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Tuesday, 14th June 2011

 

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

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