Walk Summary
Shortish walk that goes around the pretty Langsett Reservoir and the North America plantation. Great moorland views from Mickleden Edge. Interesting world war history to the area.
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Date: 12/12/2021
Length: 5.836 miles
Height Gain: 239 m
Terrain: Light traffic roads, farm tracks, rocky paths, muddy paths, woodland path
Navagation: Paths are clear. Woodland navigation in Thickwoods.
Start: Car Park at Langsett Flouch Car Park
Route: Langsett Flouch Car Park, Hingcliff Common, Mickleden, North America, Thickwoods, Langsett, Langsett Bank
Map: OL1 Dark Peak Area
Weather: Morning cloudy, afternoon sunny
Walkers: Nun
Gallery
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Little Don Weir
Captain's Log
Ghostly Experiences
The first challenge of the day was crossing the busy A616 which separates the Flouch-Langsett car park from the Langsett woods. I waited so long for a gap that I wished I'd brought something to sit on while waiting.
I'd only been walking about ten minutes when three women approached me from the opposite direction. I was rather surprised when all three started smiling at me. Normally you are more likely to see sun in Rochdale, than find one walker smiling at me, never mind three. Anyway, I gave them my best smiley icon smile and was just about to stop and comment on how nice a day it was, when they just drifted around me like water flowing around a boulder. It turns out that a couple who were walking ten yards behind me had a baby in one of those baby backpacks. I left them to their cooing and wooing around the youngster. On my wanders I sometimes feel more like a ghost than another human being.
Mickleden
After crossing the Little Don River, the path headed upwards on to the moors. Initially the moors are criss-crossed by derelict stone walls that are reminder of land management of a previous time. There were expansive views across the moors in all directions. Looking behind I could see the wind turbines at Royd Moor. It looked sunny over there. I got the feeling that the day might turn out where everywhere else seems to be getting sun apart from the spot you are stood in.
At the start of Mickleden Edge there is an old sign (dated1925). 'Station' in Hazlehead Station has been painted out since it has long since disappeared. At this point I headed off on the 'Langsett And Penistone' path. For many years this path was very stony, but it has recently been improved. Even so, my boots soon clogged up with mud. The moors around here look like a crocheted quilt with the intermittent burning of the heather that is carried out.
Mickleden Sign
Approaching The North America Plantation
North America
The path brought me to the North America plantation. It takes its name from the North America farm that was used here as target practice during the second world war...presumably after the occupants had left. As you might expect, there's only a few ruins of the establishment now.
The plantation itself is being restructured with coniferous trees being felled and rewilding occurring. Oak, hazel, blackthorn, alder, willow and rowan are being planted in their place. These will provide habitats for a variety of birds. The project has been underway for quite a while; it will be good to see the results.
Thickwoods
The route followed the track around the southern end of Langsett Reservoir until Thickwoods wood was reached. The wood did indeed have a lot of trees in it, but I've known thicker ones, to be honest. The woodland path followed the stone wall along the bank of the reservoir. When the stone wall stopped, I took the path that went gradually up the hillside. The gusty wind caused an occasional, ominous creak in the woods. I wondered if any casualties from Storm Arwen might finally drop. I increased my pace.
Thickwoods Brook
Langsett Dam
Langsett
The route continued over the Langsett dam. The unrestricted views showed the large size of the reservoir. In fact, in terms of capacity, it is the largest serving the Sheffield district. As I was admiring the view, my hat blew off and nearly disappeared on to the dam's embankment. I took the wooded path that runs along the north bank. This is a popular path and was busy with Sunday walkers. The views are constrained by the trees, and so occasionally I'd nip down to the reservoir wall to get a better view.
The A616 was still as busy when I got back, although by some miracle I managed to arrive at a suitable gap in the traffic to traverse it straight away. It had been a short, but good work with woodland, moorland and reservoir trail walking.