Walk Leader: Steve Clark 

Number on walk: 4 

Distance: 21 miles with circa 4000 ft ascent

Weather: Around 15C, windy in places.  In afternoon, heavy but brief downpours. 

The idea behind the route for today was to execute a complete circuit above Todmorden, gaining views of the town from all possible angles.  The route by its nature took us across several of the valleys that converge on Todmorden.  We also enjoyed wide panoramas of the wonderful Calderdale scenery. 

We set off behind the train station and passed Dobroyd Castle before dropping to cross the Bacup road.  Gorpley Clough took us onto the moors before we descended via Ramsden Clough to Walsden.  From here we climbed to Gaddings Dam where we found some shelter from the wind for an eats stop at 7 miles.  Shortly after setting of for Stoodley Pike we were caught in a sudden down pour which set the weather pattern for the rest of the day.  From Stoodley we dropped down to Hebden Bridge and climbed to the outskirts of Heptonstall, then following the beautiful Colden Clough to stop for a late lunch by the stone bridge over Colden Waters. 

Now contouring along the north edge of the valley, the Calderdale Way was our guide to Great Rock.  At Wirlaw Rocks we passed Todmorden below us, to once more descend into a valley, this time carrying the Burnley road.  A steep ascent up a stepped path brought us onto Todmorden Edge before we dropped down once more to reach Todmorden by the railway station, concluding our circumnavigation of Todmorden. 

Rgds

Steve