Walk: | Cragg Vale, Cove Hill, Two Lads, Cloven Stone, Pennine Way, Stoodley Pike Monument, Dick's Lane, Lord Wood, | ||
Start Point: | Roadside near pub on Withens Clough Reservoir road | Grid Ref: | SD 999 231 |
Distance: | 10 miles | Ascent: | 1,400 feet |
Weather: | Sunny and mild all day | ||
Accompanied by: |
On my own |
||
Comments: | It was a tedious drive to Cragg Vale through
Todmorden, Hebden bridge etc and if I was to go there again I would
probably travel via the M61 and M62, skirting Rochdale, The first two
thirds of the route was straight forward but the last third was a little
difficult to navigate, particularly through the woods. The section would
need changing if I was to repeat the walk. Withens Clough Reservoir car
park was closed, and will be till late summer, due to work on the
reservoir. Despite the difficulties experienced this was an enjoyable walk with points of interest on the way. The good weather enhanced the enjoyment of the day. |
Scroll down to see photos of the walk
Cragg Vale from the beginning of the climb
Quite a substantial Shooting Box
Two Lads . . .
cairns built on rocks, first shown on Greenwood’s 1771 map of Yorkshire
Cloven Stones, on Turley Holes and Higher House Moor, with Stoodley Pike on the horizon to the left . . .
and again
Warland Drain - or is it a 'Pipe Path'?
A small clump of cotton grass adorns the route
The Hodder Stones - might have been worth a detour but the drain would have been difficult to cross!
Rejoining the Pennine Way with Stoodley Pike in the distance, but the rocks in the foreground . . .
have distinctive markings . . .
but no information about them . . .
could this be WB for Water Board?
Coldwell Hill . . .
where some rocks are well-balanced
Withens Clough Reservoir looking rather empty
Stoodley Pike overlooks the valley between Todmorden and Hebden Bridge . . .
with Todmorden over to the left
On the Pennine Way, heading for the 'Pike'
The monument was designed in 1854 by local architect James Green, and completed in 1856 at the end of the Crimean War.
A dark spiral staircase leads up to the balcony . . .
with views in all directions
Across the valley the farmer is busy . . .
gathering in the crops
A bench provides the perfect spot for lunch
An easy path leads away from the Pike . . .
to a green path beside the woods
A detour is needed to avoid the cows and calves . . .
but I couldn't resist a shot of these two
A 'boundary stone' - placed in the fence (or should I say 'a fence placed each side of the stone')
Filtered light in Lord Wood