Midge Walkers

Walk No.  186

Roddlesworth Reservoirs 22-09-2024

Experience of this short, but very attractive, walk indicates that it will rain somewhere along the way, 15 mins prior to setting off it did. A remark was made that perhaps that is why there are many reservoirs in the vicinity. Undeterred 10 folks set off suitably attired and in good spirit from the road adjacent to the Hare and Hounds in Abbey Village with the wind and light rain in our face. Passing the new properties of Abbeystead Gardens, we commenced a gentle downward slope to pass a training paddock on the right and Bensons Farm on the left. Here the road took an acute right turn and steepened further. After a short distance, we branched left to cross a wooden footbridge over a watercourse which was surprisingly very low due, ironically, to the absence of recent rain. The opposite side of the bridge resulted in a climb up the banking via steps to arrive at the rear of a group of stone properties, working our way around the side, passing some outbuildings under reconstruction brought us to the front of another stately stone property with a date plaque of 1674. At the side of the house we passed through an electric gate, to enter a field and follow a path to the left where we crossed our first stile and subsequently upwards 2 further fields linked by stiles, exiting at the side of a property called Winnowing Barn, which was the first of a group at Lower Hill. Continuing up the lane we viewed a graveyard on the left with tragic histories of young graves being quite prolific. Turning right, passing a stone compound labelled as the “Tockholes Pinfold”, formerly used for housing stray cattle, the steep path broadened out at the top at a group of properties called Higher Hill. The road continued to a peak and then started a gentle descent to merge with Tockholes Road where we turned right. Walking along the road soon brought us to a wooded area (Tockholes Plantation) on the right with a gated entrance. We stopped here, with a degree of shelter on offer from the rain, for a short coffee break and group photo shot. We followed the leaf strewn path downwards through the trees to the bank of Higher Roddlesworth Reservoir, continuing along the bank of the reservoir we viewed what could only be described as pencils protruding from below the water and across a corner of the lake. This construction was designed to suitably protect the overflow from the ingress of debris which might otherwise cause blockage. Passing through the trees on the pathway, brought us to an embankment across the end of Lower Roddlesworth Reservoir which we crossed and followed the path around the edge of Rake Brook Reservoir ultimately returning to our starting point.

This had taken us 2.25 Hours and the distance was around 4.25 miles. It had unfortunately been overcast and wet but everyone had  enjoyed themselves and expressed that at repeat of the walk in the Spring of 2025 should be considered. My thanks are recorded to the participants who make it all worthwhile.

Rodney