homepage - Daywalks Index 2022 - contact me at REV X

2022.12.14 Wednesday - Christmas Dinner walk, start/end at The Plough Inn at Low Bradfield ~SK.263:917, ~N down Mill Lee Rd turning ~W on Fair House Lane and continuing on Annet Lane, at fork in road take Dale Road starting WNW then W past Walker House, road turns again WNW then just W, take FP at ~SK.246:920 turning S then WSW to the North end of Dale Dike Reser. Embkt, follow Permissive FP (on the North side of The Reservoir) ~SW then SSW turning WSW over two FBs then ~W up to The Brogging and the North end of Strines Reserv. Embkt., Tea break taken here, turn ~NNE to Stubbing then gradually turn ~N to Hallfield, take FP diversion NE past the Hall then join Hall Lane ~ENE for about 400m and turn NNE before Private Road into Thompson House (and farm buildings) and join at ~SK.239:919 road Thompson House Green and follow up W for ~ 300m to Mortimer Rd. and follow this Rd ~NE on the flat for ~1.1km to road junct at~SK.245:927, and take Windy Bank Lane ~ENE for ~400m downward (passing vandalised accommodation barns) and turning at ~SK.249:928 ~NNW on FP and cross 'culvert' over Emlin Dike (a stream) and turn ~NE for 200m to path junct and turn ~SSE crossing Emlin Dike again then follow well above Agden Reservoir (South side) ~ESE and rejoin Windy Bank Lane at ~SK255:927, and follow road ~ESE which turns ~SSE passing the West side of Ag. Resvr. Embkt. continue down to Fair House Lane and retrace way to The Plough Inn.

Leader John Taylor - 23 on walk (some others joined dinner) - walk just over 10km (about 6.5 miles)

1 Starting in Low Bradfield from The Plough Inn

2 Leader briefing walkers on the walk to come

8 passing Windy Bank Lane while on Fair House Lane and now joining Annet Lane

10 on Annet Lane

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12 looking down from Annet Lane at 'spillyway stream from Dale Dike Reservoir'. Stream also 'collects' water as it goes on toward Damflask Reservoir

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15 Haystacks House - converted from a Public House

18 note on the Dale Dyke disaster - enlarge to read - or check on the web.

30 Dale Dike - water level still very low - will it fill up before next summer?

33 Looking southward down the reservoir. The Tower on the skyline - is commonly called 'Boots Folly'. The tower was possibly built so that the builder could see his wife's grave in the High Bradfield Churchyard?

37 walking on the edge of Dale Dike Reservoir

38 looking back at the Dale Dike embankment - the spillway - starts high up on the top right of the embankment.

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42 backmarking!

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45 approaching the upstream south end of Dale Dike Reservoir

50 one of two footbridges over the Strines Reservoir spillway stream into Dale Dike Reservoir. Group photo

54 the second footbridge. Group photo

58 Strines Reservoir embankment seen through trees ahead of us

62 looking across at Strines Reservoir embankment as we climb up toward the 'Brogging'. Do not know what The Brogging means or it's extent on the ground?

65 The Tower (Boots Folly) photographed across Strines Reservoir into the sun.

72 House on the South East side of Agden Reservoir now converted into holiday accommodation. We are settling down here for a tea break

75 The top of Agden Reservoir Embankment behind us. The spillway is at the far end.

80 now heading from The Brogging toward 'Stubbing' and 'Hallfield'

84 Hallfield (hall) with deer statues in front of it. There is a footpath through it's grounds but one is asked to take the diversion to the right (keeping the grounds pleb-free)

88 leaving the diversion to the left - the Hall and it's grounds are behind us.

90 Sheep seen when looking over the drystone wall edging Hall Lane

91 as above but further on.

93 heading toward Thompson House and the adjacent farm buildings - but it comes to a Private Road and we followed the FP NNE up to join Thompson House Green - (a road) leading West up to Mortimer Road

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97 now on Mortimer Road ?

101 view back down to Dale Dike reservoir embankment - spillway is in the raised section on the far side of the reservoir

103 Thornseat Lodge on Mortimer Road - now derelict and subject to vandalism.

104 an ancient water trough for draft & domestic animals. It is actually full of water but reflection of grass etc makes it seem empty?

105 looking far ahead and zoomed into Damflask Reservoir

106 at top Rocher Woods and Rocks

109 Barns converted into accommodation for youth groups unfortunately vandalised.

111 now off Windy Bank Road - the part of group here have crossed Emlin Dike

112 Emlin Dike

113 part of group yet to cross Emlin Dike

114 re-crossing above Emlin Dike on way above Agden Reservoir back to Windy Bank Road

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121 now above Agden Reservoir which is to our left

125 looking down at Agden Reservoir

132 Agden Reservoir Embankment. Further up is High Bradfield with it's Church to the left

134 bridge over Agden Reservoir Spillway. Bridge not open to Public

138 Looking down toward Damflask Reservoir Embankment in the distance - the closer 'shadow' - not sure what it is? - see also picture 140
139 some buildings in Low Bradfield
140 Damflask Reservoir ahead again
142 zoomed into High Bradfield's Church above us.
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146 The spillway stream from Agden Reservoir towards Damflask Reservoir. There is also a similar stream from Dale Dike Reservoir to Damflask Reservoir
147 Pictures of  Christmas Dinner at The Plough Inn follow here (walkers joined by some who did not go on walk)
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homepage - Daywalks Index 2022 - contact me at REV X