Absolute belter of a walk around 3 reservoirs with views from the top of Saddleworth moor, climbing down a cascading waterfall, all utterly stunning.
Calculated time: 5h20[?] 
Distance : 14.94km
Vertical gain : 363m
Vertical drop : 354m
Highest point : 489m
Lowest point : 216m 
Difficulty : Difficult
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Area : Peak District 
Location : Saddleworth
Starting point : N 53.527442° / W 1.981241° 
(D)The walk starts at the car park on Bank Lane, beside Dove Stone reservoir. Follow the path east of the car park and climb the path to the top of the hill. Its quite a long slow climb on a tarmac surface.
(1)When you reach Chew Reservoir at the top take the lefthand path and come back on yourself so that you are walking around the cliff edges. This is moorland ground and is soft and can be muddy, but persevere as you will eventually find a path that follows the cliff edge northwards for at least 3 miles toward Middle Edge Moss. On your left you will see views and more.
(2)Eventually you wind down, still on the same path and the ground becomes very wet and slippery with rocks and mud cascading. You can see down to your left where you will end up as you traverse down the path until you reach a stream which you must find a way to cross, which is fun. Then as you cross it becomes a steeper more of a scramble down the stream which turns into a waterfall all the time on the left of you.
(3)Once down to the bottom you are on flat ground again, with a meandering walk around the north of Greenfield Reservoir and the west of Yeoman Hey Reservoir. To finish, cross over the dam and carry back along the east side of Dove Stone Reservoir to where you started.(A)
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 216m - Bank Lane car park
1 : km 3.17 - alt. 478m - End of climb
2 : km 9.19 - alt. 438m - Stream crossing
3 : km 11.68 - alt. 260m - Walk back around reservoir
D/A : km 14.94 - alt. 217m - Bank Lane car park
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Global average : 4.6/5
Number of opinions : 5
Description quality : 4.2/5
Routemap quality : 4.6/5
Walk interest : 5/5
Global average : 4.33 / 5
Date of walk
: 18/04/22
Description quality
: Average
Easiness to follow the route
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
I was a bit nervous with this one as the instructions are on the sparse side, but actually, it's easy to follow with just the map, and the results are well worth the effort: a great trek along the edge of the moor with fantastic views and then a thrilling descent down a rocky stream bed (though, as another review has noted, that part's definitely not suitable for everyone) with a nice relaxed amble along the aqueducts to finish. You can also improve the start quite a bit if you don't like road walking by opting for a winding footpath that runs in parallel. A new favourite.
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 23/08/21
Description quality
: Very good
Easiness to follow the route
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
Really enjoyed this walk, we had good dry weather. The ascent to Chew reservoir is straightforward on tarmac utility road. The long winding path along the edges was interesting, lots of heather in flower, interesting rocks and wet sections were manageable. The descent and scrambling down the stream an waterfalls was challenging and really fun. The last flat sections were not so interesting but I prefer an easy roll back to base so all fine. Highly recommended, but keep for fine weather.
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 24/07/20
Description quality
: Very good
Easiness to follow the route
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
Really enjoyed my day on Saddleworth edges in a walking area I am not familiar with. High cloud with sunny intervals ensured great views. Warm in the valley but even nearing the end of July a chilly wind on the tops I needed my fleece. .
Paths as were expected in millstone grit and peat country were rugged, well defined with some wet and boggy bits. All adds to the excitement..
The walk to Chew reservoir from the car park (which only cost a £2 coin a i had no change and you could pay by card) was a steady climb for 1.5miles. From there doubling back to find the edge wasn't hard using the route and OS map as backup. Route was reasonably easy to follow and was relatively flat across the tops.
I cannot give you a view on the Greenfield Brook descent as my partner of 68 who is a strong walker is not great at scrambling and descending. Her knees can get very sore on steep difficult descents with twists and turns on different levels. She did not feel comfortable so we descended around Ashway Rocks to Yeoman Hey reservoir on one of the many paths. Still a good 7.5mile walk
I will be back to finish the last leg .
Global average : 4.33 / 5
Date of walk
: 26/08/19
Description quality
: Good
Easiness to follow the route
: Good
Walk interest
: Very good
This was overall a great walk. Some fabulous views from the Edges and some great gritstone rock formations. The only negative was the scramble down the first section of Greenfield Brook. It is a tough scramble going down and if you have dodgy knees - as I have - it was somewhat perilous. Not a reason for forgoing the walk - just a warning to be prepared.
Global average : 4.33 / 5
Date of walk
: 28/04/18
Description quality
: Good
Easiness to follow the route
: Good
Walk interest
: Very good
Really nice walk, scenic the whole time. Gradual incline to start, then a bit boggy on the marshes at the top, relatively flat then until you start descending down beside the waterfall at the end. Some spectacular views along the way.
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Moderate
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
