Walk 3730 - printer friendly version

Stocks Reservoir Circular Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 7.0 miles / 11.4 km

Ascent - 700 feet / 212 metres

Grade - easy/mod

Start - OS grid reference SD732563
Lat 54.0020260 + Long -2.4103496
Postcode BB7 4TS (approx. location only)

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.

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