Wadsworth, Widdop and Walshaw Dean Reservoirs

So this wasn’t a walk from a book it’s just a walk I chose to do having been on a walk around here before and spotted some really good footpaths I thought it would be interesting to follow.  It was about 2-o-clock when I parked up at Clough Foot.  The same place I park to walk around the Gorple Moor.  Instead of turning through the gate across the road I took the path up behind the lay-by.  This ran alongside a plantation and across the moor this is part of the Calder Aire Link. The path led me to Walshaw Dean Lower Reservoir.  The path continued to run alongside the reservoir,  it was very low because of the lovely dry summer we have had so far.  At the end of the reservoir the path turned up hill to reach the banking of Walshaw Dean Middle Reservoir – across the other side of the embankment was a beautiful lodge house. 

 This part of the walk has now joined the Pennine Way footpath.  Again it took me alongside the reservoir banking to the final dam/banking of Upper Walshaw Dean Reservoir.  Here there was a Gazebo set up for a charity walk – The Denholme Doddle. The checkpoint volunteers were waiting for just one more person come through then they could pack up.  Apparently everyone had gone through the checkpoint on the A6033 Oxenhope to Hebden Bridge Road so one of them was setting off with a map to see where the straggler was.  Here I crossed over the banking to walk up the other side of the reservoir. 

 At the end if I wanted I could continue on to Top Withins (save it for another day maybe).  I took the path which led me back around the opposite side of the reservoir to the Gazebo spot.  They must have found the lone walker as they were gone when I got back.  From here I continued back down the tracks I’d taken to get back to the car. 

I thought this was a nice easy walk and felt pleased I’d followed a map to create my own circular walk. A pleasant 5 miles.