[1] From the Linacre Reservoirs entrance or pay car parks follow the main drive down to the Ranger base with toilets and also home to many species of birds, plant life, and wildlife. Just before the base turn right down the steps and proceed straight ahead across the embankment of the lower reservoir. Continue straight on up the slope and through a sign posted wall gap into a field. There is a view of Brampton Church (A) . Fork right across the field. As you approach a lane take the stone squeezer stile on your left and follow the right hand side field edge towards the church.
At the end of the field look back over the valley for the view. Then take the rail stile and follow the enclosed path over two more rail stiles to enter the church yard of St Peter and St Paul, Old Brampton (B). An originally Norman Church dating from the 1100's. It was extensively altered in the 1400's. In 1897 the clock was added to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. The clock face shows 63 minutes to the hour. The most accepted reason for this is that the building over the road used to be The George and Dragon Inn. The thatched lych gate is over 100 years old. The supporting oak timbers replaced earlier rotten ones. The replacements came from Kent following the great storm of 1987.
[2] Continue straight on to leave the church yard by the lych gate and turn left along the pavement past The Rectory. After a short distance cross the road (Main Road) with care and go down the metal sign posted bridle way. Follow this down to cross a small brook (the parish boundary between Brampton and Walton), immediately beyond which is the Holymoorside and Walton North Parish boundary stone (C) on your right. The Parish Boundary Stone represents the Northern boundary of Holymoorside and Walton Parish. There are eight Boundary Stones for the parish , and a central stone, each with a short bit of text which form a puzzle for those with a sense of curiousity. On their own the engraved words 'high over' mean nothing.
Continue up the bridle way to a T-junction.
[3] Turn right up what is now Westwick Lane, a bridle way which becomes a Byway Open to all Traffic. Take care - This is a country lane with no pavements. Follow this lane all the way up to Baslow Rd - the A619 passing a view point along the way. At the main road Ladywood Service Station is on your right. The adjacent truncated road, opposite Chander Hill Lane, is an alternative possible start point for car users.Turn right past the Service Station and take the wooden sign posted enclosed path immediately adjacent. Pass over a stile and follow the left hand side field edge down to a stone wall stile. Straight ahead along the enclosed path, through a stone squeezer stile, and continue on a short lesser path effectively straight on through a small wood. Fork left across a small field to reach a lane with metal sign post.
Cross directly over the lane, go through another squeezer stile and fork left beyond the gate to pass over a conduit of the brook. Immediately after crossing fork right across a short field and over a wooden step stile to cross the brook again.
[4] Take the left hand field edge having reached the top of the bank and follow this up and over a collapsed wall stile. Fork diagonally left across the field to reach and take the left hand field edge again. Go through a wide gap and continue over a wall stile. Fork right in the next field to meet another wall stile. In the next field fork right to a metal field gate. Passing through this go straight on to a wicket gate, and continue to a wooden squeeze stile leading to Main Road again with Brampton Church to your right. There is a convenient seat by the church in a sheltered alcove for a break with views.
[5] Cross the road with care and turn left for a short distance to an old red phone box. Turn right by that box down the sign posted bridle way. As you approach Linacre Woods take the stone wall stile on the left adjacent to a metal field gate. Immediately thereafter turn right and follow the right hand field edge to enter the woods. Go over the wooden stile and down steps to a broad path junction. Turn left at the junction and follow the path up to the embankment of the Middle Reservoir. An excellent place for bird watchers with Great Grebe,Mandarin Duck, and Tufted Duck often seen. Cross on this embankment until you pass over the reservoir overflow, the Information Board and picnic tables are on your left, and proceed straight on. When you meet the tarmac road turn either left to the car parks or right back to the Ranger Base.
It is possible to complete a circuit of the reservoirs using public footpaths and permissive paths if you wish to extend the walk.