[1] From Union Street South car park, turn right along the Rochdale Canal towpath to the Rochdale Road bridge. Walk under this and then cross over using (A) the Guillotine Gate Lock, to continue on the opposite bank. Pass a series of locks and go under an impressive (B) Skew Railway Bridge before going under a road bridge at Gauxholme. Cross at Lock 24 and turn right to cross Bacup Road.
[2] Walk straight ahead uphill along Pexwood Road. There are excellent views before you reach a junction at the top. Turn left along Stones Road (passing a stone gateway to Dobroyd Castle, now an activity centre, on your right). Continue uphill, soon turning sharp right passing Lob Quarry on the left. At the end of the road, just beyond the dwellings, turn right at the fingerpost onto the Calderdale Way.
[3] Continue on the track, but when you reach open fields, just past a house on your right, bear left uphill to a stone wall. Follow the wall, on your left, to a lane - Parkin Lane, here you have a great view across to Stoodley Pike. Turn left, and at the bend, go sharp right down a track to a group of houses. Follow the (C) Calderdale Way off to the right between buildings down the hill to woodland. Caution – the path has eroded as you enter the woodland. Continue down the steep descent to a lane at the bottom.
[4] Turn left on Ewood Lane and continue down past the leisure centre (on your right) to the end. Turn left along Burnley Road (A646) and cross, when safe, to re-join the Way (signed) on the opposite side, at Stoney Royd Lane. There is a very long, steep climb up the lane to almost the very top of the hill. At a gate follow the track right passing an isolated cottage up to a wider track. Turn right. The path, a paved 'trod', is now fairly level, eventually bearing left below Whirlaw Stones to reach a gate and a surfaced track.
[5] Follow this track downhill. Immediately after a right hand bend over a stream, take the path left (signed) uphill, leaving the track. Stay on this path (leaving the Calderdale Way as it goes off to the left). The path now skirts around a golf course, eventually passing the clubhouse and car park to reach a junction with Hey Head Lane.
[6] Here turn right downhill and left at a T-junction into and along Cross Stone Road. At the far end of the cemetery (on your left) turn sharp right (fingerpost), then shortly left after a cottage. Go down steps and immediately before the next cottage, turn right downhill - narrow rough path. At the next path junction turn left. On emerging between stone cottages, turn left then soon right onto a road of semi- detached houses (Castle Lane). Turn left at the next road junction, and follow the road down into the No Entry section. Emerge on Halifax Road (A646). Turn left and shortly cross.
[7] Turn right down Woodhouse Lane (signed Youth Hostel). Cross the River Calder and take the steps on the left down to the canal. Turn right and follow the canal towpath back to Union Street Car Park, Todmorden.