Fielden Trail
A 20-mile long-distance walk celebrating William Fielden of Todmorden, who walked the paths of this moorland route bordering the historic counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: SD 936 241
Distance: 20 miles (32 km)
Time: 8–10 hours
Duration: 1 day
Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (1:25,000):
OL21 South Pennines – Burnley, Hebden Bridge, Keighley and Todmorden
Summary
The Fielden Trail is an arduous walk of 20 miles in the Pennines bordering the historic counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. Centred on the historic mill town of Todmorden—which has a history of lying within one county and then the other (currently within the West Riding of Yorkshire)—the trail is named after William Fielden, a yeoman farmer who grew up in the area. One of his descendants, “Honest John” Fielden, made his name in Parliament as a champion of the labouring classes, securing the Fielden name in the annals of national history. The walk heads out of Todmorden into the northern upper Calder Valley as far as Cornholme before returning to town and continuing south to explore the lower Calder Valley as far as Bottomley. The third and final spur heads to the moors east of Todmorden, climbing to Stoodley Pike before returning to finish in Todmorden. The walk links with the Calderdale Way, Pennine Way, and Pennine Bridleway.