Comb Reservoir Circular

Thanks for your critique.

We mapped out and completed the walk using an OS map and a 'Silver Compass' both of which only cost a few pounds.

As you can see the on the route map provided, I assume you looked at it, the route follows official OS recognised footpaths (marked in green) and is to scale (see bottom left corner of map in Visorando). On occasions the paths may not be clearly marked on the ground so it may be necessary to look closely at the route on the map and relate it to the topography in front of you. We managed to locate all of the paths with relative ease using map, compass and a little common sense. The route provided exactly maps onto OS paths so i don't see how 'routemap quality' could be improved.

Visorando limits the number of waypoints, i used maximum possible, hence only key waypoints can be included for guidance.. My original version of the walk with more waypoints and associated pictures can be found at
http://www.graemelinford.com/walks/comb_...

Date of walk : 28/09/21
Clarity of route description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Walk interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

For a simple circular walk around a reservoir near Chapel-en-le Frith, the describer of this walk on Visorando obviously made full use of the directional and compass capabilities of their smartphone to do it. For the rest of us mortals who can't afford such technology, this was a simple walk where you could so frequently go wrong. Bear that in mind when you follow the instructions because the description often does not match the reality -especially if there is the hint of fog or mist at any time because two of the footbridges across the by the reservoir are slippery after rain and show that they are very low on the list of High Peak District Council's list of repair priorities.
There were two of us on this walk so the following points puzzled both of us:
Waypoint 1 -"Briefly turn south (right) along Combs Road.(No distance description now), Leave Comb Road north (left), via a footpath along the hedgerow.(There is an obvious public footpath sign by the entry to a caravan park which we took to be this and we followed a hedgerow to find we were in an enclosed field. We walked around it to find an exit onto the golf course. There wasn't one. In fact we could not see a golf course. We came back to the footpath sign on Combs Road but could not see a sign beyond the entry to the caravan park. We decided to walk north along Combs Road to find the eastwards heading track opposite "Bridgefield" to go across country to meet the path described in (1) and find the the public "right of way" entry to the golf course but were unsuccessful and arrived at the junction with the B5470 where we could see the red post box - obviously "refreshed" by Royal Mail.
Waypoint 2 - Leaving the B5470, we headed north and saw the golf clubhouse on our left - do not enter the golf club grounds but continue on the lane - local golf club members are not friendly if you trespass on their cub grounds. Eventually you see the distinct buildings of Bradshaw Hall on your left beyond a set of imposing stone gate posts. Do not enter here but carry on to enter an enclosure. Follow the track to the left and their are gates to both right and left(this choice is not mentioned in the directions, as only one is described. We took the left one because a way post with a yellow arrow was on it).
Waypoint 3 - The problem now is , if you look westwards you cannot see any buildings that could be Woodside barn to the horizon. We followed a westerly direction to a gap in the tree line and then there is a very obscure shoe-wide overgrown path heading half right away from the gap. A post with a yellow top is just about visible, which we took to be a way marker. It is only as you approach it that you see a red footpath sign put up by the local farmer who, understandably, is fed up of hikers criss-crossing his land to follow the description of the walk writer. You then can see the barn at Woodside.
Waypoint 4 - Finding the lane south is straightforward as all the other compass points have "Keep Out" and "Private" on them. Follow this lane until you come to a collection of up-market houses and you ask yourself "What exactly is Sparkbottom" ( as described in the instructions) and the lane to the B5470 could be any one of the exits from what looks like a cul-de-sac. Fortunately a big cement truck that was higher than any of the hedges chose that moment to rumble along the B5470 towards Chapel-en-le-Frith and helped us to choose an exit that was to our half right, sloping slightly upwards. When you get to the main road the footpath is clearly signed on the opposite side of the road. When you go down it you will see that there is a poultry farm on the right-hand side housing turkeys that look like a cross between a regular turkey and Giger's "Alien". Eventually you will see the side of Comb Reservoir rising up in front of you through the gap in the hedge. TAKE GREAT CARE WHEN EXITING THROUGH HERE AS IT EXITS ONTO THE NARROW,ONE VEHICLE-WIDTH ACCESS ROAD THAT IS USED TO ENTER AND LEAVE THE RESERVOIR CAR PARK. Cars travel at speed here!!