Walk 28: two reservoirs circuit

Walk 28: two reservoirs circuit

Above: A view across Fernilee Reservoir. There are also some wonderful views across Errwood. Above: Click to play a ‘Relive’ of the walk, and use the expand button to view in full-screen. I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to post a walk...
New info boards

New info boards

Above: The display board near the southern end of Fernilee Reservoir. It’s good to see that the landowners, United Utilities, seem to be taking more of an interest in looking after the valley and promoting its rich cultural heritage. The packhorse bridge was...
Windgather to Shining Tor

Windgather to Shining Tor

Above: The view from Windgather Rocks north towards Minninglow on the far horizon. Above: Click to play a ‘Relive’ of the walk, and use the expand button to view in full-screen. At 11 miles, this is one of the longest walks featured on the website. But the...
Fernilee construction gallery

Fernilee construction gallery

Above: the collection includes photos of some of the small steam engines that transported materials around the construction site, as well as navvies relaxing in their temporary pub. Many thanks to Norm from the Whaley Bridge Local History Group for allowing me to...
Powder Mill Bridge

Powder Mill Bridge

Above: The lane from Goyt’s Bridge snakes around from the left before crossing the bridge and heading up the Valentine to Fernilee. (Shawstile Farm is top right.) It was only recently that I discovered an aerial photo showing a small stone bridge that now lies...
Shawstile holloway

Shawstile holloway

Above: This view across the reservoir has only opened up since the felling of the fir trees. I’ve circled the junction of the twin tracks, with the ancient holloway running up the slope on the right. The recent felling of the fir trees on the western slopes...
Fernilee footpath reopened

Fernilee footpath reopened

Above: It will be interesting to see how quickly the landscape recovers. I’m just hoping the Forestry Commission don’t replant the fir trees. It’s great to see that the footpath along the western shore of Fernilee has finally reopened, some four...
The ‘loveliest drive’

The ‘loveliest drive’

Above: Taken in 1934, this aerial photo shows the lane coming north from Goyt’s Bridge at far left, winding down to a small bridge spanning the Goyt (circled), before heading up the Valentine to Fernilee. Someone writing before the construction of the twin...
Fernilee: a video history

Fernilee: a video history

Above: Joe and Prudence Hibbert feature in the video. They lived at Bunsal Farm and were the last family to leave the valley. I’ve just posted another Goyt Valley video on YouTube – on the history of Fernilee Reservoir. It’s less than 10-minutes...
Laughing water

Laughing water

Above: The attractive suspension bridge was built at the same time as the reservoir, to enable locals to walk from one side to the other. Above: Sharon posted this photo of her Great Aunt May posing on the bridge on the Goyt Valley Facebook page. Gail recently sent me...