JUST over the Yorkshire border, Stoodley Pike is a prominent landmark overlooking the textile towns of Calderdale.

Perched high on a moorland plateau above Todmorden, the Pike was originally built in 1815 and it has intriguingly been regarded as a portent of war. The sombre stone monument was built to celebrate victory in the Napoleonic Wars but fell down in 1854 when the Crimean War broke out. Rebuilt two years later it also partly collapsed during the First World War. Thankfully, it has survived since then and visitors who make the climb to Stoodley Pike can ascend the pitch black stone staircase inside the monument (torch recommended) to reach an upper gallery. From here there are wide views across the Lancashire and Yorkshire Pennines.

This walk starts from the old weaving hamlets of Lumbutts and Mankinholes, and heads up an old stone causeway to the high shelf on which Stoodley Pike stands. Once the initial climb is over, the route is flat and downhill and along the way the walk takes in sections of three long distance paths -- the Pennine Way, the Calderdale Way and the newly opened Pennine Bridleway.

DISTANCE: 4 miles (allow two hours)

START: Lumbutts village (OS Grid Ref 957233). There is roadside parking alongside the churchyard just uphill from the old water mill tower and Top Brink Inn. Alternatively, there is a large car park at the Top Brink Inn for pub patrons. Lumbutts is situated along a minor road leading uphill from Todmorden. It is signposted right from the A6033 on the south side of Todmorden and from the A646 on the road to Hebden Bridge.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: regular train service from Manchester Victoria to Todmorden two miles away. Bus service from Todmorden or alternatively link paths along the Calderdale Way or from the Rochdale Canal towpath can be used to reach the starting point of the walk.

ON the opposite side of the lane to the churchyard wall at Lumbutts, a green metal fingerpost signed for Stoodley Pike and the Pennine Way points along a walled track. This is by the bend in the road coming uphill from the Lumbutts water mill tower. Join this track and it starts to gradually climb uphill with a mill pond on the right. The track leads up to a gate. Go through this and continue straight ahead as another path joins the route through a gate on the left. You are now on the 50 mile long Calderdale Way. The path climbs gradually uphill straight ahead with a wall on the left and becomes a distinctive stone causeway. Follow this as it zig-zags uphill passing a bench viewpoint to reach a stone pillar by a crossroads of paths. Turn sharp left here and head uphill towards prominent Stoodley Pike. This is a well-used path, not surprising as it is part of the Pennine Way. The path leads straight to the sombre gritstone memorial on the edge of the moorland spur.

Continue along the Pennine Way leading away from Stoodley Pike. This is the distinct path which continues along the plateau and gradually drops down to a wall gap. Go through this and almost immediately cross the wall stile on the left to follow a path down to meet a crossroads of routes at a track. Leave the Pennine Way here and turn sharp left along the track which maintains a level gradient heading back around the hillside in the direction of Stoodley Pike. This track is part of the Pennine Bridleway, a new long distant route across northern England. This track (known as London Road!) is now followed on the level for 1 miles all the way back to the lane at Mankinholes.

When the lane is reached you can either bear left and follow the road back to nearby Lumbutts or alternatively turn right into Mankinholes, an ancient settlement characterised by sturdy stone houses built for yeoman clothiers. A Youth Hostel in the hamlet is one such house and on the left hand side of the lane just after the hostel, a path leads across fields to Lumbutts. Further along the same lane on the left the Pennine Bridleway can also be followed back into Lumbutts. Both these paths converge by the Top Brink Inn and walk down from the pub car park to return to the lane by Lumbutts churchyard.

COUNTRY CLIPS

The section of the Pennine Bridleway followed in this walk is part of the Mary Towneley Loop, a 47 mile circular route through the Pennines around Rochdale, Rossendale and Calderdale, which is now open for use by mountain bikers, horse riders and walkers. There are no stiles on the whole route -- only gates! A map and services guide for the Mary Towneley Loop is available from the Countryside Agency, phone 0870 1206466. The complete Pennine Bridleway is an ambitious long distance route planned from Derbyshire to Cumbria and Northumberland which is due to open in phases through 2004-6.