Chris Maylor, who runs a Saddleworth Discovery Walks blog and Facebook page, brings you a walk around Dove Stone Reservoir.
For more information about local walks, email Chris at saddleworthdiscoverywalks@gmail.com
A walk around Dove Stone Reservoir
Distance: approximately 3.9 miles (2 hours)
Dove Stone Reservoir, situated in the Chew Valley in Greenfield, is a popular tourist attraction. Considered as the northern gateway to the Peak District, this beautiful valley offers an array of low level strolls and high moorland walks.
Setting out from the RSPB operated car park, adjacent to the Sailing Club, I made my way along the southern shores of Dove Stone reservoir, with the evening sun warming my back.Turning north at Chew Brook I watched a flotilla of sailing dinghys straining to make forward progress as their crews attempted to harness the light breeze in loosely flapping sails.
Passing below Dean Rocks the air was still and quiet, except for the distinctive calls of the Peregrine Falcons which nest high on the cliffs.
Reaching the foot of Ashway Gap I sat on a bench, in the grounds of the former Victorian Hunting Lodge, called Ashway House, and trained my binoculars to the sky in search of the high speed raptors. Previously owned by the wealthy Platt family the once majestic, castle-like, building was sadly demolished in the early 1980s.
Continuing north I made my way along the eastern shores of Yeoman Hey Reservoir, which was the first to be constructed in the valley. Following the clear path I climbed to the south-east corner of Greenfield Reservoir and crossed the dam to reach the far bank.
Looking up the valley I watched two climbers scaling the formidable tower of gritstone rock, known as the Trinacle. The sound of their clanging ironmongery drifted down the valley on the still air as they made their graceful ascent.
As the setting sun bathed the valley’s upper, west facing slopes, in a blanket of orange light, I turned south and headed along the wide track, below Bill o’ Jacks plantation. Named after a19th century pub which once stood close by on the Saddleworth to Holmfirth Road it was on 2 April, 1832 the scene of a most gruesome murder.
At the end of the track, beyond the inlaid stone commemorating the visit of the King of Tonga, I dropped down the tarmac path and continued along the shores of Dove Stone Reservoir.
As the last fingers of sun light caressed the valleys gritstone edges, a pair of ducks escorted their young brood along the water’s edge. Crossing the dam wall I made my return to the car park to complete what had been a wonderful evening’s stroll in the Chew Valley.
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