With waterfalls set in ancient woodland the steep sided Gorpley Clough must be one of the most delightful approaches to the Pennine moors. Once these windswept hills were full of activity with working farms, coal mines, teams of packhorses and even a pub. Now only its tumbled ruins remain and even walkers are scarce, but on the wild moorland you'll find yellow, white and blue-topped posts, plus numerous different-coloured arrows all helpfully pointing the way.
LOCATION: One mile west of Todmorden
START: A681, small car park at Gorpley Clough Foot
Grid ref: SD918237 Postcode: OL147HH
DISTANCE: 5 miles (or a one mile potter)
GRADE: Moderate, but some rough, boggy moorland
TIME: 3 hours
MAP: Explorer OL - South Pennines Landranger 103
REFRESHMENTS: Pack a flask
EN ROUTE: Inchfield, Ramsden Clough, Freehold Top, Trough Edge End
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News