mediaeval deer park.

Kate Ashbrook, a patron of Walkers Are Welcome

Kate Ashbrook, a long-time access campaigner and former chairman of the Ramblers, will speak to a gathering and journalist John Manning will give an account of dodging grizzly bears on his journey along the Pacific Crest Trail in America.

Gwen Goddard of Hebden Bridge Walkers’ Action, which is organising the event, said:  “We believe we have something for everyone during these two days. As well as history-themed walks and those to special view points, we have pre-breakfast walks organised, a night-time walk on Saturday night when headtorches will be necessary, and even walks for people learning French and Spanish, where you’ll be able to practise your language skills as you walk.”

The reservoirs and moors of Walshaw Dean, above Hebden Bridge

Hebden Bridge gained its Walkers Are Welcome status in February 2007 and since then more than 30 towns and villages have followed suit.

Ms Goddard said: “Many of our great little independent shops are also supporting the Walkers are Welcome initiative, and will be doing their best to make the weekend a good one for all.”

Trains from Leeds and Manchester will be designated ‘walkers’ specials’, an echo of when the transpennine trains used to disgorge hundreds of ramblers into the countryside as they escaped the toil and grime of the northern industrial cities. A pub quiz will be held on Saturday night, with a walking theme.

The weekend will be held on 12 and 13 September. Most of the events do not need pre-booking and the majority are free. Full details can be found on the Hebden Bridge Walkers’ Action website.