Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill is an expansive area of woodland in West Yorkshire with fifteen miles of walking paths managed by National Trust. Gibson Mill is a working mill on the site, and it was one of the first cotton mills of the industrial revolution and constructed at the beginning of the 1800s. The mill is home to a cafe, and the upper floors are leased out for various events and art shows. Cotton was produced until the 1890s.
The land around Hardcastle Crags contains three reservoirs and a railroad. A temporary worker village named Dawson City was formed during the construction of the reservoir and railroad. It was named after a town in Canada where some of the workers had previously worked.
After the mill ceased to operate as a mill, a cafe was installed on the upper floor and it was turned into a tourist attraction. There were dances, and people could take boats out on the pond. There were also donkey rides, camping, and other activities to be enjoyed. It became a major attraction and was frequently visited.
In 1950, it was given to National Trust. The mill is run today by energy generated on site, and it is one of National Trust's most sustainable properties.
I parked at Clough Hole car park, which is the closest parking to the mill. It is a downhill walk from the car parking, and there is some nice scenery and small waterfalls on the descend into the valley where Gibson Mill is located.
There were some good views, but most of the time they were obscured by trees.
There were a couple of attempts to flood the valley at Hardcastle Crags and submerge the mill. Both attempts failed as committees were set up to preserve the mill and valley.
After a walk down to the mill, I had a look around before climbing back up the trail.
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