Introduction
With reasonable weather expected, I decided it would be a good day for a Pennine moorland walk.
It was a good walking day, 16 degC, with a mixture of cloud and sunshine!
The walk started on the A6033 between Littleborough and Todmorden, a 50 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme.
The walk is 10 miles with almost 1000 feet of ascent. It took 3 hours 45 minutes, plus 15 minutes for lunch.
Outside the bird nesting season, this is a good route for dog walkers – just a couple of short sections with sheep grazing.
I walked in a clockwise direction.
The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL21.
There is a small pull-in car park where Bottomley Road leaves the A 6033, use postcode OL14 6UQ.
Bottomley
I set out down Bottomley Road, crossing the pretty stream…..
….and then the Rochdale canal.
The valley here is very steep. Within 10 minutes I had great views down it.
At Bottomley, there is an interesting blue plaque with historical information about the hamlet. Immediately after the plaque I turned left through a gate and immediately right, once again straight up the hill.
Any excuse for a rest. This lovely magpie wing feather was a good one.
Warland Reservoir And Drain
At last I reached the moor, and the slope was not so steep. Late August is a great time to enjoy the heather up here.
The outfall from the reservoir was ahead, it’s design very much taken from railway architecture.
The reservoir was silent and smooth, with no birds present. It appeared almost frozen!
I turned left, briefly following 2 other walkers, at the side of the drain which collects water from the gullies on the moor, feeding it into the reservoir.
The moor here is a vast plateau, broken only by the winding stone slab path alongside the drain.
In the near distance is the monument, Stoodley Pike , sitting high above the town of Todmorden.
The drain, and I, turned right here. The sign is a perfect description of this walk.!
Heading east, I looked down on Withens Clough Reservoir.
Here, I reached the end of Warland Drain, which was now housed in a surface laid concrete pipe. I continued on towards the start of White Holme Drain, first passing the aptly named Cloven Stone.
White Holme Drain And Reservoir
The drain starts out as a small channel which is choked by vegetation..
25 minutes later, it is a broad channel, opening into the reservoir.
A good spot for a rest, and lunch.
The path took me along 3 sides of the reservoir and over a short rise.
Light Hazzles Reservoir To The Rochdale Canal
Once more the spectacular views to the south-west came into view.
Light Hazzles is a narrow strip of water between its two larger neighbours.
Arriving back at Warland Reservoir, the stone pillars recognised the original water company, it having been built by The Rochdale Canal Company.
I walked halfway along the dam, took one last look at the panorama, and headed down the steep side of the valley.
The path down is steep, and wet and marshy in places. Halfway down, it reaches a farm, and becomes a minor road. Through the trees there is a beck tumbling down the hill. At the bottom, I took a detour to check out the lowest section of the waterfalls.
From here, it was just a short stroll along the Rochdale Canal, alongside fields heaving with Himalayan Balsam in full flower.
This is a simple route, and definitely one for the aficionados of the Pennine moors! I had a good day!
And Finally….
This is a song from David Woodcock. I’ve not heard of him before, and, well, his name’s not exactly very rock’n’roll!
However, I love his songs, music and lyrics reminding me of the late 70s – Dave Edmonds, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson etc.
The album is Pictures Of Me, and this track is “Indifferent”.
Vert Interesting as usual,& great photos!
Thank you, love the feedback!