We're starting this walk on Goddard Lane where there are a few parking spots, walking up to Bottoms Reservoir, take the path on the right to the top of Bottoms Reservoir dam.
Walk along the dam path and turn right to follow the path around the north side of Bottoms Reservoir all the way round to Valehouse Reservoir.
Bottoms Reservoir was constructed between 1865 and 1877, to provide a constant flow of water for the mills in Longdendale and not for drinking water.
The reservoir releases 10 million gallons (45 million litres) a day into the River Etherow via the 40 feet (12m) diameter gauging basin.
When full it covers 50 acres (20 ha) and holds 650 million gallons of water (2.95 billion litres).
Once you reach Valehouse Reservoir, cross over to the south side and follow the path.
After Valehouse Farm the path veers away from the water to go past some more farm buildings before returning back to Valehouse Reservoir and Rhodeswood Reservoir..
Valehouse Reservoir was constructed between 1865 and 1869, to provide a constant flow of water for the mills in Longdendale and not for drinking water.
The village of Vale House, with about 700 houses was flooded to make way for the reservoir in 1869.
When full it covers 63 acres (25 ha) and holds 506 million gallons of water (3.43 billion litres).
Once you reach Rhodeswood Reservoir, cross back over to the north side and follow the path.
And then back over to south side at Torside Reservoir.
Rhodeswood Reservoir was constructed between 1849 and 1855, to provide drinking water for Manchester.
All the reservoirs in the Longdendale chain were constructed by English civil engineer John Frederick Bateman.
When full it covers 56 acres (23 ha) and holds 500 million gallons of water (2.3 billion litres).
Heading along the south side of Torside Reservoir, after a short distance you cross over the B6105 and join the Longdendale Trail.
Stay on the trail all the way to Woodhead Reservoir.
Torside Reservoir was constructed between 1849 and 1855, to provide drinking water for Manchester.
Torside is the largest reservoir in the Longdendale chain.
When full it covers 160 acres (65 ha) and holds 1,500 million gallons of water (6.7 billion litres).
Time to head back, you've seen all five reservoirs in the Longdendale Chain. You can follow the Longdendale Trail to the Woodhead Tunnels if you've got the energy.
Crowden railway station used to
stand hear at the start of Woodhead Reservoir.
There isn't a path on the north side of Torside without crossing over the A628 Woodhead road, so we'll retrace our steps back to Torside Reservoir.
Woodhead Reservoir was constructed between 1847 and 1877, to provide drinking water for Manchester.
Woodhead was the first reservoir in the Longdendale chain to be started and the last to finish.
When full it covers 135 acres (55 ha) and holds 1,180 million gallons of water (5.37 billion litres).
Stay on the south side of Rhodeswood Reservoir and along the north side of Valehouse Reservoir.
Back to the south side for Bottoms Reservoir and we're back to Goddard Lane.
A local millowner, Brown & Co., donated £50 towards the cost of providing a station at Crowden. Plans were drawn up in April 1857, but the MS&LR decided that the sum of £400 was too much and dropped the idea, however, they did not return the donation. When Brown & Co. complained in May 1860 about their loss, the plan was revived and the station was built, with the MS&LR meeting the balance of the £450 total cost. George Benton of Glossop was contracted for the building work. The station was adjacent to the dam at the lower end of the Woodhead Reservoir, which belonged to Manchester Corporation. The station was opened on 1 July 1861 and closed on 4 February 1957.
View a 1921 map of Crowden railway station at Old Maps Online .
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.