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| Are We There Yet? |
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Date : 19th July 2009
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Leader : David Hill |
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Report by : Phil Bedson |
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Photos © : Phil Bedson |
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| Stoodley Pike from the West | |
Just thirty yards of walking had been achieved when 10 members of Hyndburn Ramblers stopped to put on their waterproofs at the start of this particular 11 mile walk to Stoodley Pike. We’d parked up on the A6033 just north of Gauxholme and after crossing the road made our way uphill to take a very overgrown set of steps at the gates of a large house. The footpath led us round to a stile into a field and almost immediately the path went uphill to join some steps (even more uphill) which led to a stile onto a small road. After a minute for everyone to catch their breath we turned east along the road, past a horse with long hair, until we caught a glimpse of Stoodley Pike ahead of us.
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left:
There are steps here somewhere.. |
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right: Hippy Horse |
At a left hand bend we left by way of a track which became a green lane up to the edge of the access land with a spectacular view of Stoodley roughly off to the east - we promptly turned west! We swung around Rake End and followed a clear path past the Basin Stone, no doubt full of water with the rain, to arrive at the corner of Gaddings Dam. Looking to the south the rain seemed set as we continued south east across Langfield Common to join forces with the Pennine Way (PW) footpath. The mood of the group wasn’t at all down as we followed the PW as it curved northwards towards Stoodley Pike. Skirting Bald Scout Hill the rain seemed to die off and a drink stop was declared at Withins Gate where the PW and the Calderdale Way (CW) cross. We had a great view down towards the hamlet of Lumbutts to the west and Stoodley Pike to the north.
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left:
The Basin Stone |
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right: Towards Stoodley...or so we thought! |
Refreshments taken, our leader promptly turned east along the CW, much to the chagrin of a couple, whereby we followed the old packhorse route markers and got a little history lesson. At a gate into the corner of a field there was also a marker stone with a cross and a prayer carved into it. Apparently, this is spot where tolls for the packhorse route were collected as there was no other way around this point due to the moors and the walls. From here the extremely clear track wound its way down towards Withins Clough reservoir and, as a very light rain seemed to want to fall, a decision to have lunch was made. No sooner had we found a sheltered spot alongside the reservoir wall and sat down the sun beamed down on us and a most pleasant lunch was had. It was indeed also a cue to remove the waterproofs.
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left:
Following the Packhorse route |
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right: Tolls and Prayers |
We set off from the dam following the track downhill and upon arrival at a car park took the left hand fork uphill. After passing a little waterfall and then a wood on our left we climbed a wall stile into a field of long grass and rushes. And midges. A few of us were bitten almost immediately as if we’d been attacked by highly trained guard midges that seemed to have set up an ambush! We followed the boundary wall up to another stile that led onto a green lane where we were given a tantalising view of the uppermost tip of Stoodley Pike above the tree line. We followed the lane down and then turned right over the cotton grass covered, very wet underfoot, Sunderland Pasture to enter a quite large conifer plantation. The long grass and uneven surface made the first part of the plantation a bit of a chore to cross but the second part was much easier. As we arrived at the northern boundary wall a clear, pretty close, view of Stoodley Pike could be seen and a beeline was made towards it before our leader changed direction again!
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left:
They bite! |
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right: Nearly there! |
Upon arrival at the monument, originally conceived to mark victory in the Crimea, we paused just long enough for a quick drink and a brief history, before plunging off the hill down to London Road. Tracks and lanes took us past Higher and Middle Stoodley before we took the left turn down a good track that would take us all the way down to the Rochdale Canal. It was here the rain started again.
Canal walking in the rain can turn into a monotonous pastime and this seemed to be no exception, heads down and plodding on. We were thankful when the rain stopped again and heads could be lifted and it was just at this point that someone pointed out the possible nest site of a bird of prey. A movement in the heather near the site was followed by all eyes trying to establish if this was one of the occupants but alas to no avail. We continued on, noticing the deep grooves in the bridges from the ropes when barges were horse drawn and the somewhat out of place signage in the canal. By the time we arrived at Todmorden it was definitely time to once again remove the waterproofs.
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left:
The descent down |
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right: Canal walking in the rain |
We continued on along the canal and passed what must be one of the largest brick walls ever built, I wouldn’t like to count the bricks anyhow, but still an amazing piece of engineering with a story of its own. It was built to shore up the embankment next to canal and the bricks were transported by barge. The irony is that atop the embankment was built the railway - the very thing that caused the demise of the canals. Before we knew it we were leaving the canal and half the group were surprised to realise we had actually arrived back at the cars. A change of footwear and a visit to the Woodpecker Arms finished off the day just nicely.
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| The Great Wall of Todmorden | |
| OS EXPLORER |
WEST PENNINES 287 |
START/FINISH POINT |
SD 932 234 |
| WALK LENGTH |
10.7 mls / 17.2 km |
TIME WALKING |
4 1/2 hrs |
| MAX HEIGHT |
398.2 mtrs |
MIN HEIGHT |
115.83 mtrs |
| HEIGHT ASCENDED |
515.51 mtrs |
HEIGHT DESCENDED |
515.51 mtrs |
This map is for reference only and MUST NOT be used to do the walk.
Please use the correct OS map for all these walks.
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