Welcome to the website of
Denby Dale "Walkers are Welcome"
Steering Group
Set up by a small band of outdoor enthusiasts in 2009, the Group is working towards
accreditation for the Denby Dale area under the national Walkers are
Welcome Scheme.
Having already held a number of public meetings and having discussed our proposals with the Walkers are Welcome organisation, we intend to submit our formal application shortly.
So, it's hopefully only a matter of time before we are accredited as full members of the growing WaW movement. Denby Dale Parish will then join villages, towns and areas - such as Otley, Hebden Bridge and Market Weighton - in officially welcoming and positively encouraging peaceful recreational access to our diverse local villages and attractive surrounding countryside, on foot.
The WAW 'brand' is part of a national movement which aims to raise the profile of great places to walk in Britain. Local accreditation is designed to attract more walkers to the area and to encourage more local residents to take advantage of the many opportunities for exploring our undulating local countryside with its spectacular long views and interesting skies.
Benefits of WaW status include health improvements (walking is one of the best ways of taking regular exercise), additional trade for local businesses, raised 'profile' for the area as a tourist & business destination and encouragement of greater public transport use (thus possibly avoiding reductions in service).
Therefore, whilst visitors are at liberty to reach the area by any means they wish, we particularly recommend and promote the use of public transport whenever possible.
As part of our preparations for WaW accreditation, a number of walk/trail leaflets (see below) have been prepared or revised and reprinted, giving details of enjoyable walks in and around the various villages which make up the very scenic civil parish of Denby Dale.
The walking opportunites around here are excellent, so we hope you'll come and explore the area if you are not local! The leaflets include maps and provide details of local transport, places of interest, local history, etc. There are approximately hourly daytime/evening trains to Denby Dale station from Huddersfield, Barnsley, Penistone and Sheffield. Buses also serve the area from (for example) Huddersfield, Wakefield, Holmfirth and Penistone.
We are also as part of the WaW project working to improve many of the local public rights of way and to this end we've purchased and installed (with funding received) various new stiles, gates, benches and the like. Waymarking discs for the various walks are now in place where necessary.
Denby Dale occupies much of the rural southern part of Kirklees Metropolitan Borough, in West Yorkshire (UK). Kirklees Metropolitan Council also supports our aims, as do many other organisations (see logos at foot of page).
Although independent of the the local Parish Council, we have its blessing and support in what we are doing for the benefit of Denby Dale area (including a small amount of funding and use of meeting facilities).
WALK LEAFLETS
Various walk leaflets can be obtained from local outlets but
they can also be downloaded free of charge from the links on our Leaflets Page (click here). NB. The titles of the walks are mostly self-explanatory.
Click here for LINKS to other useful websites
Click here for current PENISTONE LINE RAIL TIMETABLE (serves Denby Dale station)
PROPOSED LOCAL WALKING FESTIVAL and associated JOB ADVERTISEMENT:
The East Peak Innovation Partnership is offering a commission for the planning and management of a walking festival to run for 5 days from Wednesday to Sunday sometime between mid-May to end June 2013.EPIP is inviting tenders for the planning and management of a walking festival to run for 5 days from Wednesday to Sunday sometime between mid-May to end June 2013 - please click here for further details.
This website will be improved and extended over time so PLEASE WATCH THIS SPACE FOR UPDATES, PHOTOS AND NEWS
Contact the Webmaster
Last revised: 7th March 2012
Project actively assisted and supported by:
