Having been involved in the local LEADER funding panel which approved the funding for the Stanza Stones project, and living in Marsden, I’ve been meaning to complete the 50 mile route linking the stones together for a long time.
As it was created over 10 years ago, it felt like a good time since I was looking for a long challenge for the summer.
The Stanza Stones route was created in 2012 by the Ilkley Literature Festival to celebrate the South Pennines landscape. The project involved the creation of landscape-based poems written by the now poet laureate Simon Armitage, and carved into stones set into the landscape – from Ilkley to Marsden along the watershed.
Living in Marsden I decided it would be more motivational if I started in Ilkley and journeyed south back to Marsden, perhaps emulating Simon Armitage’s Walking Home along the Pennine Way. It would keep me focused and avoid public transport issues if I took longer than planned (or rather avoid offending anyone on a train with my sweaty odour and mud).
So I caught the first train to Leeds and then to Ilkley and started my journey early in the morning from Ilkley train station. The stones are now marked on the OS maps, though the route itself isn’t. As such I decided to take a couple of liberties with the route to take in additional trig points.
If you have a quick internet search for the route you will find variations with the booklet produced taking a direct line and including the Leeds Liverpool Canal (the route I took), and a direct version which cuts this out and heads to Haworth instead.
Either way, there’s 6 stones to visit and some other amazing landscape features along the way.
The route is 70km (depending on which variation you do around Haworth) and covers the watershed across the Pennines.
It also covers Ilkley Moor, the moors above Haworth and parts of the Pennine way above Todmorden to Marsden.
Hebden bridge provides a great refuelling spot for anyone doing it in one go, or a good spot for an overnight break.
