There are so many amazing places in the Peak District! I have loved exploring more of this national park this summer and going on some incredible hikes. One of the reasons I love the Peak District so much is that it is so varied—the southern parts are so different from the northern parts. I finally made it to Dovestone Reservoir and Saddleworth Moor and did a fantastic loop hike here. As this is in the northwest corner of the Peak District, it’s very close to Manchester so you could definitely daytrip here! Here’s what you need to know about hiking around Dovestone Reservoir and Saddleworth Moor.
EDIT: I did this walk at the end of July 2020, and this post was written and ready to publish before my marriage ended. I have decided not to edit the original post.
Starting the Dovestone Hike
There are two car parks for Dovestone Reservoir—the main one is run by the RSPB and has a charge (60p for 3 hours or £1.80 for all-day parking). However there is a smaller parking lot, Binn Green car park, which is also run by the RSPB and this one is free. Parking at Dovestone Reservoir can be very difficult—on nice days, it may be impossible to get a space! I’d recommend getting there early, and the earlier the better. We had no problems getting a parking space at Binn Green when we arrived at 10:00am. There are also a few parking spaces available on the layby off the A635. Keep in mind there have been a lot of issues with parking recently, and do not park on double-yellow lines or block access. Note that while there are toilets at the Binn Green car park, they were locked when I visited.
You’ll need OS Map: OL 1 Peak District (Dark Peak Area) for this hike. As with all hikes, I recommend wearing sturdy hiking boots and bringing a waterproof rain jacket and waterproof pants, and plenty of water and snacks. You can check out my outdoor gear guide for all my recommendations! The ridges of the moors are very exposed so make sure to wear layers and prepare for the weather.
I followed a fantastic route by Becky the Traveller on her website Peak District Walks. This is a great resource for everything to do with the Peak District and hiking! We shortened this hike slightly but you could definitely do the full loop if you’re feeling up to it.
Hiking the Reservoirs
Whether you start from the main car park for Dovestone Reservoir or from Binn Green car park, it’s easy to start the hike. Get to the reservoir and turn left to follow the path along Dovestone Reservoir, Yeoman’s Hey Reservoir, and Greenfield Reservoir. This is really a beautiful and peaceful walk along the water!
Eventually you’ll get to Greenfield Brook, it took me about 35 minutes from leaving Binn Green car park. Follow the path up to a footbridge, and then this is where the fun begins! As you cross Birchen Clough waterfall, there are a few scramble sections to get further up. However, I didn’t find it difficult (and normally I get quite nervous about scrambles). You’ll need to cross the waterfall at some point—there are a few different spots as you scramble up that you can cross safely. But if there has been a lot of rain, it may be difficult to impossible to cross Birchen Clough. Use your common sense and stay safe!
Once you cross the waterfall and are on the south side of the stream/waterfall, follow the path along the ridge. You’ll eventually come to a funky rock formation, called the Trinnacle. This was one of the best views of the hike and definitely a great spot for photos!
While I loved getting photos of me on top of the Trinnacle, it might not always be possible and safe. We lucked out with the weather: it was sunny and warm and the rocks were dry. There was also luckily not much wind! If it had been windy, I’m not sure if I would have climbed up. If it had rained and the rocks were wet, it would have been dangerous or impossible. I also had an experienced climber who helped guide me how to get up the safest and simplest way possible.
So with that disclaimer, please be safe! Even if you don’t climb up, you can still get a great photo—the views are spectacular.
Along Saddleworth Moor to Chew Reservoir
The next part of the hike is fairly straightforward. Follow the path on the top of the ridge all the way around. You can see Ashway Rocks below—you can hike down here, but you’ll be hiking back up towards the top of the ridge again.
There is a large burned area where there was obviously a fire. It can be a bit difficult to pick out the path as most of the ground is ashy, but there is a bit of a path that goes through this. Follow it along to a stream and small waterfall where there is a footbridge. Cross the footbridge and follow the path back along the ridge.
There are lots of rocks along the ridge here, and the views over Dovestone Reservoir are superb. You can even see Manchester and pick out buildings from the skyline! My favorite part was seeing the purple heather blooming—I did this hike at the end of July and it was just starting to bloom. Make sure you take your time to enjoy the views and take lots of photos!
The path is again fairly easy to follow through the moors as you start to leave the edge of the ridge. Bramley’s Cot, a old ruined building, is one of the main landmarks as you pass through this section. It took me about 30 minutes from leaving the waterfall/footbridge to get to Bramley’s Cot.
Follow the path along the moors and across Charnel Clough, another stream. It took me about 20 minutes of hiking from Bramley’s Cot to get to Charnel Clough. Eventually, the path brings you to Chew Reservoir. This reservoir is much higher than Dovestone or Greenfield, and it was very quiet here! I got to the reservoir about 25 minutes after Charnel Clough, and about 1 hour 15 minutes after leaving the stream/waterfall where I crossed the footbridge. You can carry on to Alphin Pike for a longer version of the hike, or you can do what we did and hike down Chew road.
Finishing at Dovestone Reservoir
There is a road/track you follow that runs all the way from Chew Reservoir back to Dovestone Reservoir. There is no public access for cars here, so it’s highly unlikely you’ll encounter any vehicles. It took me about 35 minutes from Chew Reservoir to get down to the main path around Dovestone Reservoir. We could tell as soon as we hit the main path along Dovestone Reservoir—there were so many more people and lots of families with kids! As we were parked at Binn Green car park, we followed Dovestone Reservoir all the way back. It was about 2:30pm and there were so many people there! I can see why there are lots of issues with parking—Dovestone Reservoir is seriously popular.
All in all, this hike took me just under 5 hours (4 hours and 50 minutes!). I’m not sure on the exact mileage, but I think it was about 10 miles altogether on this route. I loved this hike and if you’re wanting a good walk around Dovestone Reservoir and Saddleworth Moor, this is a great one! But if you’re wanting something easier, you can always just take a big loop around the reservoir—there’s a flat and accessible path the entire way around.
Planning Your Trip
Dovestone Reservoir and this part of the Peak District is very easy to visit as a daytrip from Manchester. That being said, I did it as a long daytrip from York, so it’s pretty accessible from a lot of places. There is no public transportation to Dovestone Reservoir, so you will need your own car to get here. There is the option to take the train from Manchester to Greenfield, however you would then need to take a taxi to get to the reservoir.
You can search for hostels here, or for hotels and B&Bs here. You can also sign up to and search accommodation on Airbnb here. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
Dovestone Reservoir and Saddleworth Moor is a great area for hiking the Peak District. You get fantastic views of the area, especially from the Trinnacle! This is one place you can’t miss in the Peak District. I hope this post helps if you’re planning to visit Dovestone or Saddleworth!
Would you want to do this hike and climb the Trinnacle?!
You might also like my posts:
Plane Wrecks In The Peak District: Hiking To The B-29 Superfortress Wreckage
Hiking The Dragon’s Back: Parkhouse Hill And Chrome Hill In The Peak District
Exploring The Peak District On The Pure Outdoor Navigation Course
The Peak District: Hope Valley, Castleton, Mam Tor, And More
All of my hiking posts!
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