Heatherwood Farm

Heatherwood Farm lies in the beautiful Shibden Valley on the outskirts of Halifax.

Walks at Heatherwood

A Short Walk to Heatherwood Cottage

For those who don’t want to go far or who have never visited the cottage, this is a short stroll for you.

The cottage is about 100 metres up the main road from the farm. For over 10 years it has been used as a base for our counselling work and it is also used by individuals and groups. We are privileged to have the use of such a place and it is certainly worth spending some time there. Please try and keep the sense of peace while you are there allowing those who wish the opportunity for quiet.

Directions: Walk up the main road to the next junction which is a crossroad, Heatherwood Cottage is the tall property that overlooks the junction. Steps to the left of the post box lead to the back door.

Walks Around Heatherwood Farm

There are a number of paths over the land and a walk can be made as short or as long as you like. Heatherwood is a place where we hope the love of God is experienced rather than taught, use the walk to experience what God is saying to you today.

Take the main track out of the farm yard past the hen hut through the small paddock. At the gate watch the mud if it has been wet, water tends to collect here. Continue up the track through the field on to the next gate. From here you get a good view of Shibden valley. Take time to stop be quiet and enjoy the view. It is good to listen to the sounds around and to feel the wind (or rain!).

Continue along the main track, below is the day school and above you will recognise why Heatherwood was so named. Pass the holly bushes on the right generally we get a good crop of berries around Christmas time. Through another gateway the track begins to fall, at the fork take the upward slope to what we have named ‘Holy Hollow’. This is our dumping hollow although it seems never to get full! (Is there a lesson there?).

As well as physical rubbish we know there are things in our lives that we need to dump from time to time, this is the perfect place to do it ! Take some time to consider yourself if there are elements in your life that could go.

Beyond ‘holy hollow’ is the far field which in the past was the only field flat enough to be cut for hay! The end of the field borders on Tod wood which is the boundary of Heatherwood. Up above you the land rises to the boundary with a stone quarry on the top of the hill.

From here you can retrace the walk back to the farm yard or alternatively whilst still heading back towards the farm take one of the well worn paths through the heather.

If you take one of the higher paths about half way up the heatherland this path will lead through the trees bringing you out in the top field overlooking the farm. You should continue on the path up the field and through the wall into Hawes Lane. From here you will get good views over the valley with Halifax beyond. If you come down the road there is a stile next to the big tree on the left before the farmhouse. From here cut across the paddock to the barn.