Tito, Fran and Martyn on the track alongside Birchin Clough.
Richard and Tito at the memorial to two local climbers that died in the Italian Mountains
Lokking across Dovestone reservoir towards Saddleworth Edges
Walk stats: Distance: 9.8 miles; Climb: 1214'; Walking average: 2.2 miles;
Time: 6 hours 14 minutes.
Group: Martyn, Richard, Fran and Tito.
This was a walk with many surprises and challenges. It gave us views of Saddleworth that we didn't even know existed. The walks started with a gentle stroll along the side of two reservoirs before the challenges of Birchin Clough. This path was correctly described as a scramble of boulder hopping along the steep side of a cascading stream, before scrambling up the steep grassy bank to a good path. This path was good in most places, but one or two places presented challenges for someone whose legs don't bend as much as they should! The stream crossing point wasn't particularly easy to find, but thankfully the path to the edges was marked with red flags once we had found it. The flags were out to assist the runners in a fell race. This edge side route was superb, even if in places it get very close to what I would describe as "keep back territory". Another stream crossing point was difficult to find, and we ended up doing a little Bilberry hopping to get back on track. However it did give us clear views of our mammal of the day, a Mountain Hare (Mountain Hares are smaller than the Brown Hare). Our only other animal of any note was a frog that jumped over the edge from the path we were on. Fortunately it only dropped down a few feet. We also spotted a vivid green beetle with two spots on its back and some reddish edges. Was it a Green Tiger Beetle? A pleasant lunch spot was found close to Ashway Cross. On this occasion taken early, less than half-way round and only just after mid-day! Some good stones for sitting on prompted the decision, along with one or two hints.
Once Chew Reservoir had been reached the return route followed the reservoir road down to the Dovestone Reservoir and a pleasant track alongside the reservoir back to the road leading to the Binn Green car park.
Birds seen or heard on route included: Grey Wagtails, Mallards, Curlew, Canada Geese (including a skein of about eight birds rising from the Chew Reservoir almost going over our heads a few feet above), Carrion Crow and a pair of Common Sandpipers (birds of the day).
A pleasant refreshing pint of Deuchars IPA and J.W. Lees Bitter was enjoyed at King William IV in Greenfield, only a few miles from the start of the walk. It was even muted that it was "a Martyn kind of pub". Anyway we will be going there again in two weeks time. It was also suggested that perhaps sampling one of their good Lancastrian pub grub meals wouldn't go amiss. They did have the cricket on as well, another tick for them!
Time: 6 hours 14 minutes.
Group: Martyn, Richard, Fran and Tito.
This was a walk with many surprises and challenges. It gave us views of Saddleworth that we didn't even know existed. The walks started with a gentle stroll along the side of two reservoirs before the challenges of Birchin Clough. This path was correctly described as a scramble of boulder hopping along the steep side of a cascading stream, before scrambling up the steep grassy bank to a good path. This path was good in most places, but one or two places presented challenges for someone whose legs don't bend as much as they should! The stream crossing point wasn't particularly easy to find, but thankfully the path to the edges was marked with red flags once we had found it. The flags were out to assist the runners in a fell race. This edge side route was superb, even if in places it get very close to what I would describe as "keep back territory". Another stream crossing point was difficult to find, and we ended up doing a little Bilberry hopping to get back on track. However it did give us clear views of our mammal of the day, a Mountain Hare (Mountain Hares are smaller than the Brown Hare). Our only other animal of any note was a frog that jumped over the edge from the path we were on. Fortunately it only dropped down a few feet. We also spotted a vivid green beetle with two spots on its back and some reddish edges. Was it a Green Tiger Beetle? A pleasant lunch spot was found close to Ashway Cross. On this occasion taken early, less than half-way round and only just after mid-day! Some good stones for sitting on prompted the decision, along with one or two hints.
Once Chew Reservoir had been reached the return route followed the reservoir road down to the Dovestone Reservoir and a pleasant track alongside the reservoir back to the road leading to the Binn Green car park.
Birds seen or heard on route included: Grey Wagtails, Mallards, Curlew, Canada Geese (including a skein of about eight birds rising from the Chew Reservoir almost going over our heads a few feet above), Carrion Crow and a pair of Common Sandpipers (birds of the day).
A pleasant refreshing pint of Deuchars IPA and J.W. Lees Bitter was enjoyed at King William IV in Greenfield, only a few miles from the start of the walk. It was even muted that it was "a Martyn kind of pub". Anyway we will be going there again in two weeks time. It was also suggested that perhaps sampling one of their good Lancastrian pub grub meals wouldn't go amiss. They did have the cricket on as well, another tick for them!
Photographs by Richard Green
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