Introduction

Sometimes it’s just great to visit a beautiful place that you know will be delightful every time. This is one such place , and I was able to find several paths that I haven’t walked before.

I drove up the A6 through Whaley Bridge and reached Fernilee Reservoir in half an hour.

The weather forecast told me that rain was due at lunchtime, so I got moving early, and I was walking away from the car at 9.25!

The walk was 7 miles with 1253 feet, 380m., of ascent. It took about 2 hours 45 minutes, and I was back at the car just as the ran started at 12.15.

There are some great dog walking sections on the walk, particularly the last 2 – 3 miles. Conversely, there are also quite a few fields of sheep.

The main car park for the area is between the Fernilee and Errwood Reservoirs, and is shown on the map. The walk can be started there, with road access from Bollington or Kettleshulme using the Sailing Club postcode SK17 6GJ. There is parking for a much smaller number of cars at the Fernilee Reservoir dam where I started, use postcode SK23 7HD, drive past the pub and the United Utilities access road is about a quarter of a mile up on the right.

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL24.

Fernilee

Fernilee Reservoir, along with Errwood Reservoir is the source of the water that comes out of the taps in Stockport, so it’s always good to see it full, as it was today!

My route took me back up the drive, over the main road, and onto the open hills.

The best of the weather was now!

As with last week’s walk I was enjoying the dry stone walls.

The fields gave way to a very quiet road. The road leaves the village of Combs and returns there after about 4 miles. It doesn’t go anywhere else!

White Hall Centre

At Wainstones, the road passes through a gap in the ridge brought the Outdoor Pursuits Centre into view.

The view down to Chapel-en-le-frith from White Hall is fantastic.

It was very windy up here, and I now turned straight into it. I enjoyed the view back to the Hall and down to the A5102.

Errwood

Back on the ridge, the two reservoirs came into sight, and I headed downhill towards the Errwood dam. The clouds were low, and the sheep eying me suspiciously.

It was tricky down here as the path thought it was a stream!

The short stretch of woodland was pretty despite the lack of foliage on the deciduous trees.

I’d seen zero people on this walk so far, but was now in the main car park areas, and walkers were setting off to walk round the reservoirs.

Errwood is quite dramatic but down here in the valley, I realised I was much more sheltered from the wind.

The copper beech hedge on the edge of the road atop the dam hides the view down to Fernilee Reservoir, except for this one photo opportunity.

From here, the obvious route is to take the path along the banks of Fernilee Reservoir, and if you’ve not done it before, it’s a lovely walk. I decided on a new route and stretched my legs to walk up The Street to take the track into the commercial forest. There was time for a last look back across the reservoir to the Sailing Club,

The Forest and The River Goyt

At first I thought it may be a mistake to come this way as the track was bordered by thick pine forest on both sides.

However, much felling had been carried out, and so there were good views both ways as I meandered along, high above the reservoir.

After passing the end of the reservoir (where there was a bail-out option down to the car park had the rain arrived early), I continued ahead and down towards Mill Clough. The farm, Madscar Farm on the map, has, perhaps unsurprisingly, been renamed and is now Knipe Farm It was a bit awkward to get around, requiring me to continue up the main track before a left turn is possible at the end of the small enclosed fields, returning to the far side of the farm through a field.

Down here, the land has a softer feel.

Soon, the River Goyt came into view. I crossed the bridge and turned upstream along the pretty riverside valley.

Back at the reservoir, the overflowing outfall brought the walk to a conclusion.

This is a great walk, bringing together the wilds of the hills, the dramatic reservoirs and the pretty woodlands and river valley in just 7 miles. Highly recommended!

And Finally…..

I’m trying to decide whether I like The Goon Sax enough to want to see them live next month. From their Mirror II album, this is “Desire”.