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7 Best Trails for Reservoir Walks In or Around Manchester
Picture this: you’re tired from all the hubbub of city life, and you need a change of pace and scenery. We definitely did, especially after spending most of our days hunched over our desks.
Luckily, Manchester has a lot of beautiful nature spots and green spaces that gave us just the change we needed. Thanks to these places, we got our share of trails and walks filled with lovely nature scenes—the sights you’ll see will make all the effort worth it!
But if we had to choose our favourite kinds of hiking trails, we’d say that they would be the ones around the different reservoirs scattered around Manchester. We’d recommend them too, whether you’re a beginner or have been hiking for years.
Want to know our favourites? Read our list below to find out!
Turton and Entwistle Reservoir Circular
Media from: @stevie_green
Distance to complete loop: 4 km/2.5 mi
Estimated completion time: 49 mins
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Batridge Rd, Bolton BL7 0LU
Available facilities: picnic benches, car parking (though limited), dog-friendly trail, pub
Some folks hike for the challenge, but others hike to get some peace of mind. Which is what the circular around the Turton and Entwistle Reservoir is perfect for!
This trail’s pretty easy, and it won’t take long for even first-time hikers to complete a loop. Even prams and wheelchairs will have an easy time making the trail! You can also bring your dog with you and let it go off-leash in a few areas.
Folks who’ve hiked this trail love it for the tranquil view and the fresh air. Watch out for a glimpse of some geese and cormorants, and there’s even a perfect birding spot along the trail!
And at the end of your little hike, you could get a table at the Strawberry Duck pub, perfect for a late lunch or early dinner.
Pro tip:
Bring your camera along, not just for the beautiful view, but also for the reservoir’s iconic 10 ft. heron sculpture titled “The Wader” at the north shore of the reservoir.
Jumbles Reservoir Circular
media from: @amandalodite
Distance to complete loop: 6 km/3.7 mi
Estimated completion time: 1 hr, 33 mins
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Jumbles Country Park, Bolton, Greater Manchester
Available facilities: refreshments, public transport access, café, toilet, pub, dog-friendly trail
The trail surrounding the Jumbles Reservoir is among the easier walks around Manchester, and it’s got lots to offer visitors. With nicely paved paths safe for prams and wheelchairs, you don’t have to worry much while enjoying the view with your family.
There’s a great variety of plants and trees along the path—try making it into a game to name as many as you can! It’s an especially fantastic learning experience if you bring your kids along!
There are also some good fishing spots around the reservoir, so if you want to let your inner angler loose, then this is the spot! And if you get a bit peckish during your trail, you could take a break in the Jumbles Country Park café.
Pro tip:
A part of the trail offers a great view of the West Pennine Moors, a spectacular mountain range surrounding the area. Take the path that leads to this view to get some fantastic shots!
Dovestone Reservoir Circular
Distance to complete loop: 4.2 km/2.6 mi
Estimated completion time: 1 hr, 8 mins
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Location: 1 mi from Greenfield, 6 mi from Oldham, 10 mi from Holmfirth, inside Peak District National Park
Available facilities: car parking, toilets, picnics, seasonal food providers (main car park), bus services (to Greenfield), dog-friendly trail
For first-time hikers, this trail at Dovestone Reservoir is a fun but doable challenge. The trail’s also very pram-friendly, and it’s a great option for kids having their first hike.
There are even wheelchair-accessible areas, so who knows, maybe you could also include Nan in your hike! Dogs on leads are welcome, too, so the entire family can come along!
Lots of spots perfect for a lunch or snack break are available here. And since visitors are allowed to bring food, you can opt to have a picnic—just remember to clean up after! Just a heads up: BBQs aren’t allowed here.
Pro tip:
There’s also a Dovestone Sailing Club near the reservoir, and if you’re interested, they offer lessons for £125 (for members) or £175 (for non-members). And if that’s too pricey for you, you could always watch their annual sailing competitions while you’re on the trail; they usually sail on Wednesdays.
Greenbooth Reservoir Circular
Media from: @lee_taylor_01
Distance to complete loop: 6.3 km/3.9 mi
Estimated completion time: 1 hr, 48 mins
Difficulty: Moderate
Available facilities: car parking, bus services (to the south of the reservoir), dog-friendly
Location: Woodhouse Lane, Rochdale
Greenbooth Reservoir is great for hikers who want a little bit of a challenge or who want to spend some time spotting some local wildlife!
The hiking area around the reservoir is dog-friendly too, so you can bring your furry friend along. It’s also a favourite of runners and bird watchers, and we bumped into a few other visitors ourselves while doing the trail.
Speaking of birdwatchers, this trail is great for those who also want to do a bit of birding while on a reservoir walk. We spotted five different kinds of birds when we tried this trail, and we learned from a regular birdwatcher that there are 165 more that you can find!
But it’s not just birds who’ll be your usual companions on this trail; sheep and horses also love to graze around the area. So if you want to bring your dog with you, keep it on a lead to keep it and the other animals safe.
Another challenge you’ll face, besides wildlife in the way, is hiking through the trail when it’s just rained recently. The area can get really muddy during that time, which can dampen the mood you’d normally feel taking in its scenery. It definitely did for us.
But if you’re fine with a little bit of mud and sheep, put on your best rain-ready hiking shoes and go on a trail around Greenbooth Reservoir!
Pro tip:
Little-known fun fact: there’s a hidden waterfall around the south-west area of the trail. Finding it can be a bit tricky, especially since it’s even muddier in that part, but it’ll be worth it once you do.
Wayoh and Turton & Entwistle Reservoirs Circular
media from: @visitmanchester
Distance to complete loop: 8.4 km/5.2 mi
Estimated completion time: 2 hrs, 6 mins
Difficulty: Moderate
Location: Turton and Entwistle Reservoir (starts here)
Craving the challenge and the great view that comes from a hike in the moorlands?
Then this might be the trail for you!
This circular covers three different reservoirs in Bolton, leading you through stunning moorlands and plantations. You’ll also be treated to the sight of various wildlife enjoying the natural scene, including some beautiful deer.
The best part is that you can also bring your dog or friends along. Since this is one of those trails with a flatter path, it won’t be too difficult for beginners joining your hiking group!
Pro tip:
Autumn is a great month for doing this walk, since the foliage turns into a beautiful range of warm colours. And if you also spot a deer looking majestic during the hike? Perfect combination for some great photos!
Greenfield Waterfall Circular
media from: @79daysuk
Distance to complete loop: 9.2 km/5.7 mi
Estimated completion time: 2.5-3.5 hrs
Difficulty: Hard
Location: Dovestone Reservoir (starts here)
Now this one is for the more expert hikers!
This trail will take you through three reservoirs (in order of travel): Dovestone, Yeoman Hey, and Greenfield. The first part of the trail follows along the edge of the Dovestone Reservoir, before moving to the edge of Yeoman Hey Reservoir.
Aside from the total distance you’ll be walking to complete the circular, the challenge also comes from all the scrambling you’d have to do. Thankfully, the beginning is actually pretty forgiving and with enough patience, you’ll give yourself enough time to grow used to the harder parts of the trail bit by bit.
It’s also best to be really-doubly-triply prepared for this trail! Bring high-quality hiking shoes, great for muddier trekking, and more than enough water to help you keep going throughout the trail.
The most important thing to note, however, is to do the circular on a sunnier day. All the scrambling you’ll be doing to get from one point to another will be a whole different nightmare if it’s wet and slippery from a recent rain!
But while this reservoir walk is definitely not a walk in the park, the path that it takes will lead you to sights that’ll take your breath away. It’ll make all the effort and climbing feel all the more worth it. It did for our case!
Pro tip:
While this circular looks intimidating, and for good reason, there’s a little trick that can make your hike through it less of a nightmare for your legs. Simply follow a clockwise direction for the route!
You can find and save a picture of this reservoir walk’s path, which you can use to help you plan your route for this circular.
Dovestone and Chew Reservoirs Circular
media from: @sco77y_10
Distance to complete loop: 10.6 km/6.6 mi
Estimated completion time: 3 hr, 10 mins
Difficulty: Hard
Location: Peak District National Park (starts here)
Hikers who’ve done a Dovestone circular and want to take it up a notch, we suggest you take this trail!
This trail’s starting point is Green Binn Car Park in Peak District National Park, so it’s conveniently accessible by car.
At the very beginning of the trail, you’ll already be treated to an amazing sight once you leave the Green Bin Car Park. Your first picture-worthy highlight would be the dam at Yeoman Hey Reservoir, and from there, you’ll be making your way to Dovestone Reservoir.
The Dovestone part of the hike trails along the east side of the reservoir, so you’ll get to see a spectacular view of the river. You might even catch a glimpse of the Dovestone Sailing Club having a sail or two!
As for the part of the trail where you venture into Chew Valley, that’s where the challenge truly starts! Chew Valley is filled with hills that are just as lovely as they are difficult to scramble on.
Be warned: this circular might take you through only two reservoirs, but it will be quite a challenge filled with wind, mud, and scrambling! When we did our own hike through this trail, we learned one important lesson: plan well!
The trail will be far less of a nightmare if you do it on a sunnier day, with little to no wind, and if you pack enough supplies to keep you going while not slowing yourself down.
The ascent is the trickier part of this circular, so having strong winds in your face and slippery mud on your shoes can make all the difference.
In the end, we’d say it was worth it for the sights we saw, the beautiful birds we spotted, the fishing spots we discovered, and the lovely picnic we had at the car park!
Pro tip:
Chew Reservoir is home to lots of trout and pike! So if you want your inner angler to also enjoy the trail, plan your hike on a date when fishing is allowed in the reservoir.
