Ogden Orbital Walk

The South Pennines enjoys the greatest density of reservoirs in the country. This is thanks to the landscape of upland moors and steep valleys which are ideal for capturing water on a large scale. They have a fascinating history, requiring farming settlements to be cleared and they demonstrate tremendous feats of 19th century civil engineering. This area was at the heart of the Industrial Revolution, which saw the small town of Oldham transformed into the cotton spinning capital of the world. The start of the walk at Ogden Reservoir in the Piethorne Valley is one of six reservoirs in this valley surrounded by open moorland. It’s a lovely area with non of the hustle and bustle of better known tourist attractions. There is a network of footpaths and ancient bridleways. Before the construction of the reservoirs there were 14 farms dotted around the valley. This route crosses the M62 east of Milnrow (Jun. 21) to reach the Hollingworth Lake area of Littleborough. Hollingworth Lake was constructed in 1800 to provide water for the Rochdale Canal. It is currently a mecca for many types of water sports. At the Promontory once stood the 'Lake Hotel' renowned for dancing, roller skating and bowling.It is now the Pavilion Cafe. The return was via Whittaker which was a small farming community with handloom weaving providing additional income. Today it is an attractive cluster of stone-built houses some with clerestory windows (high level to allow in extra light). The moors and hills around Hollinworth Lake are riddled with small coal pits and quarries. Coal was mined from tunnels cut into the side of the hill. Slag heaps from these mines can be seen at Syke. Afer crossing the M62, you enter the valley of Rakewood where an 840ft viaduct carries the motorway above the valley floor. The M62 was completed in 1972 and is the highest in England.