2nd May 2013 - The Saddleworth Edges
Walk Details
Distance walked: 11.0 miles
Total ascent: 1918 ft
OS map used: OL1 - The Peak District, Dark Peak area
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Dove Stone Reservoir-Bradbury Lane-Intake Lane-Alphin Pike-Wimberry Rocks-Chew Reservoir-Dish Stone Brow-Fox Stone-Dean Rocks-Ashway Rocks-Raven Stones Brow-Birchen Clough-Greenfield Reservoir-Yeoman Hey Reservoir-Dove Stone Reservoir
A beautiful spring day for this walk along the Saddleworth Edges.
After parking in the car park below the Dove Stone dam the first thing I did was walk away along Bradbury Lane. This becomes a track and where it ends at Intake Lane I turned left. At a convenient spot just before the plantation is reached I commenced a pathless ascent of Alphin Pike. From the trig point I then walked along the moor edge over Wimberry Rocks and above Chew Brook to arrive at Chew Reservoir. More moorland edge walking was then done above Dish Stone Brow, Dean Rocks, Ashway Rocks and Raven Stones Brow. My route back was down Birchen Clough and past Greenfield, Yeoman Hey and Dove Stone Reservoirs to the car park.
Total ascent: 1918 ft
OS map used: OL1 - The Peak District, Dark Peak area
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Dove Stone Reservoir-Bradbury Lane-Intake Lane-Alphin Pike-Wimberry Rocks-Chew Reservoir-Dish Stone Brow-Fox Stone-Dean Rocks-Ashway Rocks-Raven Stones Brow-Birchen Clough-Greenfield Reservoir-Yeoman Hey Reservoir-Dove Stone Reservoir
A beautiful spring day for this walk along the Saddleworth Edges.
After parking in the car park below the Dove Stone dam the first thing I did was walk away along Bradbury Lane. This becomes a track and where it ends at Intake Lane I turned left. At a convenient spot just before the plantation is reached I commenced a pathless ascent of Alphin Pike. From the trig point I then walked along the moor edge over Wimberry Rocks and above Chew Brook to arrive at Chew Reservoir. More moorland edge walking was then done above Dish Stone Brow, Dean Rocks, Ashway Rocks and Raven Stones Brow. My route back was down Birchen Clough and past Greenfield, Yeoman Hey and Dove Stone Reservoirs to the car park.
Route map
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On the track of Bradbury Lane with the dam of the Dove Stone Reservoir and the moorland edges I'll be walking in the distance
A climb through heather brought me to the summit of Alphin Pike. Looking south to Harridge Pike and Wild Bank Hill.
The view to the northwest towards the distant West Pennine Moors and South Pennines
Zooming in on Manchester city centre. The tallest building on the left is the Beetham Tower.
I've set off for Wimberry Rocks and I have a great view down to Dove Stone Reservoir and across to the edges I'll be walking along later in the day
On Wimberry Rocks
Dove Stone and Yeoman Hey Reservoirs from Wimberry Rocks. Alderman's Hill is on the other side of the valley.
Above the valley of Chew Brook
and looking back down the valley
Chew Reservoir. Not quite as full as you would expect it to be.
The best part of the walk is still to come as I start the edge walk on Dish Stone Brow..
Bramley's Cot. The ruins of a shooting lodge built into the side of the hill.
Alderman's Hill behind the cairn on Fox Stone
Dove Stone Reservoir from the Fox Stone with the village of Greenfield beyond
Alderman's Hill and Upper Wood Edge. A bit of Yeoman Hey Reservoir can be seen.
A much better view of them from neighbouring Dean Rocks
On Dean Rocks
After crossing Ashway Gap I made my next stop of the day above Ashway Rocks. Alphin Pike, which was my first stop of the day is behind Dove Stone Reservoir.
Dean Rocks from Ashway Rocks
The final elevated part of the walk on Raven Stones Brow. Greenfield Brook is below as it heads up into the Saddleworth Moors to become Holme Clough.
The Trinnacle against the backdrop of Greenfield Reservoir
Birchen Clough, my route of descent
A path follows the right hand bank..
..down into a steep sided ravine
Cascades in Birchen Clough
Raven Stones Brow above Greenfield Reservoir
Beside Yeoman Hey Reservoir
Dean Rocks and Great Dove Stone Rocks above Yeoman Hey Reservoir
Yeoman Hey Reservoir
Back by Dove Stone Reservoir. Time to pay the ice-cream van a visit.