Edmundbyers - Hisehope Reservoir - Smiddy Shaw Reservoir - Muggleswick - Edmundbyers

Alan Anderson

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Edmundbyers lies in the Derwent Valley, just to the south of the huge Derwent Reservoir on the northern boundary of County Durham with Northumberland. The ancient village, which was first recorded in the Bolden Book, features a Saxon church with origins dating back to the early 12th Century, a delightful pub and an all-too-rare youth hostel (open April to October).

The walk starts from the centre of the village and involves a short road-walk that crosses the Burnhope Burn to start the ascent onto the Open Access land of Muggleswick Common. After a mile the terrain levels out at a height where it remains for the next four miles as the route traverses the natural contours of the moor, following the man-made water channels that connect the relatively small neighbouring reservoirs of Hisehope and Smiddy Shaw. The route presents good views to the north-east, looking up the Derwent Valley towards Consett and beyond to Gateshead and Newcastle.

Just beyond Smiddy Shaw Reservoir the walk leaves the moorland and passes through a section of farming land, then a densely wooded valley, before once again taking to the roads for a half-mile ascent back to moorland.

The final part of the walk takes the route across the small, isolated moor called Muggleswick Park with outstanding views of Derwent Reservoir before negotiating the steep but fairly narrow valley of the Burnhope Burn to return to Edmundbyers.

England - North England - Durham - North Pennines

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Church, Flowers, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Lake/Loch, Moor, Pub, River, Wildlife, Woodland

4/30/2017 - Bill Simon

Completed this excellent walk in fine weather on 29/04/2017. A very accurate route description taking in mostly good moorland tracks, together with a little road and field walkging. Fine up close views of the two smaller reservoirs and a final stretch offering fantastic panorama of Derwentside and the Larger Derwent reservoir. A little care needed at waypoint 17 as the two footpaths which cross at the farm have both been diverted. Head for the farm buildings avoiding the first way marker on the left as you approach, and once close to the buildings follow the way marker directing walkers to the right around the farm buildings.

4/25/2013 - steve key

Small correction at point 17. You can't go through the farm buildings now but there is a well signed diversion which does not add anything distance wise.