Upper Derwent Valley

A Significant Anniversary

Ten years ago today was my last day at work, at Weaver Vale Housing Trust. It really doesn’t seem that long, yet I’ve packed quite a lot in, with my weekly walks being a constant highlight, as I planned them to be.

Initially recorded on Facebook posts, but for almost five and a half years recorded in this blog.

There are nearly 250 posts on the blog now, that’s a lot of miles, and much spectacular countryside enjoyed.

I intend to keep going for the foreseeable future!

Introduction

Today’s forecast said mainly dry and cloudy. I’d been planning a long walk in the Upper Derwent Valley, and over the moors to Alport Castles, but as I drove over from Chapel-en-le-Frith to Castleton I was enveloped in cloud, and realised that a walk over the moors was not a good idea.

So, I planned a shorter walk with less elevation along the western side of the valley.

It’s just over an hour’s drive from Cheadle Hulme.

The 5 mile walk took 3 hours to complete, including an additional half a mile to go and view the spectacular man-made waterfall at the Upper Derwent Reservoir dam.

This is a good walk for taking the dog, just a couple of sheep fields and a bit of minor road walking to negotiate, but mainly woodland and reservoir tracks.

I walked in an anticlockwise direction.

Half of the walk is on OS Explorer Map OL1, and half is on OL1.

I parked at the Fairholmes car park, nearest postcode S33 0AQ, but on Google Maps just use Fairholmes Car Park for directions; What 3 Words ///forest.baths.moons

Upper Derwent Reservoir

As I left the car park I could glimpse the waterfall through the trees, and decided I must take a closer look later.

At the end of the dam is a sculpture commemorating the training runs performed by the dambuster bombers before their sorties to Germany in World War 2.

Even at this relatively low elevation, the visibility wasn’t great.

Even the small feeder streams on the hillside were bubbling with water.

As the road took a left bend towards Quzelden Clough, the dam of Howden Reservoir came into view through the murk.

Gores Plantation And Nabs Wood

It was time for me to leave waterside and climb 425feet into the woods.

I took regular stops to peer into the view below, with Howden Reservoir just visible above its dam.

Soon, it was just me and the trees.

When the track flattened out, it was just me, the trees, and the reflections of the trees in the puddles.

After the forest, I came to the pretty Locker Brook tumbling down the hillside.

Descent To Ladybower Reservoir

I could now see down into the valley which carries The Snake Pass (A57) over from Glossop.

I think the mist was beginning to lift a little now.

Turning into the woods at Hagg Side, some of the conifers had been harvested and the reservoir came into view.

Soon, I could see up the valley to the Derwent dam.

Down at the reservoir, I admired the two huge pipes, described as “Aqueduct” on the map, as they cross the reservoir.

The Derwent Dam

Once back at Fairholmes, I kept to my word, and went to admire the dam.

Couldn’t resist a video!

Couldn’t avoid the splashes!

I thoroughly enjoyed this walk, and look forward to returning for the longer one when the weather is more suitable.

And Finally….

To mark my Ten years of hiking, here’s a song title that came to mind (though it’s not exactly about country walks)!