We're starting this walk in the car park of Arnfield Fly Fishery Cafe & Restaurant, after your walk enjoy a coffee and bacon sarnie (closed on Modays). From Crossgate Lane take the first footpath on your left alongside the reservoir.
Arnfield Reservoir was constructed in 1854 as part of the Longdendale chain to supply water from the River Etherow to the urban areas of Greater Manchester. The water from Arnfield passes through the Mottram Tunnel, 2,800m long, to Godley.
Continue on the path turn slight right to head north, the path then divides into two, take left path to the bridges, sluice and waterfall.
The earthen embankment of Arnfield Reservoir is 17m high and the five sections total 953m in length. It was constructed of local clay and a masonry overflow weir protects the reservoir from overtopping.
Continue on the path around the reservoir and over the bridge across the channel, then head north passing (not crossing) another bridge on your left which we return to later.
Just to the north of Arnfield Reservoir was Hollingworth Reservoir, constructed in 1854 as part of the Longdendale Chain, but was abandoned in 1987 and now forms part of the Swallows Wood nature reserve.
Swallow's Wood is a 60-acre nature reserve, which contains semi-natural woodlands, meadows, ponds and marsh areas,it is owned by United Utilities who are responsible for its management.
Continue on the path heading north until the path divides again, head west towards the bridges and sluice.
For about 50 years a motorway to link Manchester and Sheffield bypassing Hollingworth and Tintwistle has been proposed and would have run through Swallow's Wood. Tameside Council have recently committed to planting 10,000 managed trees, in an attempt to move the woodland gradually away from the bypass route.
After crossing over the bridge we head south back through Swallow's Wood, across the stream and eventually we come to that bridge we didn't cross over earlier. We just follow the path back to the cafe for that well deserved coffee.
Access to the west and south faces of Arnfield Reservoir along the top of the embankment seems to be restricted with signs and locked gates.
Please let us know if you spot any issues along the route or any errors in the directions.
Please let us know if you would like support, donate or sponsor this project.