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~Stoodley Pike~

16th August 2013

Lumbutts

Lumbutts from Stoodley Pike

Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....

Hollins Mill, Walsden

Hollins Mill, Walsden

This walk started at 14:30hrs from the small township of Walsden, just south of Todmorden. After passing Hollins Mill, I crossed the Rochdale Canal and headed up the lane to North Hollingworth Farm.

Ramsden Wood

Ramsden Wood

Looking back over part of Walsden to Ramsden Wood and Ramsden Hill (left).

Pennine Bridleway

Pennine Bridleway

Turning left (north) at the farm, I joined the Pennine Bridleway - an old and very well worn, flagged pathway up on to the moors.

Pylons Todmorden
A March of Plyons
Todmorden

I'm not sure if there is a collective noun for the current carriers, but they appear to be marching over the hill from East Lancashire. The pool in the foreground (right photo) has no name on the map.

Stoodley Pike

Stoodley Pike from Rake End

First sight of my primary target, taken from Rake End. At this point, I took a path up the hill in an easterly direction aiming for the Basin Stone and Gaddings Dam.

Basin Stone

The Basin Stone

and the reason for its title ....

Basin Stone

Sink Holes

Gaddings Dam

Gaddings Dam

In a corner of the reservoir is a little sandy beach, claimed by some to be Britain's Highest Beach - see news article at the foot of this page. I took a south-easterly path to the right-angled bend in Warland Drain.

Boundary Stone Warland Drain
Boundary Stone
Warland Drain

The drain supplies water to Warland Reservoir; my route and that of the Pennine Way follows the drain for three quarters of a mile and then heads north, directly for Stoodley Pike.

Withers Clough Reservoir

Withers Clough Reservoir

The view eastwards from the flank of Coldwell Hill shows Withers Clough Reservoir.

Withens Clough

Withers Gate

The dip in the landscape is shown as Withers Gate. There are two paths shown, one along the fence and one to the left which is more undulating. I chose the less direct route as it appeared more interesting and promised better views.

Cyril Webster

Cyril Webster's Seat

The plaque dedicates the seat to the late Cyril Webster "still walking the hills" - provided by his children.

Lumbutts

Lumbutts

The village of Lumbutts is worth a visit. There is a pub there called "Top Brink" and a its all very olde worlde.

Calderdale Railway

Railway Viaduct

The preceeding two photos were taken from Stoodley Pike. I know exactly where the viaduct is - adjacent to the A646 and opposite Haugh Road, but I don't know what it's called! More research required.

Heptonstall

Heptonstall

Heptonstall from Stoodley Pike, you can just see the old church tower behind the taller, newer one.

Stoodley Pike

Stoodley Pike

This monument was designed in 1854 by local architect James Green, and completed in 1856 at the end of the Crimean War. An earlier tower was completed after the Battle of Waterloo (1815), but was damaged by lightning. It is 121ft high and 39 steps allow visitors to the balcony at 40ft above ground level.

Stoodley Pike walk Dick's Lane
To Dick's Lane
Dick's Lane

The track east from Stoodley Pike aims for the wooded area, marked on the map as Sunderland Pasture. Dick's Lane runs alongside and between walls in a north-easterly direction.

Erringden Moor

Erringden Moor

Plan A had been to follow the boundary walls on Erringden Moor to Buckley Stone and Great Jumps (you need to look at OL21). But a scattered herd of fidgety cows blocked the way and so I found another way, which led to Kilnshaw Farm.

Kilnshaw Lane

Kilnshaw Lane

This long and quiet lane heads past Erringden Grange and ultimately leads to Hebden Bridge. That's also my destination, but I'll leave the vehicular route and take footpaths down to HB.

Kilnshaw Lane

Kilnshaw Lane & Stoodley Pike

~~~~~

~~~~~

The Route to Hebden Bridge

The walk down to Hebden Bridge was varied and interesting and offered great views of the town and surrounding moors.

Hebden Bridge

Hebden Bridge

The wooded vale in the centre and leading away is Hebden Dale and leads to Hardcastle Crags.

Hebden Bridge Railway Station

Hebden Bridge Railway Station

Just in time for the 18:10 service to Manchester Victoria which will stop at Walsden (not all trains stop there), hopefully.

Train View Walsden Railway Station
Stoodley Pike from the train
Walsden Railway Station
Class 60 locomotive Grandma Pollards
Freight Train
Grandma Pollard's Chippy

Walsden

Rochdale Canal

The Rochdale Canal

The journey from Hebden Bridge to Walsden cost £1.90. I bought Fish & Chips from the award-winning Grandma Pollard's in Walsden and ate such on the platform watching the trains, well two of them.

Walkers: Just Me

Route: As described!

Time taken: 4 hours 40 minutes over a distance of about 8 miles.

Greetings: A few cheery walkers along the way.

Weather: Generally cloudy, improving to sunny periods and fairly warm throughout.

This walk was my usual Saturday walk, brought forward by one day due to a forecast of immense miserableness for the following day.

Duchess of Sutherland

Steam Train at Blackburn on Saturday 17th August 2013

No.46233 Duchess of Sutherland

Sunbathing on the Pennine Moors

All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2013 ©

Take me back to the start ....

Take me home....