Today we went to another valley. We exchanged Longdendale and its chain of reservoirs for the Derwent Valley and a different set of reservoirs.
We have walked here before in all seasons, including after some long dry spells. Low water levels often lead to exposing the village that was flooded to create the reservoir. Today all the reservoirs are officially 100% full and the only sign of the lost village is the resited village War Memorial which was moved uphill before the reservoirs were finished. It now stands alongside the entrance road to the Derwent Valley that leads to the main car park.
Autum is a good time to visit the Valley. The spillways for the Derwent and Howden dams are often in full force. The trees that line the reservoirs are in beautiful autumn colours. Both were true today. With water washing over both dams and few visitors it was a great day for a walk. We went anticlockwise.
The larches were golden yellow, the beeches russet and brown and the birches a brighter lighter yellow. A couple of slow horses entertained us as from time to time they stopped on the path ahead unwilling to move on in spite of the insistence of their riders. They were taking it at their own pace too.
The bridge at Slippery Stones marks the transition from one side of the valley to the other. The King’s Tree, planted in 1945, is the next landmark. Then on the way back down to the starting point, the site of Birchinlee Village, the former Tin Town of the reservoir building navvies.
Back at the car park there was time for a hot drink and to admire the very large number of vociferous resident mallards before heading home.
From Isaiah 40
Every valley will be lifted up
We pray for those who work in the rural economy, especially those who’s jobs depend on tourism as the autumn days shorten.
God grant a quiet night
JAL 05.11.2019 from Fairholmes around the Derwent Valley reservoirs.