Derwent Reservoir Visitor Centre - Pow Hill Country Park - Ruffside - Millshield Picnic Site

Alan Anderson

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This very easy to follow circumnavigation of the second largest reservoir in the North East comprises a fairly even split of on- and off-road-walking. The off-road part on wide, semi-surfaced paths that at times run along the shore is a sheer delight and the unavoidable continuous road section carries very little traffic, particularly during the winter months.

The walk starts from the Visitor Centre and rises to the northern end of the dam on a surfaced road. From here the route crosses the long dam, then heads along the southern shore to arrive at Pow Hill Country Park. After a short trip around the park the walk starts a 5.3-mile journey around the south and north sides of the reservoir on metalled roads as far as Millshield Picnic Site, where the route once again intersects off-road paths. Very little of the reservoir is on show along the road on the south side but most of the road on the north side is in view of the reservoir. The final off-road section back to the dam along the north-eastern shore, initially through pinewoods, is a real pleasure. From the dam the route follows the access road back down to the Visitor Centre.

England - North England - Durham - Derwent Valley

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Flowers, Great Views, Lake/Loch, Moor, Mostly Flat, River, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

07/08/2016 - Di Farrell

This walk is predominantly on the road's surrounding the reservoir, so you may be as disappointed in it as I was when completed the 9.6m with my 2 dobermanns who like me, and most dogs aren't wild about so much road walking and especially when the views are average. Di Farrell