Nestled deep in the Calder Valley, the characterful market town of Todmorden is a liitle bit Yorkshire, a little bit Lancashire and wholly unique. Todmorden used to stand with one half in Lancashire; the old Yorkshire-Lancashire border ran through the magnificent Grade I listed Town Hall. The name means "Valley of the Marsh Fox" and the town is situated at the point where three valleys meet.
Todmorden town centre's high street and traditional cobbled-highways are populated by an array of independent businesses, traders and cafes. Todmorden's indoor and outdoor markets offer a diverse range of quality produce, such as locally reared beef, lamb, goat and seasonal treats such as asparagus spears, bilberries and roast chestnuts. Regular flea markets and craft events throughout the year help to cater for all tastes and requirements.
Architecturally, Todmorden is unparalleled for such a small town, with fine examples in the Town Hall with its neo-classical colonnades and richly engraved pediment, the nearby Unitarian Church, Old Hall and Todmorden Hippodrome.
Opportunities for leisure activities are plentiful, with easy walks along the Rochdale Canal towpath towards Rochdale or Hebden Bridge and hikes to Bridestones and the Stoodley Pike monument . At Centre Vale Park you can visit the 'Lucky Dog', made famous by Derren Brown's 2011 TV show "The Experiments". You can also enjoy bowling on the crown green pitches, the skate park, strolling amongst the floral displays or just sit, listening to music on the bandstand. In the summer enjoy fantastic events such as the annual Agricultural Show or Todstock Music Festival.
A couple of miles further up the road you will find Walsden, famed for the Summit Tunnel and the highest canal lock in the country. Walsden is home to the ever-popular Grandma Pollard's Chippy, frying tonight for over 50 years and the impressive Gordon Rigg's Garden Centre, with everything from plants and greenery to crafts, home furnishings and a cafe.
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