{"id":1004360,"date":"2021-11-11T19:35:41","date_gmt":"2021-11-11T19:35:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1004360"},"modified":"2022-11-04T16:00:31","modified_gmt":"2022-11-04T16:00:31","slug":"holmbridge-and-digley-brownhill-ramsden-reservoirs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1004360","title":{"rendered":"Holmbridge, and Digley, Brownhill & Ramsden Reservoirs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

After a couple of weeks concentrating on the beautiful limestone valleys of the White Peak, I decided it was time to get out on the moors to the north this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, I headed out on the M67, then the A628 Woodhead Pass, and finally the A6024 to Holmbridge. The A6024 is an exciting drive, and one I hadn’t experienced before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the top of Holme Moss, on the Derbyshire \/ West Yorkshire border, the weather was quite eerie, so I stopped to take a picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Soon after, the mist cleared. and it was a lovely sunny day for a couple of hours. Then the mist rolled back and sunshine was interspersed with low cloud and mizzly rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is approximately 8 miles with 1315ft, 400m, of ascent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holmbridge is about three-quarters of an hour\u2019s drive from Cheadle Hulme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk took about 3 hours , plus a 20 minute lunch stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much of this walk was on fenced or walled tracks, so it would be good for dog walking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The start is in the village of Holmbridge, use postcode HD9 2NQ. I parked on the main road just past the rather attractive looking “Pickled Pheasant”!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Digley Reservoir<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Opposite the large church is the village cricket ground, and I took the track that runs alongside it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It is a lovely wooded valley, after which I emerged into bright sunshine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    When the path up through the copse met the road it was a short walk to the resplendent Digley Reservoir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    I continued up the road and along a track to give more great views of the water. An alternative path would provide a lakeside circuit of this reservoir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    At 11am there was quiet for remembrance up on the moors, apart from the Emirates giant Airbus circling to approach Manchester Airport some 20+ miles away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Marsden Clough<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There was time for a last view (for a while) of the reservoir from a dilapidated dry stone wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    I passed an ancient farm building which was home to a large flock of jackdaws. How this building was still standing, given the massive crack in the left end of the facing wall, I really didn’t know!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Autumn colours were much in evidence as I descended near a wood on my way to the clough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Soon, the brook came into view. Nice spot to stop for lunch, I decided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      The Moors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      The next section was across the open moorland of Wessenden Head, infamous for its association with Brady and Hindley. The clouds were blowing in now as I passed the grouse butts!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      A helicopter was active, fetching and dropping huge bags of aggregate or other material up on the tops near Holme Moss Transmitting Station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Meanwhile, as I returned to cultivated land, a farmer was working two dogs in the middle distance, and gathering sheep together – always fascinating to watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      This group were easily attracted by food!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Holme<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      I soon arrived in the village of Holme where there was interesting architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      A 19th century school –<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      A farm doorway, the farm having been named in the Domesday Book –<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      And I loved this road sign carved into the Sunday School stonework –<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Ramsden and Brownhill Reservoirs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      The path from Holme was delightful, and the waterfall marked on the map was quite impressive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Brownhill Reservoir soon appeared in the distance through the colourful woodland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      It is a pretty water feature, especially at this time of year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      As indeed, is its smaller, but higher partner, Ramsden Reservoir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      The outfall between the reservoirs provided a huge canvas for the local graffiti artists. I rather liked this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      And here are the two reservoirs, with the weather looking decidedly threatening!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      I really enjoyed this walk, and will explore this previously unvisited (by me) area again. Perhaps a summer reservoir stroll with time to take in the Pickled Pheasant!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      I have a rash of live gigs to attend in the next few weeks. Next up it’s Seasick Steve at The Lowry this Sunday. This is about 8 years old, but one I really like, “Purple Shadows”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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