BB2228 : Albert and the Stocks

Thursday 13th October 2022

So, seeking for further amusement
Pa said "jump back into t'car
"We'll go to where comes their water
It's called the Stocks Res-er-voir."

Like Albert, I'd heard nowt about it
Robin had; he said "It's reet grand
I'll take you this coming Thursday
It's in the Forest Bow-land"

And that's how the BOOTboys came to be there. Robin's plan was for a gentle walk around the reservoir, which was built in 1932 to serve the needs of the folk of Blackpool.  It is located alongside the Forest of Bowland, some rather bleak miles south of Clapham and west of Hellifield.

There is a waymarked walk around the reservoir.  We started from the official car park (Sorry, councillors, we don't carry cash anymore).  

The day was kind.  Indeed almost too kind as we were all dressed for it to be cold.

Almost immediately we came upon the site of the old church, St James', that was pulled down when the reservoir was created.  Houses had also been demolished, their date stones are integrated into the stone wall.

The path north led through the Forest of Bowland, offering tantalising glimpses of the reservoir to our left.  

Soon we emerged onto open ground and climbed gently across fields to what is marked on the map as New House but it certainly is not now New and didn't look as if it had ever been a House.

The trail around Copped Hill Cough and Esk Hill .....

..... eventually brought us close to where the water might have been but wasn't now.  The level was very low.

We were able to walk safely well beyond the signs warning of deep water and deep mud.

We found a surprisingly large fishermen's hut- more like a decent detached house. Tony recognised the name of the club, The Prince Albert Angling Society, as being a rather upmarket organisation, which maybe accounts for the size of the club house but not the poor state that it is now in.  A little further on is a natural burial ground.  A not unpleasant place to spend eternity.

At the end of the reservoir, just before the dam, is a truly grand house which we suspect was built for the water company's boss.  The dam itself was undergoing repairs and the workmen clearly didn't want us to pass along its walkway.  Those twin miseryguts, Health and Safety, no doubt.

The return path did provide fine views of the reservoir.....  

..... before entering into a wooded area, then out alongside a road that led over a bridge.....

..... and back to the car.  Returning over the moors, the Yorkshire Three Peaks could clearly be seen.

So seeking for further amusement
We sped north to Clapham's New Inn
Where they'd pies of all sorts of sizes
And fine ale so we all got stuck in.

Don, Thursday 13th October 2022
With Apologies to Marriott Edgar
Thanks to Tony and Mike for some of the pictures.

Waterbird In Flight

Unfortunately in the last report, BB2227, I incompetently omitted what should have been the best visual of Waterbird in flight.  Somehow I had overlooked the fact   that Mike had videoed its flypast.  That omission has now been rectified but to see the missing video just click on the picture.

Robin kindly added this ode:

Your tale of Stocks and Albert
T’were clever – t’were really spot on.
So not only leader of t’BOOTboys,
Bur also Poet Laureate Don!

Fly Fishing

Ian (my nephew):  I fished the place a few years ago from a boat. It was fly fishing for trout. Very important to the purist. Other sorts not allowed.  [Tony would dispute that! Ed.]

Had a very nice experience watching a kingfisher on a bush. A fond memory of the place. I seem to remember pinching a life jacket by mistake, getting home and realising it was in the boot of my car. It was a right pain to return!

Saunterings:

John Self also blogs his walks.  By coincidence, at the same time as my report was published, John released Sauntering 165: In Gisburn Forest in the Forest of Bowland.  This led to this correspondance:

John:  I see you've just posted about the Stocks Reservoir outing.  You seem to have walked the same route as I did on one of the first Saunterings (which is I suppose the standard way round):    Circumperambulating Stocks Reservoir.  I remember it being too cold.

Don:  Enjoyed your Circumperambulating Stocks Reservoir report.  There was no sign of the Coulam boats when we were there.  Maybe they were put away in the clubhouse but there was no jetty either! 

Robin:  Tony and I came upon three or four planked board walks of some 4m long with attached at each corner what looked like oil drums. They were stranded high up on the shore just after our lunch stop, near to where you legged it down to inspect the notices and the mooring buoy. We had a brief debate about what they might be. If dragged to the water presumably they would float and so we thought they were pontoons, but upon reading his Sauntering report I now reckon they made up the boat jetty in John’s photo.

John:  Further to your comments on the 'mystery' of the jetty and boats on Stocks Reservoir, I see from the websites that there's been a change of ownership (I think) of the fishery, and some problems with it - the fishery didn't open at all in 2021.  This website Public News | Prince Albert Angling Society (paas.co.uk) says it's open this year but "No boats or float tubes are allowed, it is strictly bank fishing only".  That would explain what you didn't see!

There's something 'fishy' about it all but I'm not a fisherman and not too bothered to look into it.  Why would you stop fishing from a boat?  Why not use what seems a valuable resource, the boats?  Why did they not fish at all last year?  Is it all about money?  I vaguely remember the 'club house' you mention - was it too much to maintain?  Was covid a factor?  How do United Utilities fit into this?  At least, the walk round is much the same

Do you have any comments or questions?

If so, please click on .  We look forward to hearing from you.  If you do NOT want your comments to appear on this website, please say so otherwise we will assume that we have your permission for publication in whatever responsible manner we consider appropriate.  Alternatively you can leave a comment on Facebook.

If you would like to become a BOOTboys Follower click on to let US know and you will receive automatic notification of new reports.

STATISTICS

BB2228 : Albert and the Stocks

Date:

Thursday 13th October 2022

Features:

Stocks Reservoir

Distance in miles:

7.5

Height climbed in feet:

728

GPX track:

BB2228 GPX

Comitibus:

Don, Mike B, Robin (&Holly), Tony

Home

BB04

BB05

BB06

 BB07

BB08

BB09

BB10

BB11

BB12

BB13

BB14

BB15

BB16

BB17

BB18

BB19

BB20

BB21

BB22

Archive