{"id":1010616,"date":"2026-04-15T16:22:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T15:22:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1010616"},"modified":"2026-04-15T16:22:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T15:22:06","slug":"wild-bank-hill-and-swineshaw-reservoirs-from-stalybridge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1010616","title":{"rendered":"Wild Bank Hill And Swineshaw Reservoirs From Stalybridge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

With rain forecast from lunchtime onwards, I was up early and starting this walk before 9 o’clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had high hopes for this route, and wasn’t disappointed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s just a 35 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme to Stalybridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk was about 8.5 miles, and took 3hours 30 minutes. It’s quite a hike, rising 1280 feet to the summit of Wild Bank Hill! However, it’s downhill all the way once you’ve topped it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This walk is Ok for dogs, with canal towpath, town park, woodland, fields and Water Authority tracks, as well as moorland where leads are essential at this time of year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

I parked at the free Stalybridge Country Park car park on Hartley Street, postcode SK15 3EZ, What 3 Words \/\/\/credible.stall.demoted<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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

Huddersfield Narrow Canal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I set off back down Hartley Street crossed over and along Grove Road. Part way along, the tarmac stopped and the lovely old cobbled surface emerged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At the bottom of the hill, I joined the canal towpath, at a point where the waterway is definitely one way at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There were lots of Canada geese frequenting the canal, and also this lovely female goosander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There were some well designed waterside properties as I reached Stalybridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At the large Tesco store, I left the canal, and crossed the car park and a busy road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cheetham Park And Eastwood Nature Reserve<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cheetham Park is a smart town park with play areas and civic structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As the paths rise up, the park merges into ancient woodland, a real haven for birds. I captured pictures of a couple, nuthatch and ring necked parakeet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The path is wonderful, perched on the edge of a steep valley with a stream at the bottom. It’s a lovely spot, and worth a longer visit to explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At Bower Fold, the path passes a familiar landmark from Stockport County’s darker days in non-league football – Stalybridge Celtic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wild Bank Hill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I crossed the A6018, and wandered through an area of lovely housing, all the properties having great views to the woods and the plains to the west.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A path between the houses took me onto a large grassy field, and as I rose above the roof lines, I too could enjoy the view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Suddenly, everything had a rural feel, and I stopped to photograph a friendly sparrow and some stabled horses at Higher Harpley Farm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the farm, pasture soon turned to heath; the moors would be next!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final ascent is really steep, so I kept stopping to take pictures of the spectacular view!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I was delighted to reach the trig point!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Looking south from here, I could make out the ubiquitous shape of Shutlingsloe in the distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As I left the top of the hill, I could now see to the east, with Arnfield Reservoir and Bottoms reservoir prominent in the Longdendale Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Swineshaw Valley<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As I descended gradually over Hollingworth Moor, Lower and Higher Swineshaw Reservoirs came into view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The path traverses the hillside above the lower reservoir, before crossing the dam of the higher one, with views down the valley to the lower body of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From here the United Utilities roadway leads down the valley, passing a disused quarry before Brushes Reservoir and Walkerwood Reservoir appear ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The day’s last bird was this handsome male pheasant! Gorgeous colours!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I crossed the valley at the dam of the latter reservoir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the reservoir the path enters Stalybridge Country Park, with many alternative routes down the valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I chose this interesting one which, I suspect is a concrete encasement of a pipe from the reservoirs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And so, I beat the predicted rainfall, and returned to the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, this is a really great walk with so many varied environments. It’s a challenging ascent, but very much worth the effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On the long journey to and from Wembley on Sunday for the Vertu Trophy Final, we enjoyed some great tunes. I chose Skinny Lister, Jordan chose The K’s, who we are going to see in July. I loved this track… probably because I think the intro is stolen from The Stooges, for which I’ll forgive them! This is “Sarajevo”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n