Midweek Marauders : Brighouse Bound

Wednesday 23rd July 2025 Brighouse Bound

It was to pastures new for the Lads today, as their adventure would take them to the West Yorkshire town of Brighouse. A town that they have often bypassed on many a train journey in this area, never giving it a second thought. But today for Malcolm, John, Derek, Dave, Brian, Colin and Mark that would change, instead they did exit the trains and make for the town centre. Their mission was to take a walk along side the Calder and Hebble Navigation heading westbound, this turned out to be a most pleasurable experience to say the least.

It was about 11:00 am when the gang all gathered at the railway station here in Brighouse and soon we were making strides towards the canal side pathway which is situated just the other side of the river Calder.

The first few hundred yards of this journey have altered slightly due to rebuilding work being carried out at the moment, but before not too long we were along side the canal and experiencing this wonderful setting, huge weeping willow trees adorning either sides for this first stretch of our journey. Quite a few wild blackberry bushes in this section, this giving us a reminder of our dear friend Eddie who would have tried a couple or two.

On now towards our first interesting structure that of Ganny Lock at this point we cross over the canal by the typical stone footbridge and take a respite stop seated on the lock gate swing arm as a friendly fellow walker kindly takes a photo of our marauding group, this spot is quite a picturesque place giving you the full aspects of the canal system etc.

Onwards now and both the river and canal take a sharp left hand turn as we head towards some factory buildings, we have covered about a mile or so, the pathway as turned into a roadway at this point and leads us over the canal again before we leave the roadway and rejoin the towpath which yet again leads us to another interesting place, that of Brookfoot Lock

, at this point we cross over the canal again and begin to pass a few canal boats that have taken advantage of mooring here, one of these boats is offering sandwiches and drinks for sale giving an ideal opportunity for us to make a few purchases and rest for a while etc. Some twenty minutes later we are on our way again and pass by Cromwell Lock, here we catch a glimpse of a canal boat passing through the system here, we carry on and it’s not too far to the point where we will about turn and head back towards Brighouse.

The first part of our return journey is by a wooded pathway alongside the nature reserve here in this location, we rejoin the canal towpath some point near Brookfoot Lock and retrace our steps back into the town. Once we reach Brighouse it’s off to the well renowned Blakeleys fish and chip restaurant for a well deserved lunchtime meal , excellent choice and so was this entire adventure.

With the time now approaching 2:15 pm it’s back to the railway station and await the arrival of our transport taking us homeward bound.