Yorkshire Water Recreation :: Widdop & Gorple

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Route

Start from the car park east of Widdop Dam at point 1. Leave the car park via the side nearest to the dam and follow the defined path to a footbridge, followed by a short flight of steps onto the dam wall. Turn left and cross the dam, then bear right and continue on a broad track close to the water’s edge. At point 2 the track veers left away from the reservoir, below a small plantation, then climbs up the hillside which can be quite steep in places, through a series of bends to a path junction at point 3. Turn left here, signed Public Bridleway Worsthorne and continue on the wide track uphill and onto open moorland. The track levels out and meets another footpath junction with a sign post on the right hand side at point 4. Turn left at this junction, following the Yorkshire Water Permissive path across open ground with major rock outcrops first on the right and then on the left. The path eventually descends down a narrow path to the access track at the north end of the Upper Gorple Reservoir Dam at point 5. This path can become boggy in places so please take care.

Turn left taking the access track for a further mile ignoring a signed footpath to Widdop Road on the left. Walk past some trees on your right immediately below Gorple Upper Reservoir and proceed beyond a long timber hut at point 6 with trees on your left and Lower Gorple Reservoir on your right. At the Lower Gorple Reservoir Dam, point 7 turn left, signed Pennine Bridleway, and continue along the track to Widdop Road at Clough Foot, point 8. Leaving the track via a bridle gate, turn left onto the tarmac road and walk on the right hand side of the road for a further ¾ mile until you return to the car park at Widdop.

OS Map: Explorer Map OL21


	Widdop & Gorple Type: Four Boots Route Length: 2-5 miles
	This remote, bleak and exposed moorland walk is situated in an area of natural beauty with stunning scenery. Brushing the edges of 3 local reservoirs, Widdop, Upper Gorple and Lower Gorple, the route is within easy access of the Pennine Way. The walk is 4 miles long. Please note: We'll begin essential protection work on the embankment at Widdop reservoir on 19 July 2010. We're sorry to say we'll be closing the footpath over the embankment for up to four months whilst this work is undertaken.
	Location North of Hebden Bridge
	Access From the car park to the east of Widdop Reservoir dam point 1, on the Hebden Bridge / Nelson / Colne road.


	Route Start from the car park east of Widdop Dam at point 1. Leave the car park via the side nearest to the dam and follow the defined path to a footbridge, followed by a short flight of steps onto the dam wall. Turn left and cross the dam, then bear right and continue on a broad track close to the water’s edge. At point 2 the track veers left away from the reservoir, below a small plantation, then climbs up the hillside which can be quite steep in places, through a series of bends to a path junction at point 3. Turn left here, signed Public Bridleway Worsthorne and continue on the wide track uphill and onto open moorland. The track levels out and meets another footpath junction with a sign post on the right hand side at point 4. Turn left at this junction, following the Yorkshire Water Permissive path across open ground with major rock outcrops first on the right and then on the left. The path eventually descends down a narrow path to the access track at the north end of the Upper Gorple Reservoir Dam at point 5. This path can become boggy in places so please take care. Turn left taking the access track for a further mile ignoring a signed footpath to Widdop Road on the left. Walk past some trees on your right immediately below Gorple Upper Reservoir and proceed beyond a long timber hut at point 6 with trees on your left and Lower Gorple Reservoir on your right. At the Lower Gorple Reservoir Dam, point 7 turn left, signed Pennine Bridleway, and continue along the track to Widdop Road at Clough Foot, point 8. Leaving the track via a bridle gate, turn left onto the tarmac road and walk on the right hand side of the road for a further ¾ mile until you return to the car park at Widdop. OS Map: Explorer Map OL21
	For more information about other Yorkshire Water walks or activities visit yorkshirewater.com/recreation Yorkshire Water. Only available in Yorkshire. Great care has been taken to ensure that the information in our activity packs (or other information made available) is accurate. However, we accept no liability for any claim, loss, damage or injury (howsoever arising) incurred by those using the information provided in activity packs or by Yorkshire Water generally.