Yesterday the weather was perfect for an amble around another reservoir in another area that we hadn’t previously explored – only driven past. Widdop is one of a series of reservoirs on the moors above Hebden Bridge, heading towards Colne and Burnley. You really are on the top of the world here. The reservoir is in a valley surrounded by steep-sided hills with some interesting rocky outcrops along their crests.
Sadly, there’s no circular walk around the reservoir, but that wasn’t a problem today as the water levels were so low it was possible to walk along the dried out banks. Shrinking water levels have reduced the size of the reservoir by 50-60% and around 15 feet in depth.
We started out by walking across the dam itself before scrambling uphill to the ‘Cludders’ a ridge of gritstone crags with some fascinating stones, including one that’s perched precariously atop another. You can learn a lot more about the rocks and the surrounding geology by copy and pasting this link;
The scramble’s well worth it, as the view from the rocks (and the rocks themselves are stunning.
We thoroughly enjoyed the landscape and have vowed to return to explore more as there’s an extensive network of footpaths across the moors to surrounding reservoirs. The only sad note is the fact that the one country pub in the area (the Pack Horse Inn, dating from 1610) closed down earlier in the year, so if you plan to visit, bring your own refreshments.
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