David and Jacinta's Walks- 2023

 The Longdendale Reservoirs It was wet and windy (again!) but we decided to go out and do something regardless. Crowden beckoned and, rather than any ambitious route, we headed for a more sheltered walk around the reservoirs. We walked along the north sides of the Torside, Rhodeswood and Valehouse reservoirs and up to Tintwistle where (surprisingly) the Bull's Head was open. We popped in, only to find that it was set up for a wake, but the landlord kindly served us a drink and we were able to dry out a little. We were a little disappointed that none of the resident animals (Walter the dog and the beautiful Siamese) were in evidence. We then went on to Tintwistle village and paid a visit to Pixie Bakes as it was open and happened to meet there Mary Fitton, a former colleague of Jacinta's from many years ago. Onwards into the rain and wind after this; we passed the Bottoms Compensation Reservoir "Gauging Basin" with an impressive overflow waterspout. The gauging basin w...

 The Longdendale Reservoirs As ever, our choice of walk was heavily influenced by the (somewhat inclement) weather. A walk around the Longdendale Reservoirs from Crowden seemed like a good bet, especially as the prospect of a coffee at The Pixie Bakes coffee shop was inviting. We parked up at the Crowden car park  and set out along the original road towards the east. The farmyard was packed with sheep, clearly with a game of "King of the Castle" in progress. Sheep playing "King of the Castle" After crossing the road, there is a short section through the woods before crossing the Torside dam. Through the woods to the Torside Dam Above the dam, there's a turnstile next to the Pennine Way descent to the road across the dam. The OS map shows a couple of footpaths converging on it, but there's little if any indication of it being used. Turnstyle above the Torside Dam On arrival at Tintwistle we saw posters for Casper, a lost polecat ferret. With luck, he will ha...

A Stroll Around the Longdendale Reservoirs We had decided on a relatively low-level walk today, so we parked up at Crowden and ambled around the flight of reservoirs running down from Woodhead. We crossed the Torside Reservoir dam to walk along the more pleasant, wooded southern side of the reservoirs. The water level in the Rhodeswood reservoir was high enough to spill out from the rectangular outflow- another "hole in the water". We decided to have some refreshments at the  Pixie Bakes Cakery and Coffee Bar  in Tintwistle where we'd had coffee last year in very different weather. On our return, we crossed the Bottoms Reservoir dam and admired the ornate "Gauging Basin". Bottoms Reservoir Gauging Basin On reaching the Torside Reservoir dam again, we decided to take the permissive path beside the reservoir itself, rather than taking to old road back to Crowden. Just under 10 miles, negligible ascent.