Sunday, 29th July 2012

Walk: Kilnhurst, Lumbutts Clough, Lumbutts, Mankinholes, London Road, Stoodley Pike, Pennine Way, Warland Drain, Langfield Common, Gaddings Dam, Basin Stone, Shoebroad Lane. Walked some stretches of the Calderdale Way and the Pennine Bridleway.
Start Point: Lever Street car park, Todmorden Grid Reference: SD 938 241
Distance: 8.25 miles Ascent: 1,400 feet
Time: 5 hours    
Weather: Mixture of sunshine and showers, with more of the latter and less of the former. Windy and cool.
Comments: 18 walkers set off in the rain but returned in some sunshine. The climb up Stoodley Pike from London Road was rewarded with good views, despite the weather. New paved paths along the Pennine Way and down to Gaddings dam reduce the chance of being knee-deep in peat bog. The old paved path down to the Lumbutts Road was greasy and treacherous however.

Scroll down to see photos of the walk

The Rochdale Canal with Stoodley Pike Monument in the distance

 

Locks on the Rochdale Canal at Todmorden

 

Rochdale Canal information

 

Remnants of an industrial age

 

Who lived here . . .

 

William Holt did . . .

 

and his horse is buried here

 

Another glimpse of industrial Todmorden

 

High & dry - was left by the recent floods in the nearby Hebden area?

 

Industrial heritage - Water Wheel Tower at Lumbutts

 

In years gone by this would have been tramped by people in clogs and shawls on't way t'th mill

 

Langfield Edge

 

Coffee break in Makinholes

 

Ramblers not welcome here

 

Ascending Stoodley Pike

 

View over the Calder Valley

 

One of several showers approaching

 

Makinholes & Lumbutts

 

Stoodley Pike offered some shelter from the showers

 

Departing from the monument

 

Stoodley Pike in between the showers

 

No, it's not winter but the middle of summer

 

Lunch on Near Withens Gate with showers over Todmorden

 

On the Pennine Way and approaching Warland Drain

 

The long, long path over Langfield Common

 

Basin Stone where the leader explains that it was used as a rendezvous for outspoken speakers

 

Two members of the group landed on their derriere descending this slippery path

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