Walking BritainForest of Bowland Walk
Stocks Reservoir Circular
Maps 
| Ordnance Survey Explorer OL41 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Explorer OL41 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
Walk Route Description
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This circuit of Stocks Reservoir in the Forest of Bowland offers excellent and undemanding walking. The route makes an anti-clockwise circuit of the reservoir which was completed in 1932 providing water to Fylde Coast. During its construction around 500 men worked on the site with many bringing their families too. The walk follows a circular path created by the provision of concessionary footpaths to connect existing public footpaths.
The start is the School Lane car park (grid ref. SD732563) which lies on the minor road on the east side of the reservoir. The walk is a waymarked circular path which is generally easy to follow. After parking exit the car park and walk north on the waymarked path with the reservoir on your left. The path shadows the reservoir shore to reach the edge of the plantation (grid ref. SD726574). The onward path passes through farmland soon crossing Hasgill Beck. Continue north-west to reach derelict New House (grid ref. SD720580).
After New House, the waymarked route turns left and descends to cross the River Hodder on a footbridge. Maintain direction up Copped Hill Clough to reach a track after 800 metres (grid ref. SD713573). Turn left along the track and continue following the waymarked trail for 4.5 kilometres to reach the reservoir dam wall (grid ref. SD717547). Cross the dam to gain the eastern side of the reservoir where a concessionary path follows the shore to reach School Lane. Turn left and continue north back to the start.
Other walks nearby
| Walk 2437 | Bowland Knotts from Cross of Greet Bridge | moderate | 7.4 miles |
| Walk 2216 | Slaidburn Village Trail - Ribble Valley | easy | 0.8 miles |
| Walk 3329 | Stocks Reservoir from Slaidburn | moderate | 11.5 miles |
| Walk 3505 | Whitewell via Crag Stones from Dunsop Bridge | easy/mod | 8.5 miles |
| Walk 2508 | Dunsop Fell & the Forest of Bowland | moderate | 10.0 miles |
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Walk Location Map
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