08th February 2015
Ogden Water
Map of Ogden Water
Ogden Water is a nature reserve around 4.5 miles north of Halifax.There is parking there, but it can fill up quite quickly, so I arrived at around 10:00am. The sun was shining, but it was still cold and very slippy under foot.
Once out of my car, I had a look around to get my bearings, I parked next to the wall near to the reservoir, there are a couple of car parks on a higher level. I used the steps and went to the top car park to get a better view of the reservoir.
My first look at Ogden Water.
Always good to know there is a tea room for the end of walk refreshments.
The lower car park viewed from the middle car park.
A plaque on a bench near the top car park.
The view from the top car park.
After getting my bearings, I headed towards the cafe, at the head of the reservoir, the car park is run as an honesty donation, via a little money slot in the wall near to the cafe.
I then headed across the head of the reservoir, taking photos as I went. once I was on the opposite side of the reservoir, I had a choice of three tracks to make, which track should I take?
I took the middle track which went into the woods; I followed this for a while. Someone had built a den in the woods. I eventually saw a style, and exited the woods, and came out onto the original left hand track.
There is a golf course which runs down the valley towards Halifax, a good walk spoilt!
The woodland track I took.
The den in the woods.
My route for the day.
5.87km.
Please note the 1h 40min, was not how long it took me to do the walk, this is what the software claimed it should take!
The walk from the style was uphill, and was quite hard going due to the ice, it was very slippy! The uphill struggle seemed never ending, but it afforded the opportunity to take in the glorious views looking back down the valley.
I eventually made it to the top, and the windmill farm came into view (it's amazing what they can grow these days, who would have thought that you could grow windmills?).
I turned right at this point, with the windmills to my left. Even though this was now relatively flat, it was still slippy under foot.
I followed the track in a long curve to the right, the track started to slope down, when I came to a narrow footbridge over a small stream. still continuing round to the right, at which point Ogden Cough comes into view. The track starts to go down into the valley. It was at this point I decided to have a spot of lunch, just sitting at the track with a good view of the valley.
The path leads down to a stone wall at the head of the Clough, with a water channel from the center, the wall also acts as a bridge.
The stone wall/bridge at the head of the clough.
Once across the bridge, I headed up the zig zag track up the other side of the valley, and then headed to the right. I followed this track until the track divides, and I follow the left hand track heading towards the woods.
Once in the woods, I headed right, until I reached a main track, and headed right, which took to me to the end of the reservoir. I turned left and followed the track along the edge of the reservoir until I got back to where I started from; I headed up the road, and called into the cafe for a well earned coffee. After my coffee, I headed back to my car and headed home.
This was a great walk, although a bit slippy under foot, I would like to return here again at some point.