The Longdendale Chain

Start: The Bulls Head, 78 Old Road, Tintwistle, Glossop, Derbyshire SK13 1JY

(S/E) From the front door of The Bulls Head, turn left and immediately left again down Stocks Brow; at the bottom of the green follow a cobbled path to the left of The Stocks to reach the main road. Cross over into Bank Lane.

(1) Take the first path on the left, which zig-zags down to Bottoms Dam. Cross the spillway and follow the higher path along the top of the dam.

(2) At the far side, turn left and follow the lakeside path. After a gate into a field, turn left along the Trans-Pennine Trail to Valehouse Dam.

(3) For a two-mile walk, cross the dam and rejoin the route on the other side of the dam. Otherwise, follow the track ahead past an informal car park and alongside Valehouse Reservoir. Ignore a right-hand turning into a farm then, after passing below the farm buildings, follow the track to the right when it meets a stream and swings uphill and away from the reservoir.

(4) When you reach a narrow lane, turn left (the Longdendale Trail, a disused railway line, is a short distance beyond the road). Walk through Deepclough Farm and follow the lane to Rhodeswood Dam.

(5) Turn left and cross the dam. (To extend the walk around Rhodeswood Reservoir for a 5½-mile walk, follow the track ahead under the pylons, then take a footpath on the left below the embankment of the Longdendale Trail. Cross Torside Dam, swing left and follow the route back around the dam).

(6) At the end of Rhodeswood Dam turn left before the spillway, between the stone gate-piers. A descending flight of concrete steps on the hairpin bend cuts the corner to the continuing reservoir road, where you turn right and recross the spillway. Pass a house and continue alongside Valehouse Reservoirfor a further mile.

(7) Beyond Valehouse Dam, keep right up the service road, passing a quarry face on your right and then the water treatment works on your left, to reach the main road. Cross quickly and carefully into Chapel Brow and climb the hill; at the top, turn left to return to The Bulls Head. (S/E)

Start: The Bulls Head, 78 Old Road, Tintwistle, Glossop, Derbyshire SK13 1JY
Tel: 01457 853365
Email: bullsheadtintwistle@hotmail.co.uk

Notes: Mostly level, well surfaced and suitable for all-terrain pushchairs; can easily be shortened to 2 miles or extended to 5½ miles by omitting a reservoir from the circuit, or including an extra one.

Find more information on Walks From the Door.