Hebden Bridge Accommodation

Plenty of attractive walks around Todmorden

The Bear Healthfood & Co-operative cafe/store Todmorden

John Fielden Statue in Centre Vale Park Todmorden

Todmorden Pennine Bridleway Tourist Information Pennine Way West Yorkshire UK

Todmorden is not only steeped in the history and heritage of the industrial revolution with the building of the Manchester-Leeds Railway and the Rochdale Canal, it also provides a stunning countryside setting just inside the Yorkshire border. There's a buzzing market, ample antique and bookshops, beautiful walks along the Todmorden Centenary Way or great trails for the kids in Centre Vale Park. Todmorden is, due to its heritage, well served by rail so quick trips to Manchester, Leeds or other cities and sights in Lancashire or Yorkshire linked to the Industrial Revolution are easily accessible.

Pennine Way, Pennine Bridleway, Mary Towneley Loop and Canal Walks

Todmorden is an ideal base for walking and horse riding holidays, whether your preference is long hikes or short strolls. Surrounding and crossing Todmorden are many established walkways including the Calderdale Way, the Pennine Bridleway, the Pennine Way and Todmorden's own Centenary Way. Todmorden is also positioned right in the middle of the Mary Towneley Loop opened in 2002!

Walking on these routes you'll be following ancient trade routes and pass many mill buildings set in stunning scenes of natural beauty. A towpath near Todmorden's Free Library will take you along the canal, eventually linking with Todmorden Centenary Way. Along the canal towpath you'll find the Great Wall of Tod and the magnificent skew bridge at Gauxholme, where rail and canal intersect.

Todmorden Out and About

Out and about in Todmorden you'll find a shopper's paradise. A buzzing market is open Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, with second-hand flea market on Sundays and Thursdays. There's an enormous antique centre and one of the best local second hand bookshops (specialising in comics) on Halifax Road and in Todmorden centre tea shops, coffee bars, old inns and pubs and craft shops abound.

A look in the Bear Co-operative Store and Cafe on Dale Street and a visit to the old Golden Lion Inn dating back to 1770 are a must! Todmorden centre is full of fascinating buildings linked to local family history and the industrial revolution and its effects - these include the dominant Town Hall, the Unitarian Church, the Free Library Building and much more.

Kids will love Todmorden. A trip to Centre Vale Park is a must with its Treasure Trail inclusive of crocodile log sculptures and sculptured Pirates. Kids have to find the treasure in the centre of the wood (for a Treasure Trail map visit the Tod tourist information centre, 15 Burnley Road, Tel: (01706 818181). Other woodland walks abound in the Park and activities include a children's play area, crazy golf and a conservatory housing an aquarium, aviary, reptile house and more! Todmorden has its own Toy and Model Museum, inclusive of shop at 13 Rochdale Road (Tel: 01706 818365) and is open Thursday to Saturday 11am to 4pm.

Todmorden - A Non-Conformist History

Samual Fielden recalled that in his father's time in the first half of the 19th century, people would line the streets waiting for the arrival of the weekly Chartist newspaper 'The Northern Star'.

John Fielden (1784-1849) the First (it gets complicated), was son of Joshua (1748-1811) who was the first Fielden of the dynasty. 'Honest' John as he was known locally is best renowned for works outside of Todmorden when he was MP for Oldham, pushing for a reduction in working hours and supporting the Chartist Movement and Universal Suffrage. Unusual indeed for an industrialist at the time.

Todmorden Tourist Information & Markets

For complete guide maps on Todmorden Trails visit Todmorden Tourist Information Centre, 15 Burnley Road, Todmorden, OL14 7BU. Tel. 01706 818181.
Also see www.todmorden.org

Todmorden holds its central market (next to the town hall) every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, plus on Sundays and Thursdays/second hand market days.

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