Balderhead Res, Mickleton Moor, Low Birk Hatt, Co. Durham.
[ 10.6 km] Fri 11 Mar 2011

NY 9290 1872
It was very windy when I reached the car park at Balderhead Reservoir. It was so windy I had trouble opening the door. The small car park is at the north end of the dam which when it was completed in 1965 was the highest earth dam in the British Isles at 330m. I set off west along the road and in to the gale. Thankfully it wasn’t raining. The map showed a path leaving the road opposite the access track to East Carnigill but there was no sign of one, only a stone wall.

Further on I saw a path sign heading through a gate. It took me along a track and through another gate and nowhere near the route the map shows. I headed over White Hill and across some boggy ground before seeing a wall ahead. I reached it and turned right to head for the Broad Stone boundary stone where the path is indicated by a stile through the wall. The wide view of Lunedale opened up ahead and a faint path indicated the way. I left it for a while to explore a sheepfold area to my right. The buildings were quite substantial but looked secure and probably locked. I was hoping to find some shelter from the wind. I re-joined the path and headed down to the farm buildings at Lane Head. This is certainly an area of reservoirs. In front of me was the massive dam of Selset Reservoir. With a top water level of 310m it was completed in 1960. The overflow and weirs are quite interesting. I reached Kelton Lane and followed it to the buildings at How.

This is where the Pennine Way path is signposted across the fields. I followed the sign south to a small farm building at Beck Head. The path heads for a gap between hills in the horizon then over the top I could see Baldersdale again. At the road I crossed over and headed down the farm track to Low Birk Hatt farm where Hannah Hauxwell used to live. While there I visited the hide overlooking the reservoir.

It was a very pleasant shelter from the constant wind. There had also just been a rain squall so it was even more welcome. I climbed down the bank to the waters edge to the spot where Hannah used to do her washing and also collect water when her spring near the farm was frozen. I followed the green track down to the River Balder then through the gate to the reservoir road which took me back up to the car park. The strong wind continued and just as I got in the car the rain started. Whew, I got back just in time.

High Birk Hatt farm.

Blackton Reservoir below Low Birk Hatt.

The same view from the Yorkshire Television
film about Hannah Hauxwell.
That's Hannah by the fence.