{"id":1010146,"date":"2025-10-30T16:44:36","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T16:44:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1010146"},"modified":"2025-10-30T16:44:38","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T16:44:38","slug":"fernilee-reservoir","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1010146","title":{"rendered":"Fernilee Reservoir"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a classic walk in the western Peak District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weather was dry and quite sunny as I set off from the same starting point as my walk around Errwood Reservoir on 28th August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drive to the walk is 40 minutes from Cheadle Hulme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took me 3 hours to complete the 6.2 mile walk, plus 20 minutes for lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk isn’t very suitable for dog walking, being mainly on open sheep pasture. However a circuit of Fernilee Reservoir is a great dog walk of around 3 miles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I walked in an anticlockwise direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I parked in the car park at the east end of the Errwood Reservoir dam, postcode SK17 6GJ, What 3 Words \/\/\/tasteful.monks.napped<\/p>\n\n\n

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

From The Reservoirs To White Hall Outdoor Education Centre<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This first section is beautiful in autumn. it begins with a drop down through woodland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Soon, enough, I arrived at a stream, which was almost dry when I was here in August…. but not now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rising away from the stream, I just kept looking back at the stunning autumn colours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a steady climb, I left the bracken behind and crossed the A5004. Looking back over the road, Fernilee Reservoir was now visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the top of the hill, the land flattens out and the view to the east opens up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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White Hall To Fernilee Reservoir<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s downhill for while now. As I approached Hazelhurst Farm, a pair of rams gave me the eye!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As I traversed towards Haylee Farm, I stopped to watch a pair of fieldfares, a sure sign that autumn migration is in full swing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Beyond them the view looks over the village of Combs to Chapel-en-le-frith beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I turned left at Haylee Farm and headed uphill again, then across to Wythen Lache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, I crossed a minor road and a dry stone wall, before tackling the moor ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After the moor, the route drops down to the A5004, and then takes the water company’s road to Fernilee Reservoir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fernilee Reservoir<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The reservoir is over a mile long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Its western bank is swathed in delightful mixed woodland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the far end the reservoir is filled by a cascade of water coming in from Errwood Reservoir above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Errwood Reservoir<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The water level in the upper reservoir remains very low, although there is one slipway which just reaches the water for use by the Sailing Club!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This walk covers much familiar territory for me, and is a super walk for this season!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chrissie Hynde has released an album of duets recorded over several years with several collaborators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love this version of Can’t Help Falling In Love, featuring the late Mark Lanegan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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