The glaciers that formed Walsden Valley seemed to have only just retreated as we followed the causey flags of Salter Rake Gate across the hillside. Hidden under a blanket of snow the stones of this ancient packhorse way, worn down by centuries of use, once carried salt from Cheshire to the Pennines. With hard frozen ground there was not a bog to be seen and, as we descended, the eroded gritstone paving made for easy walking - except for the bits covered with a sheet of ice!
LOCATION: Two miles south of Todmorden
START: Walsden Station (car park A6033, 50 yds to south)
Grid ref: SD934223 Postcode: OL146QD
DISTANCE: 3.5 miles
GRADE: Moderate
TIME: 2 hours
MAP: Explorer OL - South Pennines Landranger 103
REFRESHMENTS: Walsden
EN ROUTE: Pennine Bridleway, Langfield Commomn, Rake End, Rochdale Canal, Knowlwood
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News