Stoodley Pike — Attraction in Calderdale

The 121 foot (37 m) high Stoodley Pike Monument dominates the skyline above Todmorden, sitting atop Stoodley Pike, a 1,300-foot (400 m) hill The monument was designed in 1854 by local architect James Green, and completed in 1856 at the end of the Crimean War.

The monument replaced an earlier structure, commemorating the defeat of Napoleon and the surrender of Paris. It was completed in 1815, after the Battle of Waterloo, but collapsed in 1854 after decades of weathering and a lightning strike.

You can only reach the Pike on foot, as there is no vehicular or bicycle access to the monument. Stoodley Pike is accessible by well-defined Right of Way footpaths. The Pennine Way also passes Stoodley Pike. There are many walking routes to the Pike from Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd. Walking guides to all these routes available from local Visitor Centres and the Heart of the Pennines online shop.

Stoodley Pike Monument contains a spiral staircase of 39 steps, accessed from its north side. If you visit, please be aware that several of the internal steps are in darkness, so it’s useful to have a torch to light your way, as there are no windows. The entrance to the balcony is on the Monument’s west face, some 40 feet above ground level. The views are well worth the walk...

I live a good 3 and a half hours walk/ride away and it never puts me off going too the top and taking in the breath taking view, and not too mention some of the most fun but dangerous riding tracks around on the descent down from the peak, also if you get to make the trek on a nice hot summers day you will see this monument it's it full glory cos as you approach the towering structure with the blue sky in the background and the blinding sun beaming down you will notice that one massive trek up to the top was all worth it in the end. It's also one of the few places that you can enjoy with friends and family but you can also enjoy a walk alone too the top. Highly recommended giving it a go, you won't be disappointed. Also if you have the energy to go an extra half an hour on bike or 50 mins walking you can carry on walking south/south east of the monument you will come across todmorden beach, this is one of my favourite place to visit around west Yorkshire, highly recommend good for families with kids and good for the fitness group to keep fit overall it's good for all...

Great walk. We started from Withens Clough Reservoir, from just outside the carpark and up a slope. It's a great path up to the top. Then you can climb up Stoodley Pike up the pitch black steps. It's a great view from the top. If you follow the Yorkshire Water trail back to the reservoir though it's not a great path on the the way back down, plus it's quite easy to miss the path on the right. Very muddy in places and I ended managed to slip ending up with my knees and hand in a boggy puddle! My partner ended up with one muddy trainer and one clean! You definitely need decent walking boots if following this route. I'd definitely recommend this walk though if you enjoy walking and would still give it 5 stars!

Revisited while walking the Calderdale Way (May 2023). This time I came up a different path from Withins Clough reservoir, firstly flagstones then a mud track. All dry today and decent views from the top. I descended to Todmorden, mainly on flagstones, then through fields and...