Wessenden Valley facts for kids
The Wessenden Valley is a beautiful valley found in the Dark Peak area of England. It's located just south of a town called Marsden in West Yorkshire. The name "Wessenden" comes from an old English word. It means "the valley with rock good for sharpening tools."
This valley was shaped by huge sheets of ice, called glaciers, a very long time ago. As the ice melted at the end of the last ice age, it carved out the land. Today, the Wessenden Brook continues to flow through the valley. This brook is a smaller stream that flows into the River Colne.
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Exploring Wessenden Valley
The Wessenden Valley is part of the Marsden Moor Estate. This is a large area of open land managed by the National Trust. It covers about 5,000 acres, which is a huge space to explore!
What You'll Find in the Valley
Inside the valley, you will discover four important reservoirs. Reservoirs are like big lakes that store water for people to use. These four are:
- Wessenden Head Reservoir
- Wessenden Reservoir
- Blakeley Reservoir
- Butterley Reservoir, which is the biggest one
Walking and Hiking Trails
If you love walking, you'll enjoy the Wessenden Valley. Two famous long-distance walking paths go through it:
- The Kirklees Way
- The Pennine Way
These paths let you explore the stunning moorland and enjoy nature.
The Butterley Reservoir Spillway
Butterley Reservoir has a special feature called a spillway. A spillway is like a giant overflow channel. It lets extra water flow out safely when the reservoir is too full. This helps prevent floods.
The spillway at Butterley Reservoir was once unique in England. It was even listed as a Grade II structure. This means it was an important historical building. However, it has since been updated with concrete to keep it working well.
