Monday 31 March 2025 - Stocks Reservoir Circular

Sadly, we missed this week's clear skies and bright sunshine by just a few hours, but at least it was dry and warm, albeit the light was a bit flat.

This was walk number 9 in Mark Sutcliffe's 'Walking in Lancashire' Cicerone guide. The description in his book is backed up by clear waymarks all along the route. I was accompanied by Sue and Andy.

We parked at School Lane car park, Dalehead, next to the reservoir, at a point where volunteers have worked to expose the remains of St James' Church, which was demolished in 1933 due to concerns about contamination of the water supply. (Click on the next image for a longer explanation.)
 

Facing the reservoir, we took a path to the right and visited two bird hides that offered good views of the reservoir and its wildlife.

The birds were some distance away, hence a rather grainy image of some Wigeon. The camera on my phone is good, but not that good!

A nest from last year was seen next to new greenery that will soon make the nest invisible through the new foliage.

Our path left the reservoir and headed uphill to the ruins of New House farm.

Outside the farm, a circular stone construction had us puzzled as to its purpose.

A zigzag path led down to a sturdy footbridge over the infant River Hodder.

Next to the bridge, a plaque in memory of Gil Moorehead.

Uphill now towards a turn left along the track of a railway that was built to carry stone from a quarry a few kilometres to the north. The blue 'Stocks Circular Path' waymarks clearly denote the route.

The path to the railway track has been laid with stones that have converted what may have been a quagmire into a very nice path.

After a spell along the railway, our path continued down to the remains of a jetty. This proved an excellent lunch spot.

A little further on we passed the Fly Fishery buildings before heading past a frog zone to a Memorial Forest.

Stocks Board House is the home of United Utilities' Bowland Estate Office. Strictly no entry beyond the point at which I'm standing.

The building is sited just above the dam, to which we descended.

There's an industrial complex of buildings below the dam, as revealed in this panorama.

The brick building in the reservoir was home today to a flock of Oyster Catchers, with a large flock of Black-headed Gulls based on a nearby island, and numerous varieties of duck on the reservoir.

A gate and some steps pointed us down towards more industry, then left to a concessionary path along the eastern shore.

The reservoir is not currently full!

A slightly less distant Oyster Catcher.

Afternoon tea on a bench situated on a muddy puddle into which Andy upended his flask...

Forest paths led away from the reservoir to a causeway, and then back to the car park. Apart from banks of Daffodils and Lesser Celandine, we passed through areas choked with Primroses, Butterbur and Lady's Mantle.

Back at the car park, there's more information on a faded board about the lost hamlet of Stocks in Bowland.

Well, despite the lack of sunshine, this was a most enjoyable 12km stroll with about 200 metres ascent, taking rather less than 4 hours, including some lengthy stops.