An adventurous trek around a reservoir in a little known Yorkshire part of the Peak District. Good walking boots and navigation skills are required for this route over Open Access land.
Table of Contents
The Route
- what3words for start point: ///costumes.juniors.flaunting
- Start Point: Dunford Bridge Car Park/Windle Edge, Sheffield S36 4TF
- Finish Point: Dunford Bridge Car Park
- Distance: 6 Miles
GPX Route Map
Download file for GPSWalk Description
From the car park, head towards the main road, cross, and turn left along Windle Edge. Usually, when there is no pavement, you should walk on the side of the road towards traffic for safety – so when the pavement stops, stay on this side of the road, but keep to the grass verge as much as you can.
At the first tarmaced junction, turn right and follow it to the car park of the Pennine Sailing Club. At the gate, turn left to walk up the embankment. This is now Open Access land, so you’re able to walk anywhere here. Turn right and follow the line of the shoreline of the reservoir, keeping it on the right hand side. At the feeder streams, carefully ford through at less deep points. You should find recognisable paths from previous walkers to help guide you.
Turn the corner around the feeder channel and when you see a wood in front of you, head to the left of it to find a path. Now follow this to meet an access road on a tight bend. Veer to the right and then turn right down the hairpin bend, following the track to a yard. Once in the yard, look for a clear path on the ground to a gap in the boundary wall to the left, Go through the gap, turning right to another gap in the boundary. Now follow the path on the ground straight ahead until you reach a T-junction of paths. Turn right to walk above and along Harden Reservoir.
Follow the path as it drops down and turns left on an actress road across the dam, to reach Dunford Road. Turn right here, and walk down the road – with lovely views of Winscar Reservoir on the right. At the Yorkshire Water sign, turn right toward the Winscar car park.
At the end of the car park, continue down the access road and at the junction where the dam is to the right, head left over the crest of the hill following the path on the ground. This takes you to the junction of Dunford Road and Windell Edge. Turn right and then right again to walk along Windell Edge back to the car park.
