Dove Stone Reservoir, situated in the Chew Valley, Greenfield,
is a popular tourist attraction for Oldham residents and visitors from farther
afield. 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 dinghy’s 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 1980’s.
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 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 a 19th
century pub which once stood close by, on the Saddleworth to Holmfirth Road, it
was the scene of a most gruesome murder.
At the end of the track I dropped down the path and
continued along the shores of Dove Stone Reservoir, as 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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