Whitworth in winter

Cowm Reservoir & Healey Dell

The photographs were taken at Cowm Reservoir and in the snow covered Healey Dell Nature Reserve - Whitworth, Rossendale. The reservoir was heavily polluted in the early 1970s, which effectively terminated its use as a supply of drinking water for the area. The former reservoir is now used by the BDWSA - British Disabled Water Skiers Association. There is a well surfaced, easy, walk round the reservoir. If you prefer a more strenuous walk, a bridle path at the far end of the reservoir takes you over the hills (with extensive views of the surrounding area) and leads to Hallfold. From here you can extend your walk to Healey Dell. Brown Wardle Hill is shown in picture three. Brown Wardle is popular with hang gliders, walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

Click on the photographs to enlarge.

A snow covered Brown Wardle hill from Cowm Reservoir

Down to the Healey Dell nature reserve in Whitworth

Mountain bike magazines class the South Pennines as having some of the best riding in the country. Rossendale also has more public footpaths within its boundary than any other town or borough in the country. For energetic walkers the 47 mile long Rossendale Way crosses over the summit of Brown Wardle. Healey Dell Nature Reserve (bottom set of four pictures) is at the southern edge of Whitworth. The former single track railway that runs through the valley is long gone. In its place is an easy going walk through the Reserve. Watergrove Reservoir and Hollingworth Lake Country Park are both close by and all are developing as wildlife refuges. A number of images from the North of England can be found on the Desktop Wallpaper pages .

| Some of these views, and many more of Whitworth, are available as 1024x768 wallpaper |

Hindle Pastures provides excellent accomodation and is located in an elevated, totally rural and peaceful setting at the southern end of Whitworth, close to the Rochdale boundary.