Walk Leader: Ian Wardle

Number on walk: 10

Distance: 16 miles

Weather: Bright start becoming cloudy and colder later in the day

It was such a delight to see cars arriving with East Lancs and West Yorkshire members who made for a fine bunch of cheerful walkers. We set off by joining the Rochdale Canal which we followed South to lock gate 33 where we joined the Pennine Bridleway. It was then a steep climb up out of the valley to Moorhey Flat where we joined the Todmorden Centenary Way (TCW) which we followed to White Slack where we stopped for our morning break. We continued on the TCW dropping down to Ragby Bridge before climbing up to Foul Clough Road. Here we left the TCW taking the steeper more direct route over Burnt Hill up to the Inchfield trig point. After a group photo we then headed off to join the Rossendale Way which we followed for a short distance before dropping down to join a gravel track leading out to the A681. By now it had become quite cold and windy, so we stopped here for lunch getting some shelter by sitting behind a large pile of rubble. There were clear views from here across Gorpley Reservoir to Todmorden and of course Stoodley Pike Monument which was in view for most of the day.

As we dropped down from the track over a patch of land, newly planted with trees, to join the A681 we were suddenly surrounded by a drift of pigs which was quite amazing to see as they scampered all around us.

We crossed the A681 passing the Astronomy Centre as we skirted Todmorden Moor before joining Tower Causway. We then dropped down to Portsmouth crossing the A646 before climbing up to Pudsey. It was then a steep climb up a path passing through some interesting old property before coming out onto Pudding Lane. We continued on passed Hartley Royd farm, an interesting C17 listed stone building before crossing Hudson Moor. It was here where we left the TCW to climb up to Great Bride Stones. It was then downhill all the way back to our cars.

Photos can be seen 'here'