Scammonden

Start from Wood Edge car park point 1 near the north east corner of the reservoir. This is one of 3 car parks around the property - all shown on the map.  From the motorway end of the car park go through the gap next to the gate and follow the path straight ahead. Turn left on to a wider track after approximately 100 metres and follow this on a zig-zag course downhill almost to the waterside. Where it levels out at point 2 turn left onto a permissive path running parallel to the shoreline. This continues for over half the length of the reservoir to the sailing club. Where the path turns left at point 3, go around the top side of club premises and the plantation alongside.  This path meets another track coming down the hill and our route goes right to the footbridge over a small stream at point 4 and down to the sailing club access road - this section is rough and uneven.

Turn left on the access road and then first right to descend towards the waterside at point 5. Near the bottom of the slope turn left close to the high water line and follow the path to the head of the reservoir. Follow the stream side to the picnic area, car park and road at point 6.  This section has some board walks.

Turn left up the road to the first bend and go over a stile on the right, following the track up to the end of the Deanhead Dam. Ignore the track on the right down to the foot of the dam and gain access on to the dam via a metal walkway point 7.  Cross the dam, over the stile at the far end and turn right along a hard track to the road at point 8.

Walk forward along the road for about 200 metres to a passing place on the right with a footpath sign.  Follow the sign down a few steps into an old lane between ruined walls. These walls soon peter out, though the path continues in the same line through a kissing gate and shortly comes alongside another old wall on the right. Continue forward above the wall to a major junction of paths.  Ignore the left hand one up into the wood and take the more prominent track below the wood heading towards a gateway. Follow this until Deanhead Church comes into view. About 135 yards before the churchyard wall the path forks. Take the left hand (upper) route on to a grass lane above the church into Deanhead Village. 

Turn right in front of the church and down a narrow lane towards the reservoir. Bear left at the open ground, passing a small square building on your left and follow the path along the hillside. The path comes alongside an old wall on the right, continue forward in the same direction. In some places, paths fork off on the left but these should be ignored. Keep bearing right where there's a choice. The path descends slightly towards the last plantation before the dam wall at point 9.  Turn right along the cinder track over the dam to point 10 and retrace the first part of the outward route back to the car park.

OS Map: Explorer OL21

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