2nd August 2015 - Widdop & Wadsworth Moor
Walk Details
Distance walked: 10.7 miles
Total ascent: 1854 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 5.5 hrs
Route description: Clough Hole Bridge-Clough House Farm-Pennine Way-Gorple Lower Reservoir-Gorple Upper Reservoir-Gorple Gate-Cludders Slack-Widdop Reservoir-Widdop Road-Pennine Way-Dean Gate-Walshaw-Hebden Dale-Gibson Mill-Clough Hole Bridge
Unfortunately the weather this weekend didn't play ball, so I decided to postpone the walk that I'd originally planned to do in favour of this one closer to home in nearby Calderdale. It's an area that I've gotten to know quite well during the past couple of years as I've explored the main valley and its offshoots and one that I'll continue to enjoy visiting. There was a rather late start today to give it a chance to brighten up so it was midday before I'd set off from the car park and although there wasn't a lot of sunshine on the way round it still felt warm, especially when the sun did appear. There were a couple of very brief showers encountered, so brief that I didn't even bother thinking about getting my waterproof out.
From the NT Clough Hole car park I crossed the road to take the footpath uphill past Clough House Farm to the Pennine Way. I then followed the Pennine Way north to Gorple Cottages, here I left the trail to cross the dam of Gorple Lower Reservoir and head up the track to Gorple Upper Reservoir. I then took the path that heads uphill opposite the dam to reach the Pennine Bridleway and the track of Gorple Gate. As the track starts its descent to Widdop Reservoir I left it for a pretty clear path that makes its way above the gritstone outcrops of Cludders Slack. There was an easy descent between them to get back down to the track and the dam of Widdop Reservoir. I then had a walk down the Widdop Road to reach the Pennine Way again, which took me to Walshaw Dean Upper and Middle Reservoir and the track of Dean Gate across the top of Wadsworth Moor to Walshaw. From Walshaw I followed the track south above Hebden Dale until I reached Lady Royd Farm where a footpath heads down into the woods to Gibson Mill. My walk then finished with a climb up to the Clough Hole car park.
Total ascent: 1854 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 5.5 hrs
Route description: Clough Hole Bridge-Clough House Farm-Pennine Way-Gorple Lower Reservoir-Gorple Upper Reservoir-Gorple Gate-Cludders Slack-Widdop Reservoir-Widdop Road-Pennine Way-Dean Gate-Walshaw-Hebden Dale-Gibson Mill-Clough Hole Bridge
Unfortunately the weather this weekend didn't play ball, so I decided to postpone the walk that I'd originally planned to do in favour of this one closer to home in nearby Calderdale. It's an area that I've gotten to know quite well during the past couple of years as I've explored the main valley and its offshoots and one that I'll continue to enjoy visiting. There was a rather late start today to give it a chance to brighten up so it was midday before I'd set off from the car park and although there wasn't a lot of sunshine on the way round it still felt warm, especially when the sun did appear. There were a couple of very brief showers encountered, so brief that I didn't even bother thinking about getting my waterproof out.
From the NT Clough Hole car park I crossed the road to take the footpath uphill past Clough House Farm to the Pennine Way. I then followed the Pennine Way north to Gorple Cottages, here I left the trail to cross the dam of Gorple Lower Reservoir and head up the track to Gorple Upper Reservoir. I then took the path that heads uphill opposite the dam to reach the Pennine Bridleway and the track of Gorple Gate. As the track starts its descent to Widdop Reservoir I left it for a pretty clear path that makes its way above the gritstone outcrops of Cludders Slack. There was an easy descent between them to get back down to the track and the dam of Widdop Reservoir. I then had a walk down the Widdop Road to reach the Pennine Way again, which took me to Walshaw Dean Upper and Middle Reservoir and the track of Dean Gate across the top of Wadsworth Moor to Walshaw. From Walshaw I followed the track south above Hebden Dale until I reached Lady Royd Farm where a footpath heads down into the woods to Gibson Mill. My walk then finished with a climb up to the Clough Hole car park.
Route map
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.
Looking back down to Hebden Dale as I head uphill from the Clough Hole car park
Onto the Pennine Way
Which will take me round the moor to Gorple Lower Reservoir
Looking across the valley of Graining Water to the white-washed buildings of the Pack Horse Inn and Wadsworth Moor
Heading down to Gorple Cottages
Gorple Lower Reservoir
and again as I..
..follow the track up to..
..Gorple Upper Reservoir
Opposite the dam I took this path past gritstone outcrops up to the track of Gorple Gate. The one up ahead looks like a good place to stop and take a break.
Gorple Upper Reservoir
and Gorple Lower Reservoir
The gap in the hills that Gorple Gate takes across to Lancashire. I think the thing that I noticed most looking across here were the ruined walls and building of Gorple. A remote and lonely spot but not as isolated as it might seem at first glance as it was next to the former packhorse route.
On Gorple Gate heading for Widdop Reservoir
As the track started to descend towards the reservoir I left it behind for the gritstone outcrops of Cludders Slack
Widdop Reservoir. It's shame that the sun isn't out, it would look good in its setting in a bowl of hills. I'll have to try and come back in autumn, the bracken dying off should provide some great colour.
Cludders Slack
Widdop Reservoir from its dam
and looking back to the outcrops of Cludders Slack
Walking down the Widdop Road
and then it's onto the track up to Walshaw Dean Lower Reservoir
and here it is
Next stop is the Middle Reservoir. This path is part of the Pennine Way.
Walshaw Dean Middle Reservoir
As I take the track of Dean Gate up and across Wadsworth Moor the view of Walshaw Dean opens out..
The two Gorple Reservoirs and Widdop Reservoir from the top of Wadsworth Moor
As I cross the top Calderdale comes into view
Calderdale and the wooded Hebden Dale with Black Hill and Blackstone Edge in the far distance
On the track down to Walshaw
Views of Hebden Dale..
..before I reach the hillside hamlet of Walshaw
I then followed this track south along the hillside to Lady Royd Farm
A last chance to admire Hebden Dale as I head down into the woods..
..to reach Gibson Mill
At the end of the walk and I took this shot of Hebden Dale from the roadside outside the car park