2014 11 15 Todmorden Treat 3


Walk report:

Arrive in plenty of time for the start of the walk.  John and his car full are already there, including a visitor from Rochdale Ramblers - Joan.  We wander towards the market and grab a very welcome mug of coffee from a market vendor.  Curiously we recognise and chat with some fellow LDWA members also meeting up in Todmorden for an alternative walk – this happened quite recently for Julie’s walk at Mytholmroyd.  The forecast is for fog most of the day and this turns out to be the case – at least it’s dry.  So count the group and we have 13 walkers including me. 

We make a start along the Rochdale canal in the direction of Hebden Bridge for a gentle warm-up.  Then up on the Howarth Hobble route to Stoodley Pike.  Dropping back to the canal and Hebble End, a road section was used to avoid one of Calderdale’s steep and treacherous cobbled paths that I struggled with on during the recce.  We take a midmorning coffee break on the canal before heading on a dramatic path above the cliffs, just below Heptonstal.  Picking up the Pennine Way we made Gorple upper reservoir before calling a halt for lunch.  Up to the Widdop/Worsthorne track before following a fence line over Black Hambleden to the trig point at Hoof Stone Heights.  Given the wet conditions under foot I had fewer complaints than I’d anticipated!  Dropping to the road above Pudsey Clough I was glad nobody wanted to take the option of cutting the walk short by missing this delightful clough out.  We descend Pudsey Clough on the Burnley Way.  Back to Todmorden via Whirlaw Stones.  21.9miles; 1,138m ascent.  Back to the car park at 16:15, before dark.

Steve

Click here for photos from Julie  Note you may have to reload the page the pictures are on.