Monday 15th May 2023

Monday 15^th May 2023

The Third of the Pikes and Trig Points Walks:

Walsden to Stoodley Pike.

Eleven walkers met at Walsden Railway Station on a bright but breezy morning. The first section of the walk followed the West Pennine Way (WPW) Link Route which goes from Bull Hill, on Holcombe Moor, to the Pennine Way. Following the way markers, we headed up Alma Street and joined the track leading to Rake End. Continuing the climb onto Walsden Moor we soon arrived at The Basin Stone, a millstone grit outcrop in the shape of an anvil. The shape was ideal as a pulpit and was used for meeting of the Chartists and nonconformist preacher, including, it said by Charles Westley.

The next point of interest on route was Gadding Dam, which is a popular spot for wild swimming, with only one hardy soul venturing into the water on this chilly morning. After the reservoir the route is made easier by stone slabs having been laid across the wet moorland, unfortunately one large section was missing the stones and it proved very difficult to negotiate past it. After joining the Pennine Way, we turned left and headed toward Stoodey Pike stopping along the way to enjoy our morning coffee, overlooking Withens Clough Reservoir.

Once at the Pike we spent some time admiring the views overlooking Todmorden and up to Hebden Bridge, we could also clearly see the track we were going to join once we have climbed down the steep slope, along the side of the hill. As we walked along the track, we spent time trying to identify the wide variety of flora a fauna. Soon we arrived at the very attractive hamlet of Mankinholes where we made use of some stone sheep to eat our lunch.

After lunch we continued through the hamlet as far as the youth hostel, where we turned left and headed across the field to Lumb Butts, turning left at the Top Brink pub. After a short walk, along the road we joined a footpath that took us through the very attractive, Causeway Wood, which was full of wild garlic. At the end of the wood, we joined the Rochdale canal and headed through Todmorden and onto Walsden having covered 10 sunny and interesting miles.