Dovestone Reservoir

Barry Smith

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I usually start at the main car park as this gives you the refreshments at the start and end of the walk. You can start at Binn Green car park, which you can see on the picture in the gap in the trees. With toilets at both, the choice is yours.
After passing the yacht club and making your way around the reservoirs, heading up to Birchen Clough, there is a tendency to leave the strollers behind; just the dedicated walkers and such tackle the scramble up the cascades to reap the rewards of the views and sense of height on the edges.

After passing the Balanced Rock, try your hand at climbing up the Trinacle for a photograph, but at 650ft above the path you have just walked you need a head for heights! I have climbed it several times for photographs and you can see one attached to this description. Pass over the moor to come to Ashworth Cross at Ashworth Gap, then over to the memorial cairn to two climbers who lost their lives in the Dolomites. Continue to Bramley's Cot, an old shooting hut or shelter, then after passing the Dishstones, you come to the highest man-made reservoir in the UK, Chew, with a well-needed downhill finish to the walk. Well, not quite; if you wish you can continue for a little longer by taking the path over the footbridge on the left, onto the Oldham Way and walk to the same point, Waymark 2 and 26, to finish at the car park, or continue to Bradbury's Lane. Turn right past the cottages to return to the start and finish. You will need the map to do this though.

England - Central England - Derbyshire - Peak District

Features

Great Views, Hills or Fells, Toilets

7/17/2017 - Roger Adams

One of my favourite walks, but the Birchin Clough section, between waypoints 8 to 12, is now dangerous. The path has eroded due to weather and land slips, and is now barely visible. Very few walkers now use this route. I have tried it twice recently with a companion. We are both experienced, fit hill walkers. We both fell several times. Also, there is no cell phone signal in the Clough, so if you get into difficulties you will be unable to call for help. Most walkers now go up the Chew Reservoir road, waypoints 26 to 22, cross the moor, the retrace their route.

4/7/2014 - Barry Smith

Thank you Norman for those kind words! It's very rewarding to get feedback like that on one of my walks, I hope you continue to enjoy your walking.

2/4/2014 - Norman Brannick

I completed this walk on the 20th January 2014. I had been given a book for my Birthday titled High Peak Walks written by Mark Richards, in it Mark goes to great lengths to describe his walks in the High Peaks using written descriptions & drawn illustrations as opposed to photographic images. It was this book and the illustration of the Trinnical, Balanced Rock, Birchin Clough etc. that inspired me to do the walk. I downloaded your guide & walk description and off I went. After parking my car at Dovestone Reservoir I walked past the 2 reservoirs and it was when I reached Birchin Clough that it started to become a challenge and I do like a challenge. reaching the top I made my way to the Trinnical, Balanced Rock, Ashway Cross, Bramley's Cot, Dish Stone and Chew Reservoir. I would recommend this walk to anyone up for a challenge, however I would recommend walkers to use your description & guide map rather than the book which is very interesting but can be little vague.

7/26/2005 - anita lowe

Anita Lowe - Oldham. Hello again. This is one of my fave short walks now... We drive up here quite a lot and do the walk - great for power walking.

4/3/2005 - anita lowe

i have done this walk twice now and the scenery is fantastic.....and fabulous countryside