THE DERWENT VALLEY RESERVOIRS.

A WALK AROUND AND ABOVE 

THE DERWENT VALLEY RESERVOIRS.

We turned over from October to November on the calendar, and there was a lovely autumnal scene around Ladybower. Sue decided that was where she'd like to go for our next walk, so I wrote the walk, and off we went. This was our first walk in Derbyshire for about five weeks, due to holidays, work commitments etc, so we were raring to go!

I decided to park on the viaduct to jig the walk start round a little. I usually park further up the reservoir. This is looking up Ladybower.

 We crossed the road, and immediately took the path up towards Crookhill farm. I really was hoping to see some mushrooms today, edible if possible, as the conditions were damp, BUT I had heard that it wasn't a good year for fungi. 

 After the initial steepness, the path eased a little. Looking back, we could see Bamford edge looking larger. This is a SUPER edge if you want pictures of the reservoir.

The twin peaks of Crook hill could be seen to our left. 

Looking back to Crook hill's distinctive peaks. 

 After all the recent wet weather, the going underfoot wad decidedly squidgy!

 We topped the rise, and took the path that runs alongside the wood. This area used to have terrible damage from four wheel drive vehicles and motorbikes, but since they were excluded, the path has recovered a lot. The view left was of the iconic lose hill to Mam tor ridge, part of the Castleton skyline walk.

 This time of the year, you can always count on gorse to add a splash of colour to an otherwise drab scene.

 We turned right to pass Lockerbrook farm and got our first glimpse of the reservoir since staring the walk. Normally, I would turn right, and go down through the woods to the Fairholme visitor centre, but that was the reason for parking in a different place - today we headed straight on, into the woods - a path I'd not walked before.

 One of my favourite photographic subjects - fungi. We'd not seen any of the edible variety, but this was a lovely bunch anyway.

 I also spotted this impressive, new bracket on a tree trunk.

 We were a week or two too late for the really splendid colours, but as the leaves had mostly fallen now, we had a warm, copper carpet to walk on.

 Just before we reached the valley and clearing, a Chinook helicopter flew by at ground level. One more minute, and I'd have got a video! We were now walking on level ground beside the Howden reservoir.

This trunk was suffering a full on attack by fungi, and it wouldn't be long before it crumbled down to earth. It looks like a grasping hand, reaching out of the ground,

Looking back to Howden dam, with water spilling over it.

 .....and forward to the Derwent dam towers

 The mighty Derwent dam. The water was rushing over Howden dam when we passed it, but it was barely trickling over the Derwent. The reservoir is brim-full, JUST.

 I usually only take photo's 'as is', but this one made a lovely subject for a sepia shot. It sort of gives the mood of this dreary, cold, damp time of they year.

 Something that we've only seen recently in the Peak District - hedge layering. Ingenious, the tall saplings are bent and chopped, and amazingly, they continue to grow, but horizontally! Less maintenance, and a thick cover for birds to nest in.

 We chose to cross to the 'quiet' side of Ladybower. It was a serene scene as we walked on the fallen leaves, the day all to ourselves.

 But, with the light fading, we reached the car. 

Looking up to Bamford, brooding over us as we left to go home. 

Our first walk for a while, and a really good day. Not bright, but dry, and for that, we were grateful.

Dovestone, Yeoman Hey, Greenfield reservoirs, The Trinnacle,

Well, they said rain, but look what greeted us when we drove to the Oldham area, Dovestone reservoir, to be precise. A LOVELY day, with blue skies and those photogenic white clouds. This is the reservoir and dam.

This young lad was enjoying the steep, grassy bank of the dam. How old do you get before you stop wanting to do this sort of thing?

 Looking across the reservoir to the Dovestone Moss moors we would be on in an hour or so, but first, we had a special place to visit!

The climb progressed beyond Dovestone to the two reservoirs higher up the valley, Yeoman Hey and Greenfield. Notice, the skies are not as clear now

Sue and Yeoman Hey reservoir.

As we were close to Greater Manchester, the sky was busy with air traffic all day.

The banks were crowded with flowers, a lot of these orchids were in full bloom.

As we made our way ever higher, our first goal was coming into view.

A glance back saw where our efforts had brought us to.........

.....and a glance forwards saw the trinnacle! This triple fingered rock was where we were headed first, today.

A small feeder stream for the reservoirs.

A zoomed shot of the Trinnacle, we would skirt round the left, and tackle the stiff climb up onto the moor.

We went by way of this river, tumbling over the rocks. See that steep bank on the right? That’s what we had to climb up.

Looking back down from halfway up the climb.

Sue, hands on hips, mops up the metres as she pushes to the top.

Our reward was this stunning view, and the Trinnacle. By now, the weather was starting to resemble the forecast a lot more, and it was clouding over very quickly.

Better get up there, before the stone gets wet and slippery.

Steady there.........

On the moor top is this memorial to James Platteson, an MP who was accidentally shot while shooting (bet the grouse laughed!!).

As you can see, it was now getting pretty bad. We’d sat in drizzle while we ate lunch, and now had to decide whether to carry on round the top and walk along that ridge on the opposite side of the valley or go down. I chose the latter, as it was getting steadily worse by the minute.

Just time to pay our respects at a cairn for two climbers who died in the Dolomites,

We left the top of the moors, and returned to the valley floor.

The weather now was slightly improving, so I wondered if we’d been a bit hasty?

That ridge is where we would have been if we’d stuck to the original plan. The views from Slack head brow are immense and fantastic, but you DO need a good day (more like it was this morning).

The cloud was now heavy over the reservoir too.

We spotted this very artistic gate. It was obviously nature park-themed, and had all sorts of birds and animals & activities depicted on it.

This must be the best and most ornate gate latch I’ve ever seen – a frog and the head of a Heron.

We got back to the car, set off for home, JUST as the deluge came. We HAD made the right choice after all, as it just got worse and worse.