Walk leader :

Geraint W

Description :

Sunday’s walk – a repeat of last year’s walk – starts and ends at Hadfield, made famous as Royston Vasey in the BBC TV series The League of Gentlemen

This is a fairly easy and largely level walk of some 10km (6 miles) which follows the Longdendale Trail from Hadfield along the Longdendale valley as far as Torside Reservoir and returns to Hadfield by way of tracks and paths alongside three of the five Longdendale reservoirs – Bottoms, Valehouse and Rhodeswood.  The Longdendale Trail follows the line of the disused Woodhead Line which used to run from Manchester to Sheffield and we will walk the first 4km as far as Torside dam.  Here we will cross the dam and head west back to Hadfield.  There is an option for anyone who would like to do a shorter walk to cross the valley at the Rhodeswood dam and rejoin the walk at the other side.  This option knocks a couple of miles off the walk.  Last year there was a bumper crop of blackberries along the walk, so bring a tupperware if you fancy a forage!

There are no shops/cafes/toilets on the walk so please bring lunch and drink with you, we will stop at a suitable spot for our lunch break.

As always, please wear suitable footwear and come equipped for the weather conditions on the day.

At the end of the walk there is a Robinsons pub – The Palatine which looks nice enough although they don’t do food.  There are cafes in the town but these may be closed by the time we return to Hadfield.

Start time and meeting point :

Meet at 12:00 at the war memorial directly opposite the railway station and at the junction of Station Rd, Railway St and Platt St.

The Postcode is SK13 2AA

OS Ref is SK 02337 96080

Directions to start :

From Manchester – A57 as far as Denton,  join the M67 and at its end follow the A57, turning right after 2km at the Gun Inn onto Woolley Lane / A57.  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Woolley Bridge Rd then turn right at the Pear Tree pub onto Hadfield Rd.  Follow this road past the Anchor pub and turn 2nd left onto Railway Street.  There should be ample on street parking nearby.

Public transport :

For those wishing to travel by train from Manchester there is a train from Piccadilly at 10:56, arriving in Hadfield at 11:38. Trains back to Manchester leave at 11 and 41 minutes past the hour. Off peak return fare is £6.30, less with concessions.

Contact :

Geraint 07904 628188

Hadfield   Logdendale Reservoirs   Blackberries