Wednesday June 8th

 Chew Reservoir from Crowden

David had done this walk in March but this was the first time that Jacinta had been back to this walk for almost a year. (We last did the walk together on 9th June 2021)

The weather was off and on raining for a lot of the time. We set off from Crowden without our cags on but as we were reaching the A57 it seemed prudent to gear up as the clouds were looming.

Jacinta getting ready for the rain

We took the usual route to the Torside Reservoir dam: we like to cross over this and walk on the south side down to the Valehouse Reservoir. Torside, Rhodeswood and Valehouse are a magnificent set of reservoirs and there is always something to see, depending on the weather conditions. From the reservoirs, we went up to Tintwistle where we had our usual snack by the war memorial. On the way up to Arnfield Low Moor, we met a cheery United Utilities employee in his Suzuki Jimni (a small SUV) enjoying his day off logging cuckoos. He clearly had an outdoor job which he loved and I suspect that working for UU gave him access to great birding spots that would otherwise be unavailable! He was fascinating to talk to, looking after reservoirs including Chew and telling us about the moorland cuckoo's shameless use of a pippit's nest after ousting one of its legitimate residents.

After crossing Ogden Brook (avoiding the rotting style this time) we climbed up Ogden Clough and up on to Ormes Moor which is where the route starts to feel more remote.

The track down to the Ogden Brook crossing with Ogden Clough and Ormes Moor in the background

In fact, we didn't see another walker on this section. We took a more direct but undulating route across the aptly named "Wilderness" to join the Chew Reservoir path higher up near the reservoir itself.

Chew Green and Stable Stones Brow (left) and Dish Stone Rocks (right) from the Chew Reservoir path

The walk from the Chew Reservoir dam across the aptly named Laddow Moss to Laddow Rocks is a bit uninspiring, with rather boggy, wet ground and multiple paths to contend with. A break at Laddow gave us time to take in the view, with Black Hill to the north and the northern aspect of Bleaklow to the south.

A well-earned break perched above Laddow

Panorama at Laddow- the dark hills of Bleaklow to the right and the notch of Kinder's northern edge far right on the skyline

It was then about 4km back down to Crowden; we had no cash for ice-creams at the campsite, but a welcome San Pellegrino Classic Lemon saved the day when we got back to the car.
12 miles on the dot, ascent 603m.


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