Walks and Thoughts

of Michael Simes

An old Man's Tale:

Shelf

Brighouse

West Vale

Clay House

Ripponden

Cragg Vale

Todmorden

Heptonstall

Pecket Well

Luddenden Dean

Jerusalem Farm

Catherine Slack

Stone Chair

It's Just Like Home:

Hong Kong

Auckland

Rotarua

Napier

Picton

Marlborough Sounds

Kaikoura

Milford Sound

Sydney

Manly

Blue Mountains

Northern Beaches

Thailand

A City Of Revolution:

Paris

Versailles

Sacré-Cœur

Notre Dame

Calderdale Way Walks


An Old Man's Tale


Introduction An individual walking guide for the elderly and ageing rambler along the 50 mile trek over the Calderdale Way. A historic retreading of the wildness and history of Calderdale around Todmorden, Mankinholes, Heptonstall, Lumbutts, Pecketwell and Luddenden.
Shelf To Brighouse Our maiden tramp starting a the Stone Chair intermingling suburban sprawl with forays into rural farms, woods and diminutive hamlets.
Brighouse To West Vale A walk from the town centre blending the Calder valley Greenway beside the canal, through woods to be suspended high above Halifax and Elland.
Clay House To Ripponden A hike along the Calder Hebble navigation to the unique canal basin at Salterhebble. Soaring up to Greetland and Norland moors.
Ripponden To Cragg Vale From the floor of the Ryeburn valley clambering up to marvel at the heather moor lands in sweeping perspective.
Cragg Vale To Todmorden A strenuous ramble amidst the wilderness and peaks of Calderdale.
Todmorden To Heptonstall A hard slog raised up to Whirlow Common to be rewarded with inspiring landscape leading to Heptonstall-defended on three sides by steep slopes.
Heptonstall To Pecket Well A short journey of 1 ½ miles prolonged in futile meandering lost in the woods of Hardcastle Crags.
Pecket Well To Luddenden Dean A gruelling trek bathed in cloud in these desolate moors above Bog Eggs where you can be drawn into illegitimate link paths.
Jerusalem Farm To Catherine Slack A climb up to the peat bogs of Warley Moor on to Mount Zion and the highest village in England.
Catherine Slack To Shelf Stone Chair The final chapter is a three mile ramble traversing the Shibden Valley, skirting Northowram and returning to Stone Chair.