Dove Stone Res RFM Blue Line Walking with Peter
RFM Blue Line
Walking with Peter
17/10/25
Parking at Dove Stones Res we climbed to the dam top and were stunned by the fantastic views more reminiscent of Scotland than Greater Manchester.
This is a very large reservoir but after this hot dry summer it has not yet been replenished by the Autumn rains. We passed the sailing club at the end of the res as we headed towards the Chew Hills.
At the bridge at the bottom of the hill we met a really nice young chap in an utilities hi viz and we discussed walking in general and the walks we had done in the area. He was telling us the hills reminded him of the hills in his home country Kenya where he was brought up. We paused as the road looked closed but he told us it was OK to go ahead as there were no lorries due to day. Nice man.
The road was rough flat but very steep and we quickly gained some altitude. The crags on our right, Stables Stones Brow, looked impressive.
This is an awesome mountain road. In the valley to our right we saw 3 deer running from a hiker and his 5 dogs. They stopped after a while but soon just disappeared.
A deep ravine on our left looked a dodgy way to the moor. This wall was impressive, made up with huge blocks of stone.
We had a long humerous chat with the Scottish driver of this ecort vehicle then waited for the digger to pass.
The road was rough flat but very steep and we quickly gained some altitude. The crags on our right, Stables Stones Brow, looked impressive.
This is an awesome mountain road. In the valley to our right we saw 3 deer running from a hiker and his 5 dogs. They stopped after a while but soon just disappeared.
We had a long humerous chat with the Scottish driver of this ecort vehicle then waited for the digger to pass.
The Chew Reservoir had been our destination in last weeks arduous Rakes Moor walk and it was good to see it again. The works seemed to be renewing the reservoirs overflow sluice.
We walked half way around the res just so I can connect the blue lines on my map, I know its a bit obsessive but......
Guess what ..moors. We crossed Dish Stone Moss and though damp it was an easy crossing and quite short.
The views started to get good we could see Dove Stones res and the towns and villages of the east of Manchester in the distance.
A grouse watched us approach.
It was good to be on an Edge, its hard to beat the views from the Peninne Edges.
Across the valley we could see the Obelisk on Aldermans Hill. Looks a tough hill and it is one of my planned walks so maybe next week.
As we traversed the Edge we maintained these fantastic views. The photo on the right is the view from the rock we sat on to have a coffee and snack. Not a bad view for a coffee. The weather was windless, cool but not cold, absolutely perfect. The visibility was a little misty but still pretty good.
Peter at Bramley's Cot. There were a few stone blocks around and it looked as if someone had replaced a few of them. Not sure why this place is there it is so exposed.
The views started to get good we could see Dove Stones res and the towns and villages of the east of Manchester in the distance.
As we traversed the Edge we maintained these fantastic views. The photo on the right is the view from the rock we sat on to have a coffee and snack. Not a bad view for a coffee. The weather was windless, cool but not cold, absolutely perfect. The visibility was a little misty but still pretty good.
We moved along the Edge and the views just kept coming. In places we had to cross some streams and scramble up some rocky ravines but it was an absolute pleasure to be there.
We made a couple of unscheduled diversions to Ashway Stone and to the Memorial Cross. They were good to visit but it did mean a scramble down a heather, rocky slope back on to the main path. There are a lot of paths up here and its easy to pick the wrong one. That's my excuse and I am sticking to it.
The descent was quite rapid. I loved this rock formation part of Ashway Rocks which dominated the horizon on our right.
That was one lump of a hill we had just crossed.
The descent was quite rapid. I loved this rock formation part of Ashway Rocks which dominated the horizon on our right.
That was one lump of a hill we had just crossed.
It was a steep rocky descent down to the res and I managed one slow motion slip onto my bum, no harm done.
As we reached the low level part of the walk around the res we started to encounter a lot of walkers with and without dogs. Everyone was super friendly.
This was an 81/2 mile walk up a hill around an plateau edge and down a hill. The ascent was a decent 1400 feet and our wlaking time was a good 2.26mph. For a place so close to Oldham this walk was welcomely, excessively beautiful. I would advise anyone to follow our steps on this tough but wonderful walk.
OS Map
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/29216749/dove-stone-res-rfm-blue-line?lat=53.53594&lon=-1.9665&zoom=14.7872&style=Leisure&type=2d
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