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