The background details of this week’s walk are:

Distance: 9.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate circular walk
Start time: 10.0am.

This week, the Start of the walk is the Dove Stone Reservoir car park at Bank Lane, Greenfield (off A635 Holmfirth Road) Oldham.  

Grid Ref. SE 013036. 

It’s a Pay and Display Car Park.  The meters accept Cash or Card.  The all day fee is £4.70.

Map: OS Explorer OL1 Dark Peak.

The walk is a classic Dark Peak horseshoe ridge walk, high above Dove Stone Reservoir and the Chew Valley.  The weather forecast for Thursday is very promising, such that the views from the ridge above the Reservoir should be fabulous, as we traverse the ridge.

There is just one major climb upto the ridge.   Its ascent is approximately 235 metres.  The paths around the reservoir are well-maintained and firm, whereas the ridge paths are a variety of conditions – grassy, rocky and boggy with exposed peat in places and slightly undulating.

There is a short steep-ish descent (approximately 100 metres) at the end of the ridge as we come down to head towards the car park.

I anticipate the walk to take 5 to 5.5 hours.

9.5 miles, moderate