Dovestone Reservoir circuit

The walk starts from the main Dove Stone car park by the reservoir dam, above Greenfield. It goes along the dam and over Chew Brook, then follows the broad path up the east shore, below the crags of the Dove Stone edge, to Ashway Gap. It crosses the dam of Yeoman Hey Reservoir, the next one up the valley, and comes back along the west shore to the car park.

It is 4.3 km with 79 m of ascent; allow about 1½ hours. The grade is Easy.

This is the RSPB's main visitor trail, part tarmac and part gravel, fairly level with two steeper stretches. A moorland fire burned above the reservoirs in July 2026; the reserve and its car park reopened on 20 August, and the RSPB asks visitors to follow the guidance on site. Barbecues and fires of any kind are banned under a public spaces protection order. Dogs must be on a lead from March to July. Dovestone Reservoir was completed in 1966; Yeoman Hey dates from 1880. Curlews and golden plovers nest on the moor above, and peregrines and ravens use the old quarry cliffs.

The car park charges and has toilets; RSPB members park free. Greenfield station is about 2.5 km away.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.