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Os grid reference about SD.920262. The Catholes Stone can be reached from the Burnley to Todmorden road the A646 at Lydgate. Walk north on a footpath over the railway tunnel and into Kitson Wood. From here walk in a north-westerly direction through Hudson Clough beside Hudson Moor. Above on the right are the Orchan rocks, but just below in the clough at Catholes an outcrop of some very large millstone grit boulders and smaller stones; the inscribed Cathole Stone can be found here. If coming from the north from Shore via Blue Bell Lane you need to reach Hartley Royd farm. From here you need to walk half a mile south down Hudson clough past Chunters Rocks to reach Catholes.
Amongst the large boulders and standing between two small up-right stones there is a large, long stone with a flat side to it. On this is carved a thin Latin cross surrounded by an inscription in what has been described as old school Latin - this must be different in some way to Roman Latin, though there does not appear to be any significant difference. The inscription is IESV DEVS DOMINVS MONTIVM which translated means 'Jesus, God, Lord of the Mountains'. The stone rests on recumbant stones and sits between two thin standing stones, one smaller in height than the other - in other words these stone have been placed to look like a church altar or similar.
The stone is probably pre-16th century due to the type of Latin used; it was probably a way-marker or boundary stone, but with a religious connection. Some historians think it was a boundary stone marking the land belonging to Whalley Abbey. So possibly we have a pilgrimage route from the abbey to Yorkshire. Certainly this secluded ravine is a heavenly spot, a place of peaceful serenity and tranquility. I have no doubt that the stone was visited by pilgrims as far back as the 14th-15th centuries who would pause here and offer prayers. There is, apparently, a baptismal pool in the stream that flows down the clough, though I don't know whether it still exists today.
Whirlow Hill a few miles to the east was where some beaker artifacts were excavated and a bit further north still we have the famous Bridestones. So enjoy your walk but mind how you go when clambering over the rocky outcrops.
Amongst the large boulders and standing between two small up-right stones there is a large, long stone with a flat side to it. On this is carved a thin Latin cross surrounded by an inscription in what has been described as old school Latin - this must be different in some way to Roman Latin, though there does not appear to be any significant difference. The inscription is IESV DEVS DOMINVS MONTIVM which translated means 'Jesus, God, Lord of the Mountains'. The stone rests on recumbant stones and sits between two thin standing stones, one smaller in height than the other - in other words these stone have been placed to look like a church altar or similar.
The stone is probably pre-16th century due to the type of Latin used; it was probably a way-marker or boundary stone, but with a religious connection. Some historians think it was a boundary stone marking the land belonging to Whalley Abbey. So possibly we have a pilgrimage route from the abbey to Yorkshire. Certainly this secluded ravine is a heavenly spot, a place of peaceful serenity and tranquility. I have no doubt that the stone was visited by pilgrims as far back as the 14th-15th centuries who would pause here and offer prayers. There is, apparently, a baptismal pool in the stream that flows down the clough, though I don't know whether it still exists today.
Whirlow Hill a few miles to the east was where some beaker artifacts were excavated and a bit further north still we have the famous Bridestones. So enjoy your walk but mind how you go when clambering over the rocky outcrops.
