A Stoodley Pike Circuit: 

Todmorden, Rochdale canal, Hebden Bridge, Stoodley Pike, Withins Clough, the 'Te Deum' stone & Mankinholes. 11miles 1350ft.

I parked at the little picnic area at Lob Mill on the roadside just outside Todmorden and walked across the road to the Rochdale canal 

         

Lob Mill lock - No 16

A lovely easy walk for the next 3 or 4 miles on the towpath to Hebden Bridge

The river Calder, the Rochdale canal & the railway all follow the valley down towards Halifax

Still evidence of the once thriving mills which also used to line the valley

On reaching Hebden Bridge the climb to Stoodley pike provides a good view down to the town below 

Zooming in on a section of the town, the local rock makes for an attractive building material  

As height is gained the view opens up over Caldervale to the village of  Heptonstall

"you're not getting any of My Sweetlicks"

The monument on Stoodley pike appears as I joined the Pennine way to the summit

Stoodley pike monument stands on the 1320ft high summit and has a height of 121ft. There is a plaque high up on one side which reads:

STOODLEY PIKE
A PEACE MONUMENT
ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION
COMMENCED IN 1814 TO COMMEMORATE
THE SURRENDER OF PARIS TO THE ALLIES
AND FINISHED AFTER THE BATTLE OF
WATERLOO WHEN PEACE WAS ESTABLIS-
HED IN 1815. BY A STRANGE COINCIDENCE
THE PIKE FELL ON THE DAY THE RUSSIAN
AMBASSADOR LEFT LONDON BEFORE THE
DECLARATION OF WAR WITH RUSSIA IN 1854
WAS REBUILT WHEN PEACE WAS RESTORED IN
1856
REPAIRED AND LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR FIXED
1889^[5]

On leaving the summit I descended to Withins Clough reservoir, not the most attractive in the area.... 

.....but improved by the arrival of two Canada Geese

The reason for this particular walk was in part to find this ancient stone. This is known as the 'Te Deum' stone from the inscription which reads. 

"Te Deum Laudamus"   "We Praise Thee O Lord"

It lies on a "Old Corpse Road" or "Coffin Road"

The pall bearers often had to carry the coffins many miles from outlying villages to burial grounds. They would rest awhile here whilst prayers were said for the deceased

They may well have been heading for the churchyard here near Mankinholes above Todmorden

Finally passing one of the mill reservoirs on the path down to the starting point in the valley

A lovely walk on a lovely Spring day with lots of interest 

Threlkeld to Mungrisdale:

Via Scales tarn & Souther fell 9miles 2500ft

A very damp misty morning as I parked in Threlkeld and..... 

.....set off up Blease beck

Looking back down the rather attractive path towards Threlkeld

Crossing Blease beck....

....and after gaining height on the path towards Scales the rain began to fall

Looking back over Doddick gill...

.....and a little further on looking up Scaley beck towards the summit of Blencathra

It remained very misty looking down from Scales fell...

....and it was still raining as I crossed Scales beck climbing to the tarn

Time for a break for coffee sat by the tarn. On a clear day the start of Sharp Edge would be seen across the tarn

The path to Blencathra summit is just visible climbing beyond these rocks. However although only a further mile away there would be nothing to see only the ground and mist. I decided to head straight to Souther fell instead 

I descended to Mousthwaite combe with a view of the upper Glenderamackin valley

I followed the very boggy path in mist and rain over the top of Souther fell and then resting awhile with a view of Mungrisdale....

....before descending the steep path to the village and my lift back to Threlkeld. 

It was a shame about the poor weather as this route has the potential to be a great walk especially if the summit of Blencathra is included.

 

 

Cautley in the Howgill fells and Ribblehead Viaduct 

Intended route - Cautley Cross Keys, Cautley Spout, Cautley Crag, The Calf & Great Dummacks: 

But........Part (1)

Parking up by the Cross Keys on the Sedbergh to Kirkby Stephen road. Originally a public house the Cross Keys became a Temperance House before being bought by the National Trust. It's now run as a tea room with B&B and has retained its zero alcohol policy

Plenty of fresh snow around this morning as I parked the car

Adjacent to the parking area a path leads straight down to a footbridge over the river Rawthey

Great Dummacks fell lies on the other side of the river. This would be the final part of my walk when returning to the car 

My route leads to Cautley Spout falls at the head of  the valley with Cautley Crags to the left

Zooming in on the falls

A path leads up the right hand side of the falls

  The top cascades

At this point I noticed the cloud was beginning to descend on Cautley Crag and felt a little snow falling

As I reached Hare Shaw the cloud seemed to be lower....

....and the path ahead a little daunting....

....to say the least. 

At best I'd likely be in cloud for the rest of the day and quite possibly in snow as well!

Safety on the fells being always the top priority I decided to go no further and returned to the car.....

Part (2)

Having returned to the car I drove south to Ribblesdale. I thought to have a short walk with some photos around the Ribblehead viaduct

Ingleborough was looking particularly impressive with its covering of snow

The viaduct is 440 yards long and 104ft high with 24 arches. Over 100 men lost their lives in its construction many of whom are buried in the nearby church at Chapel-le-Dale

It was completed in 1875 after 5 yrs under construction and a full restoration finished in 1991

Perfect timing to catch a train crossing!

The viaduct stands at 950ft above sea level

Finally a last look at Ingleborough looking like it's just beginning to catch the snow clouds I'd left behind at Cautley.  

It was time to go home after a rather different day than planned but non the worse for that.