The Bride Stones

I do mean to catch up with all your lovely blogs but time just seems to be running away with me at the moment.

We have been lucky and had some dry weather for some walking but the ground is very soggy.

Today I am sharing a walk we did last weekend.

Again from a Paul Hannon Short Scenic Walks book, this time Hebden Bridge and the Calder Valley.

Walk number 5 Bride Stones.

The start was a bit of a steep climb up from the main road to Burnley from Todmorden.

Orchan Rocks

 We took it slow....or rather I did....Hubby is a lot fitter than I am! 
There he goes striding off into the distance!

Up the pack horse route.

 we passed a long abandoned farm

 and carried on along the pack horse track, well flagged and well worn.

 Down in the valley you can see the town of Todmorden.

This is also a path to Stoodley Pike....maybe another day.

looking back

Whirlow common with Whirlow stones ahead.

 Big views on the way up as we circle Whirlow stones

 There is Stoodley Pike in the distance above

.

 Above looking back at the track we have just walked.

 At the top of the hill we found this fantastically carved head!

Bride Stones ahead

The sun was setting and we started to head for home.

Orchan Rocks

Back down the last path and to the car.
Now I am off to read some of your blogs.....Have a good weekend.

over half way through

We are over half way through January.

 It has been a bit miserable and rained way too much but we have had some lovely walks so far this year ....like I said in my previous post we started well and hope it continues through the year.

The above photos were taken on a brief local walk. It was really cold and when the hail started we turned around and went home.

I attended the first of three Workbook Workshops with Anne Brooke.

It is great fun....just playing with paper and paint again!
Remember my New Year Resolutions? Well I plan to keep to this one.

So back to the walking.

Another walk from one of our Short Scenic Walks books by Paul Hannon.
This was from the Hebden Bridge and the Calder Valley book, so it was our local one.

 Walk Number 12 in the book, Graining Water a three and a half mile walk in the winter sunshine,

We park the car on Widdop road just west of the Pack Horse Inn.
Known Locally as The Ridge the pub is near the Pennine Way and dates back to 1610.

 Then off the road over the stile and down the edge of the field.

 Looking back you can see the top of The Packhorse Inn

 Down the flagged path

Down to where the waters meet in the clough

 Then a steep walk up towards Gorple Cottages, the old reservoir keepers houses.

We turn left along the track.

The way ahead

Looking back

Back along the road and the sun was starting to set.

The stone foundations of the old Blake Dean Railway are still there (read about it here) the railway use to take the workers to build the three nearby reservoirs.

The moon was out as we walked over the bridge.

The lights were coming on in the houses.

And we arrived back at the car.

Once home

I made some pea and ham soup after reading Anglesey Allsorts blog post.

 We have had a few frosty mornings.

and some lovely sunrises.

and sunsets.

I have one more walk to share with you. But that is in another post.