Dovestone - Yeoman Hey - Greenfield - Reservoirs Circular

Dean Walsh

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A spectacular circular walk taking in the stunning scenery of Dovestone, nestling on the border of Saddleworth and the Peak District National Park. Dovestone Reservoir is a beautiful place to visit.

In picturesque surroundings, the start of the walk takes you down through leafy woodland to meet the water's edge of the main reservoir. Skirting the edge of the reservoir, the walk takes you past the impressive dam overlooking Saddleworth Moor and Crags above. There is an access path around the reservoir for most of the walk and therefore offers easy walking whilst taking in some breathtaking views. The walk continues, to include two higher reservoirs: Greenfield and Yeoman Hey. The walk returns on a circular path to meet Dovestone Reservoir again, past a beautiful sailing club and a very unusual water overflow. Due to the proximity of Greenfield and surrounding houses, the dam wall of Dovestone does not have a traditional spillway to control water height. Instead there is a large bell-mouth overflow in one corner. This looks like a large circular hole. Next to this, on the dam wall itself is the ingeniously designed emergency overflow. This consists of three metal troughs that when full, dump their water onto the other side of the wall where it runs across the road and back into the river below. For this to be activated there would need to be a flash flood of approximately two metres of water.

The final part of the walk climbs briefly back up through the woodland before returning to the starting point. Please take the opportunity at this point to look back across the stunning backdrop and enjoy the spectacular views across Dovestone for one last time.

England - North England - Lancashire - Pennines

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Flowers, Good for Kids, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Industrial Archaeology, Lake/Loch, Moor, Mostly Flat, Nature Trail, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

10/8/2016 - Carol Kingshott

The height gain on the walk is actually about 60 meters. At WP11, before crossing the stepping stones, we continued up the streamside to the head of the feeder (about half a mile). On the right there you can see a tunnel into the hillside. It comes out some distance away above the weirs at WP16 which you can see if you turn uphill there for a few hundred yards and from the other side of the reservoir if you know where to look.

3/8/2015 - Janet Pickard

Did this walk on 07.03.15. Everything is still in place and all WM very clear. I have a couple of things to add. We parked in Binns Green car park which I think is the 'top' car park and start of the walk. There is no longer a charge as all the machines have been removed. There is plenty of parking at the side of the road too. There are composting toilets in this car park. At WM 11 we didn't like the look of the rocks crossing the stream as the water was flowing and it was blustery so for anyone else who is nervous about this we simply retraced our steps to the dam wall and cross over there picking up the walk at WM 12. There are good paths around the dam making it wheelchair, pushchair friendly if you park in the bottom car park and just wander around the dam. Beware all the car parks get very busy and the place is teaming with people. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking though and well worth an afternoon stroll.