Just Fishing

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"Just Fishing" is a picture of a couple of gentlemen enjoying the lovely summer weather with a spot of angling in the fishing lake at Chadwick's Dams.

Popularly known as "Chaddy Dams" (also seen here) the fishing and boating lakes, now part of Stamford Park, were originally constructed to supply Park Hall Mill, which was on Mellor Road.

What could be nicer on a warm, sunny day, than sitting beside the lake and fishing? Well, a lot of things as far as I'm concerned, as I have never seen the appeal of it myself! I get bored sitting around doing nothing! However, it is certainly a popular occupation for many people and this is one of the most pleasant locations near Ashton to come and do it!

"Just Fishing" is my contribution to this week's "My World" feature. Please check out the other blogs participating in this week's My World.


See Birds Eye View of this location.

Sunday Stroll: Chaddy Dams

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One of the most popular short strolls on the outskirts of Ashton is the picturesque walk around Chadwick's Dams, between Ashton and Stalybridge. Commonly known as "Chaddy Dams", these two reservoirs in the shallow valley of the Cock Brook were built to supply Chadwick's factory at Park Hall Mill.

The land containing these two reservoirs passed into the ownership of Ashton and Stalybridge Corporations in 1891. The lower reservoir became Stamford Park boating lake while the higher one (the one in today's photograph) was stocked as a fishing lake.

119 years later, the land remains in local council ownership. The boating lake still exists although it has suffered a drop in its popularity. The upper reservoir remains pretty much the same other than the valley sides have become wooded.

Beyond the trees can be seen the buildings of the appropriately called Lakes Hospital, now part of Tameside Hospital.

A photo of "Chaddy Dams" appeared on this blog two years ago.

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Sunday Stroll: Knott Hill Reservoir (2)

For this week's Sunday Stroll picture we pay a return visit to Knott Hill Reservoir.

Of course, looking at this photo, you may well wonder where the water is! Knott Hill is a reservoir that is no longer in use. Much of the reservoir bed has gone back to nature, with bushes and trees growing, with a much smaller area of water in the lowest part of the reservoir bed. The path you see in the photo runs right around the old reservoir and originally was at the water's edge! The tree-filled valley was originally where the water was!

This is the point where the footpath that starts from Gorsey Lane, Hazelhurst, meets the path around the reservoir. It is a pleasant and popular short walk.

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Sky Watch: Skyline

This week's Sky Watch offering shows the Manchester skyline seen from near Knott Hill Reservoir on a hazy evening. No glorious sunset, I'm afraid, but the light picks out the Beetham Tower, the CIS Building and other blocks in central Manchester.

Sky Watch is the regular Friday feature on this photo blog. It will link with websites all over the world with the general theme each week of looking upwards. Please take the opportunity to visit some of these other sites. I hope some new visitors have found their way here today, watching the skies!

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Sunday Stroll: Over the Stile

When going for a walk in the country you should take care to keep to the public rights of way across private land, just as the landowner has a duty to keep the right of way open and walkable.

On this stroll I was following the footpath from Mossley Cross to Knott Hill Reservoir. Part of the route crosses a corner of Ashton golf club before going over this stile into woodland called New Covert. The path then continues through the woods to meet the path around the old reservoir.

It somehow feels naughty to be walking across the golf course without a set of clubs but, as long as you keep to the line of the path, you are okay. Of course, you have to keep an eye on what the golfers are doing as it would be unwise to walk across in front of someone about to take a shot!

The path into the woods looks very inviting and I will show you what lies ahead another week!
See Google Aerial View of this location.
See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Sunday Stroll: Longdendale

A short bus ride from Ashton under Lyne will take you to Mottram Road cutting, from where there are many field paths and lanes running along the slopes of Longdendale, giving far ranging views towards Glossop, Bleaklow and Kinder Scout.

To get the best views you need to do a little climbing but the slopes are easier on this side of the moorland than they are over on the steeper Mossley side (see yesterday's photo showing the moors looking from Millbrook).

A group of walkers queues to climb over a stile near Moorside Farm, on the slopes below Hobson Moor, just 5 miles from the centre of Ashton. In the background are Arnfield Reservoir and Bottoms Reservoir. The Longdendale Valley continues past the reservoirs towards the Woodhead Pass that leads to Sheffield.

See Google Aerial View of this location.
See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Stalybridge Saturday: Brushes Valley

Today's photo looks down Huddersfield Road towards the Royal Oak and the junction with Grove Road in Millbrook. The road curves to the left at the bottom of the hill before heading uphill through Millbrook village towards Carrbrook and Mossley.

Straight ahead we are looking up the steep-sided Brushes Valley towards Walkerwood Reservoir (see Google or Live views below).

The traffic lights at the bottom of the hill have recently been installed because of the extra traffic emerging from Grove Road since the building of houses and apartments there.

In 1908 a single deck tram car ran away down this hill and crashed through a wall before plunging down a bank into a stream [see photo].

See Google Aerial View of this location.
See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Sunday Stroll: Knott Hill Reservoir

Another popular short walk near Ashton is to Knott Hill Reservoir, in the valley between Hartshead and Hazelhurst.

The reservoir was built shortly after 1835 to replace the earlier and smaller Tongue Bottom (Tombottom) reservoir a short distance higher up the valley, behind the present Hartshead Inn.

Knott Hill Reservoir is no longer used and its water level was dropped to the present level when the dam embankment showed signs of instability. The photo was taken from the path that ran around the original waterline of the reservoir, which can also be seen on the opposite side and gives a good idea of how deep the reservoir was when it was in use.

Today it is managed by Tameside Countryside Service as a nature reserve and the path around the outside is a popular walking route. Hartshead Pike is seen on the hill in the background, enticing the more energetic walker!

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Dovestones

Looking down on Dovestones Reservoir, Greenfield, from Slack Head Brow, close to Alphin Pike. This is a bit further west along the hill from yesterday's photo (about 5 miles from Ashton). The white things are the sails of yachts on the reservoir. The road to Holmfirth can be seen climbing the other side of the valley.