Mytholmroyd Stile
Former Clog Factory
Mytholmroyd Sheep
Churn Milk JoanMytholmroyd is well known for being the birthplace of controversial Poet Laureate Ted Hughes, husband of the famous Sylvia Path. They also host an annual 'Dock Pudding' competition that have seen some famous faces enter. There is also a fab summer festival every July.
The town has a railway station and actively promotes walking, so is perfect for visitors. It has ramped access and a car park for easy travel - bear in mind that it is unstaffed though. The town's only 1 mile from Hebden Bridge and handy for other major towns like Todmorden. Cricket fans can see a game or two played at the local club and antiquers can enjoy the Sunday fair where you can pick up a huge variety of collectibles.
Mytholmroyd's moors, hills and forests inspired the work of Ted Hughes. He enjoyed early success, but struggled with a turbulent personal life, which included the suicide of two wives, both prompted by his seemingly compulsive infidelity. His work chronicling the brutal beauty of nature still inspires poets today, who draw on his style of stark, majestic lyricism - generally without the rampant misogyny of poems like 'A Cranefly in September'.
His collection "the Remains of Elmet" is about the Calder Valley, near Mytholmroyd. Elmet was said to be an ancient Celtic kingdom, and today the Elmet Trust celebrate the works of Ted Hughes. They host an October writing festival, and have refurbished Hughes' 1930's house into a writer's retreat. The Trust also give film screenings and seminars as well as poetry events and guided walks.
There are three way marked walks, all starting from the train station. Walks can be downloaded from the Mytholmroyd Walker's Action website, which gives a brief overview of difficulty and time needed. Wood Top is the easiest for mixed abilities, taking you through an ancient hand weaving hamlet and past an old clog factory. You may even see some deer if you're lucky - and definitely sheep.
Scout Rock walk will take you about 2 1/2 miles, past the Methodist Church. The path has disintegrated and is not really suitable for those with limited mobility. It will take you past the birthplace of Ted Hughes, through glorious meadows and woods. The spectacular views eventually give way to the romantic canal, and back to the station.
The most challenging walk is the Churn Milk Joan route. After walking about a mile, you will see a commemorative stone set up to the 'Coiners'; a notorious counterfeit gang in the past. Next the imposing Brearley Chapel appears. Follow the way marked signs (be aware there is a moderately steep climb) and you will soon see Midgley Chapel. Head across the moor and you will soon see Churn Milk Joan, a 17 century standing stone, said to have been set up to settle a border dispute. It was immortalised by Ted Hughes.
