Sunday 15th January 2017 - Todmorden, Calder Valley, West Yorkshire

This month our walks are based on Todmorden in the Calder Valley where all the walks start and finish. The coach will leave school as usual at 8.00 am prompt.. Boots are essential on all walks. At the end of the walk in Todmorden there are plenty of opportunities for refreshments.  We plan to leave at 5.00 pm to be back in Formby about 7.00pm

The cost of travel will be £10.00 for members, £13.00 for non-members and £5.00 for Leaders, children and students in full time education. Please make your cheque payable to Range Walking Club and ensure it is signed as it is inconvenient for the Treasurer to chase up such omissions.

Please send in your return to the Treasurer Monica Sealey before 5th January; places will be booked on the coach by the treasurer on a first come first served basis.

Cancellations: if you need to cancel or make a late booking, please contact Margaret on 07793195276 or by email margaretpegg@btinternet.com and I will endeavour to substitute your booking from the waiting list.  If you cancel after 10th November and it is not possible to fill your place on the coach, regrettably, we will not be able to give you a refund as coaches will have been booked on initial returns.

Club Weekend 1st – 4th June 2017 The Club Weekend will be based at the Best Western Beaumont Hotel in Hexham.  Accomodation in Hexham is limited but rooms are available at the hotel and the 3 guest houses listed on the attached sheet. Please email me at margaretpegg@btinternet.com to let me know if you plan to come on the weekend and then book your room direct with the hotel or one of the guest houses. When booking please let them know you are with the Range Walking Club.

‘A’ Walk Distance: 11 miles Ascent: 1500 ft Leaders: Ken Bryning Shaun Rollinson	Leaving Todmorden we head south to pick up the Pennine Bridleway via Henshaw Wood, and Cat Stones to Warland Reservoir.  The walk then follows the Pennine Way across Withins Moor to Stoodley Pike (402M/1350 ft) our high point, - bring a torch in order to go up the stairway to the top-well worth the view? Return is via the Pennine Bridle Way, Mankinholes, Lambutts and the Rochdale Canal.
‘B+’ Walk Distance: 9.75 miles Ascent: 1500 ft Leaders: Ray Belcher Steve Wright	We start the walk with an easy stroll for about 2 miles up the Rochdale Canal. Leaving the canal we start the ascent, through a wooded area and across farmland up towards Stoodley Pike. To the south we can see Stoodley Pike. The real ascent starts north east of the Pike. Nice views from the top, weather permitting, where we will stop for lunch as this is the only place that offers any shelter.  From the Pike we follow the Pennine Way for a couple of miles towards Gaddings Dam.  From Gaddings Dam we have a relatively steep descent back towards our starting point on the canal back in Todmorden.
‘B’ Walk Distance: 8.5 miles Ascent: 1200 ft Leaders: Liz Bellman Louise Pimm	The walk starts from the Golden Lion Inn which is just past the market place in Todmorden. We walk steadily uphill past the Unitarian church and then through several fields, which could be very boggy, crossing over several stiles. When we reach Lumbutts we take a path along the causey stones climbing steeply and steadily uphill towards the Long Stoup. We then join the Pennine Way and follow the path to Stoodley Pike. You may wish to bring a torch with you to light your way up the spooky spiral staircase up the monument. The viewing platform gives you 360 degree views of the surrounding countryside. We make a gradual descent down from the Pike and join the ancient thoroughfare London Road. We follow this path to Mankinholes and then down to the Top Brink pub at Lumbutts (time permitting a stop could be arranged). We then follow a narrow path, with a steep drop on one side, down to Woodhouse Mill where we join the Rochdale Canal path back into Todmorden.
‘C’ Walk Distance: 7.25 miles Ascent: 950 ft Leaders: Ann Belcher Keith Jacques	We follow the 'B' party uphill out of the town and continue to do so for around half a mile. We then head off south, continuing our ascent to reach Rake End (937227).  Then heading east, we pass the Basin Stone and Gaddings Dam and cross Langfield Common to join the Todmorden Centenary Trail at Warland Reservoir (955215).  After a half a mile walk along the side of the reservoir we drop down to the Rochdale Canal at Warland, which we follow back to Todmorden.  Please note that stretches of this walk are likely to be very boggy and that there will be more climbing than usual for a 'C' walk.  However, it will be taken at an easy pace and most of the climbing will be completed in the first mile and a quarter.  On a good day the height gained should provide views in all directions, including the 20 miles distant Manchester skyline.