Walk 15b/2007 – Dove Stone Reservoir, Ashway Rocks and Chew Reservoir

Four hardy grown ups and two eager little ones went on our most distant one day walk to Dovestone Reservoir. Despite being 130 miles away it still only took a little over 2 hours to get there. The walk takes in four reservoirs, Dovestone, Yeoman Hey and Greenfield near the start before ascending on to the moor land tops and across to Chew. By the time we got to the end of Yeoman Hey the rain started to come down and didn’t let up again all day.

When we last did this walk a few years ago the bridge across Greenfield Brook had been washed away forcing us to go a long way up the wrong stream searching for a crossing point. This time the bridge was there enabling us to go straight up Birchen Clough, however we still had to make a couple of crossings over the rain swollen stream. Our crossing points were even more fun than usual as we had the little legs of Alex and the even shorter legs of Bryony to get across and they both seemed to take it all in their stride (pun intended).

After we finally crossed the brook and made our way to Raven Stones where we were able to shelter from some of the elements for a bite to eat. From there we headed toward Ashway Stone passing a memorial to James Platt, the MP for Oldham, who ‘was killed here by an accidental discharge of his own gun’ in 1857. Ashway Stone has eroded in such a way that it provides a small area with a ‘roof’ so a biscuit stop (Ed – “biscuit stop”! We don’t have “biscuit stops” – what’s the world coming to?) was made here. At this point we decided that in view of the weather, and not wanting to tire Alex and Bryony out too much (Ed – yeh, yeh, blame it on the kids. You just wanted to get out of the rain.), that there was no advantage in continuing to Chew Reservoir. We cut across the moor and back to the cars to dry out.

The scenery in this area is worth the mileage with good views from the tops and the tracks here are not as well worn as other parts of the Peak District. We had some good views overlooking the reservoirs and of the local sailing club who were out enjoying the elements. In the authors view an area worth visiting again, when the sun is out!

Graham

Pictures – Owen

Walk rating – very good

Dove Stone Reservoir	Graham’s drive for younger members seems to be paying off. Simon’s fed up because with all this wet weather his trousers have shrunk.
Dove Stone Reservoir	Graham lagging behind again.(We had to send Bryony to hurry him up)
Dove Stone Reservoir	Dove Stone Reservoir