Hike # 9 : Entwistle and Wayoh Reservoirs

This is one of the nicest and most diversified walks we have completed during my 9 weeks off work. It was also one of the first being in early July before the UK weather turned to crap again in August.

I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to do the write up and it seems an age ago when we were walking this one.

This is the walk that we took: - https://www.ifootpath.com/display-ifootpath-walk?walkID=6280, and at around 5.30am in the morning, though you wouldn’t know it looking at the photographs.

On arriving, the car park was deserted. This is not surprising considering the time of day, and the fact that it was Monday morning.

A great sight for sleepy eyes was the car park parking meter was taped up and obviously out of use. The guide mentioned a fee of £1.50 but zero is much more preferable. Paying to park is one of my pet hates.

Isn’t the air just great so early? We walked around the side of this reservoir with the sun shining and warm and it was lovely. I still have thoughts and memories of this one 2 months later.

After a steep climb and through a field we got to this stone track which seemed to go on for a couple of miles. The insects were buzzing and annoying as usual.

We passed a sheep shearing station of sorts. They seemed to have left a lot of wool behind and couple of full fleeces.

This hike was quite diverse in what we saw along the way and the stone road did eventually end and via a field we crossed a level crossing and made our way into a village.

It was ever so quiet, and even the forthcoming commuters seemed to be still in their beds.

The old schoolhouse is dated around 1700 but looks like its lived in now by a regular family, probably a wealthy one looking at the size of it.

Making our way through the village we entered the grounds of Wayoh reservoir and took the footpath which wound its way around the outside of it.

I didn’t even know about this viaduct that trains still use to cross the reservoir. The water level was very low due to the hot summer we were having.

They say it’s been the best since the legendary 1976 one. I’m not so sure, but it was quite long and hot.

We came back several weeks later to walk this one again. The first picture is the one from early July, and the next one a much gloomier day on our second visit.

Notice the water level has gone down quite dramatically on the second shot.

The levels of water have now recovered in the UK but a hosepipe ban was imminent at one stage.

The scenery once again changed to woodland, at parts quite hilly. After this bridge we almost got lost and nearly took a wrong turn.

The guide was quite specific about taking a very minor path and we made it out of the woods without incident.

Another small village had a pub named ‘Strawberry Duck’. If nothing else, it’s original! Heading out of the village and down a hill brought us back to the original reservoir and the car park. It was still deserted several hours later.

This one is four and a half miles, and a really nice jaunt if the weather is good. We have already walked it twice and being relatively close to home, will likely visit again.

I have special memories of this walk. Being the first one we did, on the first week of my long break and the weather being spectacular means I will never forget it and that it holds a special place in my memory.

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