Oxygrains Bridge and Blackwood Edge

Barry Smith

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Starting a few minutes from Junction 22 of the M62 Pennine Motorway, you are soon climbing up a lovely valley to come out at Green Withins Reservoir.

After a short climb to the moor and onto an ancient road, the views on the right disappear, to be replaced by even better views on the left! Rishworth Village, Great Manshead Hill, The Pennine Way Bridge over the M62 and in the distance, Stoodley Pike.

Dropping down onto the A672 and crossing over to a concessionary path overlooking a feeder stream and two smaller reservoirs, you walk up to the two bridges at Oxygrains and after a little exploring, back to your car.

England - North England - Yorkshire - Pennines

Features

Ancient Monument, Birds, Flowers, Good for Kids, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Moor, River, Wildlife

9/7/2014 - Anthony Miller

Did this in early September. I didn't see anyone else apart from a few sailors on Green Withins Reservoir. I had a couple of wayfinding problems: the path to Green Withins is generally clear, but there was one point when I realised I was heading too far down into the valley and had to retrace my steps to where the path had split (it was not obvious though). At point 5 I went too high after crossing the bridge and following the clearest (and wrong) path up the hillside, this wasn't a problem and I gradually worked my way back down to Blackwood Edge. My main problem came after point 13, this turned into a real bracken hell and I gave up and got back onto the road shortly after point 15. Before I did, though, there was a obvious path leading down to the second dam and this was a very pleasant spot. Sadly, I couldn't get onto the dam because of a padlocked gate but it was still worth the short descent. Overall, this was a good route and I will do it again but at a time when I know there will be no bracken.

7/2/2013 - Andy Booth

Fantastic walk with great views. Did this on 28/06/13 and instructions were good. However, we did manage to lose the path up the clough towards Green Withens Reservoir so just followed the stream but we kept having to cross it to pick up an easier path on the opposite side which resulted in knee-deep bog at some points. Good fun though! Also after WM7 we couldn't find the stone stile even though we followed a well-defined path as it appears to have new fencing erected on top of the existing walls surrounding the field. Anyway we decided to cross the stile at WM7 and follow the path towards Pike End which descended from the moor to a gate beside Commons Farm and then straight down to the road where we turned right to follow Pike End Road all the way round until a Public Footpath sign a few hundred yards before the road joins the A672. Followed the footpath through a wooded area past a splendid house on the left and continued on until we reached the kissing gate at WM11 and followed the directions from there.

9/6/2004 - nicola taylor

Completed this walk mid-August. Myself 2 friends and my dog decided to take up walking. This may have been a little adventurous for our first walk. We had lots of rain on the run up to this walk and the moors were pretty slippy. But really enjoyed it and the views were great. A quiet walk, we only saw 1 person in the distance in the whole 3 hours !