by Conor Toms
The Valley of Styan was created as a tribute to the communities that once called this valley home. Before the creation of Thirlmere Reservoir, the valley was home to the villages of Armboth and Wythburn, together with a church, a pub, farms and a close-knit rural community.
Following the passing of the Manchester Corporation Waterworks Act in 1879, work began to transform the valley into a reservoir to supply Manchester with fresh water. As the project progressed through the 1880s, homes and farms were acquired, residents were forced to leave, and by the time the reservoir officially opened in 1894, much of the old community had disappeared beneath the water. The stone loop reflects this rich history.
A few stones pay tribute to Dunmail Raise, traditionally believed to be the burial place of the last King of Cumbria, with those stone placements named after former Cumbrian kings. Other locations commemorate the Home Guard shelters built to defend the valley during the Second World War.
The 11-mile route features 15 lifting stones, each with its own story, giving visitors the chance to explore the valley's remarkable history.
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