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Stage 1: Todmorden Station to Dobroyd Castle• The Start: Head out from Todmorden Railway Station and make your way briefly down to the Rochdale Canal towpath.
• The Climb: Follow the canal past the impressive "Great Wall of Tod". Leave the canal at Bacup Road, cross the bridge, and pick up Pexwood Road / Doghouse Lane climbing steeply through the trees.
• The Castle: This leads you directly past the main entrance lodge of Dobroyd Castle, a grand castle-style mansion built in 1869 by mill owner John Fielden.
Stage 2: Dobroyd Castle to Walsden via Gorpley Clough
• The High Stones: Continue past the castle along Stones Road toward Watty Farm and the open high ground. Keep an eye out for the ancient Stones standing stone marker.
• The Clough: Descend into the deep, wooded ravine of Gorpley Clough. The trail follows a tumbling brook past a series of stunning waterfalls.
• The Valley Floor: Follow the path out of the clough down into the village of Walsden, where you will briefly cross the valley bottom and railway line.
Stage 3: The Climb to Gaddings Dam
• The Moorland Ascent: From Walsden, pick up the Pennine Bridleway or the steep paths heading up the opposite side of the valley toward the moors.
• The Beach: After a sustained, steep hike up the rugged paths, you will top out at Gaddings Dam. Sitback and enjoy the bizarre sight of a sandy beach located 355 meters above sea level on a wild Yorkshire moor.
Stage 4: Returning to Todmorden
• The Ridge: Walk the circular path around the dam to take in views of the distant Stoodley Pike monument.
• The Descent: Follow the Todmorden Centenary Way or the main AllTrails Gaddings Dam Circular Route north-west past Rake End. The paths ease out into quiet farmland tracks before dropping you right back into the center of Todmorden for a well-deserved pub pint or cafe stop.
🎒 Essential Trail Tips
• Footwear: Ground sections across the moors and around Gorpley Clough are notoriously boggy and uneven. Proper, waterproof hiking boots are highly recommended.
• Navigation: Moorland visibility can change quickly. It is highly recommended to download an offline map on AllTrails or use an OS map (Explorer OL21) before setting off.
• Facilities: There are no toilets or shops up at Gaddings Dam. Fill up on refreshments in Todmorden or stop off at the Shepherd's Rest Inn on Lumbutts Road near the base of the final climb.
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Todmorden, Walsden, United Kingdom
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