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| Reservoirs Galore!! |
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Date : 2nd August 2009
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Leader : Robert Eccles |
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Report by : Robert Eccles |
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Photos © : Phil Bedson |
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| Above Hurstwood shortly after the start -
Pendle Hill in the background | |
Six Hyndburn Ramblers would use the hamlet of Hurstwood as the launch pad for a 14-mile walk taking them to Boulsworth and Widdop Moor before returning via Black Moor, the Gorple Road and limestone hushings.
The walk started off north of the reservoir and then via farmland to Swinden. The map for this section shows a number of ancient sites although the site where a steam roller was spending it's final days wasn't on. Some are visible on the ground but unfortunately not as many as the OS map suggests.
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left:
Climbing a stile |
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right: The ancient resting place of a Steam Roller. |
Passing this reservoir, again to the north, started the gentle but lengthy climb across Extwistle Moor to Boulsworth and the 517m trig point at Lad Law. After crossing the Widdop road and onto the track directly opposite the group reached the foot of Boulsworth. One hundred metres of ascent remained and there was no more avoiding the “straight up” bit.
Approaching Lad Law from the southwest gives a good reveal. The view opens out over the Trawden valley and Yorkshire Dales. A little haze meant that only Ingleborough and Pen-y-Gent were visible but two of the more modest East Lancashire Three Peaks were clear (we were stood on the third!).
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left:
The track over Extwistle Moor |
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right: Near Boulsworth |
Getting from Lad Law to Dove Stones can be a messy affair. The trick is to head for Peacock Hill and then follow the county border to the Stones. After exercising this right to roam the group settled down for lunch on the windier south side (the view was better!). Even with the haze, Middle, Midgly, and Emley moors, Stoodly Pike and, with intense squinting (and maybe a touch of imagination), Blackstone Edge could be seen.
The group was still “off road” for the next section south west to Great Edge above Widdop Reservoir and then along the escarpment to Raven Stones. This was a highlight of the walk with excellent views down onto the reservoir, over to Gorple and, as a tantalus, The Pack Horse Inn.
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left:
The Dovestones |
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right: Along Great Edge |
Dropping down to the Widdop road, the group met a climber carrying a crash mat up to Raven Stones. The group was unanimous: he needed a bigger mat or, preferably, a new hobby.
The announcement that all hard off-path walking was over with would soon return to haunt the leader.
After rounding Widdop reservoir there was the last real climb of the day to Cludders Slack and Flask but the last 250m of the journey to Lower Gorple reservoir were harder than any of the off-road walking on Widdop Moor. There were mumblings but, thankfully, no actual lynching.(Lucky man - Ed.)
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left:
The rocks and resident climbers at Cludders Slack |
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right: Down to Gorple Lower Reservoir |
After that the return journey was easy. There was a slight gradient up to Gorple Stones that with the heat was felt more than it should but then it was literally down hill to Lancashire and Cant Clough reservoir. After what was already under the belt no one really noticed the final mile or so by the limestone hushings and the south side of Hurstwood reservoir to the cars.
All in all: 14 miles, six reservoirs, 630m of ascent, no rain and a pint at the Kettledrum.
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| View over Cant Clough Reservoir | |
| OS OL21 |
SOUTH PENNINES |
START/FINISH POINT |
SD 881 312 |
| WALK LENGTH |
14 mls / 22.5 km |
TIME WALKING |
5 hrs 45mins |
| MAX HEIGHT |
515.56 mtrs |
MIN HEIGHT |
211.08 mtrs |
| HEIGHT ASCENDED |
684.74 mtrs |
HEIGHT DESCENDED |
684.74 mtrs |
This map is for reference only and MUST NOT be used to do the walk.
Please use the correct OS map for all these walks.
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