Winter at Ogden Nature Reserve

Had a couple of hours to spare in the morning so I drove up the road to Odgen Water Country Park to stretch the legs. The crowds and dog walkers usually follow the well used track around the reservoir but I much prefer to get off the beaten track as its much more interesting and more or less doubles the length of the walk.

The hidden valley of Ogden Clough is always worth a visit and seems a million miles from the reservoir whereas in reality, it is only about half a mile away. It's the same with the plantation as well; with a little extra effort you can be in the woods and far away from the madding crowds. A little more effort still and you can then be up on Ovenden Moor where it can be really bleak and windswept.

Not today though; it was bitterly cold in the plantation but warmed up considerably once I had left its confines and was out on the open moorland. With one eye on the clock, I cut back down through the woods to Chester's Bridge and then completed the circuit of the reservoir with plenty of time to spare.

A very enjoyable and refreshing walk.