Walking round Digley reservoir is a simple pleasure of mixed emotions.

It’s a confrontation with the timelessness of nature, makes me recall of how this valley was the scene of tragedy 160 years ago, and never fails to give me a laugh.

Usually, I walk alone, but during this holiday season, my wife Maria has been released from child-care duties and has been able to join me. There are some great walks around Huddersfield but the path round the Digley and Bilberry reservoirs is special.

It was Bilberry Reservoir that burst its banks at one o’clock in the morning during rain storms in February, 1852.

Overloaded with water, the poorly constructed dam burst and the Holmfirth Flood swept away mills and cottages and 81 lives. It is never far from my thoughts when I take what, to me, is an atmospheric walk. The moors are spectacular, the water sits deep and deadly and nature reminds you of its power compared to the frailty of life. Power that will remain after we’re all long gone.

Nature can also be amusing. I recalled how, one Christmas morning 30 years ago, we had taken our daughters along this same trail when Maria stood on a piece of frozen sheep dung and slipped.

Fortunately, as her legs went up, her rather large handbag hit the ground first. Her bottom hit the leather bag and she slalomed at speed down the hill, my daughters shouting in confusion behind her.

Her journey ended when her feet hit a dry stone wall. Rather than being embarrassed, she was rather proud of the fact that she had covered such an incline at such a speed with such skill and survived. If they had ever introduced an Olympic event for downhill sheep dung slalom, she would have been in with a chance for a medal.

As we passed the spot where it had happened, we both laughed at the memory and were still laughing when we met another walker coming the other way. “Morning,” we said, attempting to stifle chuckles, and he went on his way checking his flies and wondering if he looked particularly ridiculous in his bobble hat.

Where would we be without the glories of nature, memories of our past and a sense of humour?