October is the month for walking in the woods and relishing the spectacular autumn colours as the leaves turn russet and gold. The steep wooded dales around Hebden Bridge are stunning at this time of year, particularly Hardcastle Crags and Crimsworth Dean, where many of these photos were taken.
- Spectacular autumn colours in Crimsworth Dean
- Autumn foliage in Crimsworth Dean
- Beech leaves in Crimsworth Dean
- Autumn foliage in Crimsworth Dean
- Overgrown dam in Crimsworth Dean
- Path through the woods in Crimsworth Dean
- Crimsworth Dean Beck in full flow
- Walking through the woods in Crimsworth Dean
- Autumn colours by one of the dams in Crimsworth Dean
- Crimsworth Dean
- Crimsworth Dean
- Spectacular autumn colours in Crimsworth Dean
- Crimsworth Dean
- Crimsworth Dean
- Crimsworth Dean
- Autumn colours in Crimsworth Dean near Midgehole
- Autumn in Crimsworth Dean below Shackleton Hill
- Beech trees in Pecket Well Clough
- Beech trees in Pecket Well Clough
- Packhorse track through Pecket Well Clough
- Bracken in the woods in Pecket Well Clough
- Looking down on Hardcastle Crags from Pecket Well War Memorial
- Pecket Well War Memorial, Heptonstall Church and Stoodley Pike
- Beech wood in Crimsworth Dean
- Vibrant autumn colours in Crimsworth Dean
- Steep-sided slopes of inCrimsworth Dean
- Blazing autumn colours at Wheat Ing inCrimsworth Dean
- Crimsworth Dean Beck from packhorse bridge at Wheat Ing
- Trees spilling over dam in Crimsworth Dean
- Autumn colours by the dam in Crimsworth Dean
- Path through Crimsworth Dean
- Woodland path through Crimsworth Dean
- Overgrown dam in Crimsworth Dean
- Fallen trees and spectacular autumn beech leaves in Crimsworth Dean
- Autumn foliage in Crimsworth Dean
- Early morning autumn sunrise from Limers Gate on Wadsworth Moor above Pecket Well
- An autumn walk at Fountain's Abbey
- A day out at Fountain's Abbey, near Ripon
- Fountain's Abbey
- Fountain's Abbey
- Deer park at Studley Royal, near Ripon
- Late afternoon sunshine on autumn foliage by the lake at Studley Royal
- Scout Hall in Shibden Dale near Halifax
- Wooded valley floor in Shibden Dale
- Dramatic landscape in Shibden Dale, near Shibden Hall, Halifax, home of 'Gentleman Jack'
- Lovely autumn colours in Shibden Dale near Halifax
- Mellow autumn hues in Shibden Dale
- Shibden Dale
- Hardcastle Crags near Hebden Bridge
- Hebden Water in Hardcastle Crags
- Autumn foliage by Hebden Water in Hardcastle Crags
- Autumn foliage by Hebden Water in Hardcastle Crags
- Beech trees in Hardcastle Crags
- The ravine-like gorge of Hardcastle Crags
- Auturmn colours in the National Trust estate of Hardcastle Crags
- October is the time for fungi in Hardcastle Crags
- Racing river in Hardcastle Crags
- Autumn foliage in Hardcastle Crags
- Weir on Hebden Water in Hardcastle Crags
- View from the top of 'the Crags' in Hardcastle Crags
- Rocky outcrops in Hardcastle Crags
- View from the top of Hardcastle Crags
- Autumn oak leaves in Hardcastle Crags
- 'The Crags' in Hardcastle Crags
- View from 'the Crags' in the National Trust estate of Hardcastle Crags
- Waterfall in Hardcastle Crags
- Walking through the autumn bracken in Hardcastle Crags
- Graining Water at Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Looking down on Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Autumn colours in Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- View from Widdop Gate near Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Autumn foliage in Hardcastle Crags
- Hebden Water in Hardcastle Crags
- Autmn in Hardcastle Crags
- Pockets of mist in Crimsworth Dean with Stoodley Pike beyond
- Pockets of autumn mist in Crimsworth Dean
- Lumb Falls in Crimsworth Dean
- Lumb Falls 'roaring' after heavy rain
- Lumb Falls in Crimsworth Dean
- Mist clearing below Pecket Well
- View from Elmet Farmhouse with Heptonstall obscured by the mist
- Stone-paved packhorse track up through the woods near Mideghole
- Riverside path through Crimsworth Dean
- Dam in Crimsworth Dean
- Sheep grazing in the meadow at Elmet Farmhouse in Pecket Well
- Crimsworth Dean Beck from packhorse bridge at Wheat Ing
- Fabulous fungi in Crimsworth Dean
- Crimsworth Dean Beck near Midegehole
- Crimsworth Dean Beck after heavy rain
- Fungi in Crimsworth Dean
- Fungi in Crimsworth Dean
- Fungi in Crimsworth Dean
- Fungi in Crimsworth Dean
- Fungi in Crimsworth Dean
- Stoodley Pike on Langfield Edge
- Stoodley Pike and Heptonstall from Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well
- Stoodley Pike with Pecket Well Clough in the valley
- Splendid autumn view from Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well
- Pastoral scene in Crimsworth Dean
- Stoodley Pike from Grain Farm in Crimsworth Dean
- Footpath sign in Crimsworth Dean
- Thrush feasting on rowan berries in Crimsworth Dean
- Early morning autumn sunshine in Crimsworth Dean
- Crimsworth Dean
- Autumn foliage in Crimsworth Dean
- Old Town Mill from Crimsworth Dean
- Autumn in Crimsworth Dean
- Hebden Dale near Hardcastle Crags
- Glorious autumn foliage in Hebden Dale
- Autumn foliage in Pecket Well Clough
- Packhorse track through Pecket Well Clough
- Full-flowing stream in Pecket Well Clough
- Pecket Well Clough
- Waterfalls in Pecket Well Clough
- Kitling Bridge in Pecket Well Clough
- Steep-sided narrow valley of Pecket Well Clough below Elmet Farmhouse
- View from Walshaw Moor towards Heptonstall Moor
- Frosty morning at Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Frosty morning at Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Frosty morning at Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Stunning autumn colours at Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Autmn at Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Graining Water at Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Bridge over Alcomden Water at Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Alcomden Water at Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Frosty bracken on a crisp autumn morning at Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Autumn colours in Hardcastle Crags
- Waterfall in Hardcastle Crags
- Bridge across Hebden Water in Hardcastle Crags
- Hebden Water in Hardcastle Crags
- Hebden Water in Hardcastle Crags
- Hebden Water in Hardcastle Crags
- Hebden Water in Hardcastle Crags
- Hebden Water in Hardcastle Crags
- Autumn in Hardcastle Crags
- Hardcastle Crags
- Vibrant autumn hues in Hardcastle Crags
- Spectacular autumn colours in Hardcastle Crags
- Blue sky in Hardcastle Crags
- Autmn foliage in Hardcastle Crags
- Golden autumn in Hardcastle Crags
- Autumn sunshine in Hardcastle Crags
- The National Trust woodland of Hardcastle Crags
- Autumn splendour in Hardcastle Crags
- Chaffinch in Hardcastle Crags
- Trees on bank above former railway track in Hardcastle Crags
- Trees above former railway track in Hardcastle Crags
- Astonishing autumn colours near Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Burning bush near Blake Dean in Hardcastle Crags
- Hardcastle Crags from Widdop Gate
- Stoodley Pike and Heptonstall from Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well
- The ancient village of Heptonstall
- Crisp autumn morning on Liimers Gate above Pecket Well
- Wilcock Dam above Pecket Well, a short walk from Elmet Farmhouse
- View towards Gorple and Widdop from Wadsworth Moor above Pecket Well
- Spectacular panoramic view of Stoodley Pike and Heptonstall from Elmet Farmhouse
- Glorious autumn colours in Hardcastle Crags below Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well
- Wilcock Dam above Pecket Well
- Blue sky and clouds reflected in Wilcock Dam above Pecket Well
- Beautiful autumn colours in the woods in Crimsworth Dean
- Beautiful autumn colours in the woods in Crimsworth Dean
- Shackleton Hill across Crimsworth Dean
- Beautiful autumn colours in the woods in Crimsworth Dean
- View towards Heptonstall over Hardcastle Crags from Pecket Well War Memorial
- View over Hardcastle Crags from Pecket Well War Memorial
- Bracken-covered hillside above Hardcastle Crags
- Autumn colours in the woods above Hardcastle Crags
- Autumn colours in the woods above Hardcastle Crags
- Autumn colours in the National Trust estate of Hardcastle Crags
- Autumn colours in the National Trust estate of Hardcastle Crags
- Autumn colours in the National Trust estate of Hardcastle Crags
Walk from the door at Elmet Farmhouse holiday cottage in the village of Pecket Well, where the hills meet the heavens. The views from up here are intoxicating, with Stoodley Pike and Hetptonstall on the opposite hill and the wooded ravines of Pecket Well Clough and Hardcastle Crags in the valley below.
Another nearby valley with mellow autumn hues is Shibden Dale, near Shibden Hall, Halifax, home of the 19th century diarist Anne Lister (‘Gentleman Jack’). The National Trust estate of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal near Ripon also has beautiful centuries-old trees, which are particularly colourful in the autumn. So, as well as the dales on the doorstep, there are many beauty spots in this corner of Yorkshire for inspiring autumn walks.
Photographs copyright Lesley Jackson