Walking Britain Peak District Walk
Fernilee Reservoir, Goyt Valley
Maps | |||
| Ordnance Survey Explorer OL24 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Explorer OL24 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Ordnance Survey Landranger 119 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Landranger 119 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
It is recommended you take a map. The preferred scale is 1:25k. | |||
Walk Route Description
Click thumbnails for larger images.
This relaxed short Peak District walk in Derbyshire is beautiful in any season but the woods viewed across the water in spring and autumn, are exceptional. I have also provided two options that reduce the distance. All the paths are well defined making direction finding very easy.
Start from the car park that overlooks Errwood Reservoir (Grid ref SK013756) opposite the Sailing Cub. Walk down the road towards the dam to take the footpath on the left heading north. Just after this footpath gate from the road, take the path ahead that eventually descends to Fernilee Reservoir built in 1938. This old path, part of the vast estate that occupied this area prior to the arrival of the reservoir, threads its way through the trees ending at a narrow lane (Grid ref. 011776). Turn right down the lane to the dam.
This is your first option to cut short your walk by crossing over the dam and turning right to pick up the returning walk.
Do not cross over the dam but turn left along the farm road, then just before the first farm - Knipe Farm (grid ref 011783), descend right down to a small gate in the wall. Then continue left to follow the wall to the back of the house. Descend right down the field to a five bar gate with a fat yellow arrow painted on it. This leads at first to a green lane down to the River Goyt then continues as a footpath alongside the river to a footbridge (Grid ref 011787).
Here is the second option, cross over the bridge, turn right and pick up the returning walk.
Continuing with the full walk, do not cross over the river but follow the path alongside the river then climbing up through the woods to exit onto fields. The clear path crosses the fields to the narrow Whiteleas Road (Grid ref 006795). Turn right along this road through the gate to the church (Grid ref 006798).
At the church wall turn right down the steep lane that passes through the cemetery to a river ford. To save getting your feet wet cross over the bridge on the left then climb up the path ahead to turn right through the gate to the footpath. The footpath follows the river, now on your right, passing the bridge (the second option joins here) to the very large concrete building housing the water treatment plant.
Keep the building on your right to follow the service road that climbs up to a lane, turn right towards the dam (the first option joins here). Then go left on the footpath that used to be the railway (Grid ref 015777). This level path ends near Errwood Dam completed in 1967. Proceed through the small gate on your right following the path that keeps to the foot of the dam then climbs up the steep hill to the gate to the road. Turn right back to your start.
Other walks nearby
Walk 3510 Shining Tor, Cats Tor & Foxlow Edge - easy/mod - 7.0 miles/11.4 km
Walk 1092 Taxal Edge, Jenkin Chapel & Pym Chair from Errwood - moderate - 8.5 miles/13.8 km
Walk 1233 Shining Tor & Windgather Rocks from Lamaload - moderate - 7.5 miles/12.2 km
Walk 2527 Kettleshulme & Taxal Edge from Lamaload - moderate - 10.0 miles/16.3 km
Walk 1183 Shining Tor & Axe Edge Moor - moderate - 9.0 miles/14.6 km
Walk 1728 Axe Edge Moor & Three Shires Head - easy/mod - 7.2 miles/11.7 km
Walk 3136 Shining Tor & Goyt's Clough from Derbyshire Bridge - easy/mod - 5.1 miles/8.3 km
Walk 2635 The edges of Combs Moss near Chapel-en-le-Frith - easy/mod - 7.5 miles/12.2 km
Walk 1652 Three Shires Head from Danebower Hollow - easy - 4.5 miles/7.3 km
Walk 2233 Flash & Three Shires Head from Danebower Hollow - easy/mod - 6.2 miles/10.1 km
Recommended Books & eBooks
Dark Peak Walks
Guidebook to 40 walks in the Dark Peak area of the Peak District National Park. 35 circular routes for most abilities, from 8km to 19km, around Edale, Marsden, Fairholmes, Baslow and Castleton, including Kinder Scout and Mam Tor, and 5 longer (25km to 45km) routes highlighting the best of the Gritstone Edges, High Moorland and Deep Valleys.
More information
Walking in the Peak District - White Peak East
Guidebook describing 42 half-day and day walks in the limestone landscapes of Derbyshire's White Peak, part of the Peak District National Park. One of two volumes, this book covers the east of the region, with potential bases including Bakewell, Eyam, Castleton, Birchover, Matlock and Wirksworth.
More information
Map and Compass
An instructive guidebook explaining map and compass techniques, to help readers enhance their outdoor experiences. Whether you are experienced in map-reading, or have never used a compass before, this guidebook will sharpen your skills and have you exploring new areas in no time. There are also tips for GPS and digital mapping technologies.
More information
