Springs to mind
               Saturday Feb 21 2009
                Brosscroft Hadfield

Members of the Longdendale and Glossopdale Footpath Society met at Brosscroft Hadfield and headed up the Longdendale Valley. Keeping to field path below the Longdendale Trail their route kept above the waters of Bottoms and Valehouse Reservoirs. Passing Deepclough Farm and now walking above Rhodeswood Reservoir the paths lead them through to Torside.

They joined the Pennine Way to cross the embankment of Torside Reservoir. On the Crowden side of the valley the route threaded between conifers to the waterside Torside Trail. Following the route of the former waterworks access railway brought the hikers to Crowden and a crossing of the A628.
The road running between car park and camp site lead the hikers past the site of former Crowden Hall.

This they followed into the valley of Crowden Brook. Across the stream they took a break at the outdoor centre. The newly refurbished Crowden Outdoor Centre maintained by Rotherham Education is also home now to Crowden Youth Hostel. After elevenses a path crossed the former rifle range, re-crossed the Pennine way and gave the ramblers a steady ascent onto the moors at Lad?s Leap.

Lunch was taken on the rim of the moor; there were clear views across the Longdendale Valley and pockets of snow lay in the gullies. Along the edge of Millstone Rocks, skirting Robinson?s Spring and down through Tintwistle Knarr Quarries to Round Intake. A wide track by Townhead Farm lead to the Monkey House, across the A628 utilising the Pegasus crossing at Ebenezer Brow, across Bottoms embankment and back to Brosscroft their valley visit completed.

David Frith