THIS local ramble explores the upper reaches of Bradshaw Brook and walks along the shorelines of three reservoirs familiar to Boltonians.

From Jumbles Reservoir we climb to the moorland heights of Cheetham Close where Bronze Age man settled in a clearing above the forests. Then we skirt the edge of Entwistle and Wayoh Reservoirs -- both constructed in the 19th century to provide water for the flourishing textile mills along the upper reaches of the Bradshaw Brook. The two reservoirs now supply local water. A pleasant rural source for our glass of "Corporation Pop"!

DISTANCE: 7 miles

START: Jumbles Country Park. Main car park (by the visitor centre) accessed from the A676 north of Bradshaw.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Regular bus services along the A676 from Bolton to Hawkshaw/Ramsbottom. Alternatively, the walk can be started by alighting at Bromley Cross station by bus or train.

LEAVE the car park at the opposite end to the toilets and drop down steps to cross a footbridge over the Bradshaw Brook below the high dam of Jumbles Reservoir. Bear left and follow the surfaced path through Ousel Nest Meadow (past the information panel). This leads to a kissing gate on Grange Road. Turn right and follow the tree-lined lane to the entrance to Grange Farm. Continue straight ahead between the stable blocks and go through a kissing gate to follow a shoreline path along the reservoir edge. Cross a bridge, bear right through Horrobin car park and continue along the water's edge path until the wide access bridge at the top end of Jumbles is reached.

Do not cross this bridge but turn sharp left and go up steps through a woodland and follow a field edge path which drops downhill to a road by an old pill box. Turn left and follow the pavement uphill for a short distance until the entrance to Turton Tower is reached on the right hand side. Cross over the road with care. Go up the driveway and pass the historic house and the water wheel of Black Rock Mill to cross the Bolton-Blackburn railway line at the turreted bridge. Continue along the stone track which forks right and goes through a kissing gate.

Continue along the track for a short distance until you meet a waymarked footpath by a gate in the wall on your right. Leave the farm track here by turning sharp left and following the distinct path uphill towards a wooded ridge. A barn can be seen over to the right. Stiles lead through the woodland on the hill and the path continues uphill through rough pasture with a wall to your left. Cross a stile in the far wall corner and there are good views south to Bolton from here.

Turn immediately right after the stile and follow the path uphill to the featureless moorland summit of Cheetham Close. There is a trig point here and the scattered stone remains of a prehistoric settlement. Continue straight ahead off the moor and drop down to the plateau by a solitary boundary post. Turn sharp right here and follow a faint track which soon bears diagonally left down the hillside to a stile in a wall corner by pylons. Continue straight ahead from the pylons along a boggy path which soon skirts left between grassy hills to reach another stile. Cross this and follow the path downhill along the fence to cross another stile which brings you back to the farm track near to a road.

Turn left and join the road. Turn right on the road and walk downhill for a very short distance before turning left along a footpath which crosses fields and the access road to Entwistle Reservoir. The path leads to a car park. Drop down from here and join the embankment of the reservoir by the lower car park. Cross the embankment and at the far side leave the reservoir edge and continue straight ahead along the stone track past a camping barn. The track soon leads to the Strawbury Duck Inn near to Entwistle Station.

Cross the road bridge over the railway and after it swings right to give a panoramic view across the valley, leave it by turning left along the footpath which starts at a gate and drops downhill through a field and woodland to reach a footbridge at a junction of paths. Cross the footbridge and another one to follow the shore path which skirts around the eastern side of Wayoh Reservoir. Continue along the shore path beyond a lane and follow it all the way to the dam. Do not cross the dam but continue straight ahead along a path which brings you out on the road alongside the Black Bull.

Turn right along the road and drop downhill almost to the valley bottom until Birch Road is reached on the left hand side. Turn left along Birch Road and follow it as it swings right across the river then turn sharp left along the cobbled road to cross the river again by a bridge that leads to new houses. On the far side of the bridge turn sharp right and join a riverside path around the edge of the new houses. The path now leads past cottages and continues along a pretty wooded stretch of Bradshaw Brook back to the access bridge at the inlet to Jumbles. Do not cross the bridge but continue straight ahead along the track. The shoreline track now leads all the way back to Jumbles Country Park visitor centre and car park.

The OS Explorer Maps are ideal for walkers as they record many recreational routes.

Check out the Oldham Way (40 miles) and the Rochdale Way (50 miles) which are shown on Explorer Map 277 (Manchester and Salford) and the adjoining Outdoor Leisure Sheets 1 (Dark Peak) and 21 (South Pennines).

The OS map of the Dark Peak also highlights several cycle trails along disused railway lines. Ideal for families and beginners is the Sett Valley Trail -- 2 miles from the old Hadfield Station to New Mills -- and the more interesting Longdendale Trail -- 6 miles from Hadfield Station to Woodhead Tunnel.

Also available to walkers of course!