Walk 23 - Ogden Clough and Wilderness by Frank Chadwick

OS Sheet: Explorer OL1: The - Dark Peak Area Description: This is a circular walk over rough moorland starting and finishing at Carrbrook Village car park at grid ref 034908 and visiting Chew Reservoir via Ormes Moor. This walk will suit more experienced walkers as map and compass skills are essential in bad weather conditions. Distance: 10.75 miles. Transport: There are regular buses to Carrbrook from and Ashton-under-Lyne. Route: 1. From the car park off Carr Rise turn right then immediately left up Long Row. At the end of this road turn right along Castle Lane (not marked here). Follow the lane round, left then right as it changes from tarmac, to gravel, to a narrow single track with stone pavings. The road climbs past an unnamed farm on your right.

2. As you reach the brow of the hill (0.7 miles from the start) take the obvious left hand track doubling back above the original path and over a stile 20 yards ahead. There are excellent views of Carrbrook Village and Buckton Moor from here. 3. Follow this path over the moor for two miles, dropping down to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir. Cross the embankment and carry on forward past the reservoir taking the next path left through a wooden gate. The path heads towards and under electricity pylons.

4. As the path descends towards the valley of Ogden Brook, look for a way marker and iron post on your left at grid ref. 015990. The sign only shows paths ahead and to the right however you are heading left here over open access land following a narrow grassy track.

5. This path gradually climbs northward across the edge of Boar Flat, crossing the brook at the head of Ogden Clough to reach a stile. From here, look for a marker post way ahead. This will be just a speck on the horizon, slightly to your right. The single track path will take you there heading NNE over Ormes Moor. This first marker post is almost at the brow of the hill. Sit a while, and take in the panoramic view over , , Lancashire and beyond. 6. The next section takes you over a plateau of boggy moorland aptly named ‘Wilderness’. The path is indistinct here so you need to make a choice on how to navigate to Chew Reservoir. a) If visible follow marker poles which head in a straight line to the ridge overlooking Chew Brook where you will find a well trodden rocky path. Turn right here and continue until you reach Chew Reservoir. b) Choose a longer open moorland section and head NNE to the corner of Chew Reservoir. With the serious climbing done, this is a good spot for a lunch-break.

7. Leave Chew Reservoir by the obvious access road and continue down this road for about a mile.

8. Turn left off the road by Charnel Clough (grid ref. 025024) - this is just before a stile and metal gate across the road. You are now on the Oldham Way. Cross Chew Brook and continue via Chew Piece Plantation round the hill with excellent views of Dovestones Reservoir.

9. When you reach Fern Lee Farm on your left, join a single track tarmac road (Intake Lane). Just after the next farm on the right, White Lea, take a rough track uphill on your left. This path climbs to the ruins of Mount Pleasant from where a path crosses the stream and continues over a stile, and up and over the hill to rejoin Intake Lane above the hamlet of Lane End. 10. Turn left here, along this lane to cross the Oldham- border (not marked). Keep left at a fork in the track and continue for a couple of miles. As you start to descend towards Castle Farm follow the fence line on your left to an information board on the history of Buckton Castle. Continue on this track or walk down the adjacent Castle Lane back to Carrbrook. As you reach the village take a grassy path on the right behind houses back to the car park.