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Damflask Reservoir walk: pram-friendly (circular 6.1km)

Damflask Reservoir walk: pram-friendly (circular 6.1km)

Peak District Kids writer: Gemma from Families Can Travel

Lying in the Loxley valley not far from Sheffield, near the quaint little village of Low Bradfield is Damflask Reservoir. It’s a wonderfully relaxing place for a circular Peak District reservoir walk

Starting from Low Bradfield village, it’s just a short walk to get to the reservoir path. The whole route is completely pram friendly with well-surfaced paths, although it can get muddy in the wetter months so make sure you wear appropriate footwear.

This pram friendly circular walk follows the water’s edge closely on one side with woodland on the other side. Wellies are a good choice for kids so that they can paddle in the water. On the second half of the walk, there’s also some great little woodland paths and dens for the kids to play in.

Enjoy the beautiful open views across the water all the way around and look out for the small waterfalls feeding into the reservoir. There’s plenty of benches to stop and watch the sailing boats too.

If you’ve worked up an appetite by the time you get back to the village, The Schoolrooms offer a fabulous breakfast and lunch menu, as well as a good selection of cakes. There’s also a playground if the kids still have energy left to burn.

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When planning your visit to the National Park, please arrive early or late in the day to avoid crowds if visiting over sunny weekends or school holidays. Please also take all litter home with you, don’t bring BBQs, and park your car in designated parking areas. Also, please use these walks as a guide; access and stiles may change.

FOLLOW US:

PARKING INFORMATION: Please do not rely solely on the postcode for parking directions. In the National Park, a postcode can cover a large area. Postcodes are only provided as guidance. Please either use the Google Maps point or what3words, which are provided on every walk guide.

Do check out our top tips for hiking with young kids, as well as our essential items to take on a family hike in the Peak District.

Damflask Reservoir walk

Damflask Reservoir walk map

On all Peak District family walks it’s a good idea to have an Ordnance Survey paper map with you, even if you have your phone on you. For this walk you need the OS Explorer Map OL 01 (Dark Peak). It’s also a good opportunity to show young kids the map features and get them started with map reading.

Damflask Reservoir walk OSmap
© Crown copyright 2024 OS AC0000861980

Get a printable download of this walk

Want to print off this walk guide rather than rely on your mobile? Then click here to download the PDF to print out at home. Perhaps print out a copy for the kids to follow the step-by-step directions and/or photos? It’s a great way to get them engaged with the walk and gives them a sense of responsibility.

All printable downloads are £1.50 each. Click here for the full list of Peak District Kids printable downloads.

Please note that your download link expires 72 hours from order, so make sure you save your PDF somewhere where you’ll remember it. If you are unsure where your download folder is on your mobile device, we recommend you download the PDF on your laptop or desktop.

Need to know

DISTANCE OF WALK: 6.1km (3.8 miles)

TYPE OF WALK: easy going, circular route around the reservoir

PARKING: There is a small free car park at The Sands in Low Bradfield. Click here for Google Maps location, postcode: S6 6LA. If this is full, there is also free roadside parking in Low Bradfield village. Please respect local residents. 

WALK HIGHLIGHTS: Beautiful open views across the reservoir, paddling by the water’s edge, woodland trails with dens for the kids to play in. 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE:  This walk can be done in 2 hours, but allow for 3 hours with young kids.

ACCESSIBILTY: Pram friendly, flat, well-surfaced paths.

TOTAL ASCENT: 50 metres

FACILITIES: Public toilets are located here near the village hall, just 100 metres from the car park. The Schoolrooms Café is also just 100 metres away from the car park and offers a breakfast/lunch menu, drinks and cake, as well as a gift shop. Click here for the Google Maps location.

The route

START: The Sands Car Park
Click here for Google Map point
Grid reference: SK 2622 9201
Post code: S6 6LA
what3words: ///patrol.slang.rungs
Route follows an anticlockwise direction.

1. From the carpark, head back towards the road and turn left at the junction.

Damflask Reservoir walk

2. After 100 metres, turn left onto Smithy Bridge road, crossing over the stone bridge.

Damflask Reservoir walk

3. After a further 100 metres turn right, following the signpost towards Loxley.

Damflask Reservoir walk

4. After another 100 metres, turn right over a small bridge and then turn immediately left onto the reservoir footpath.

Damflask Reservoir walk

5. Continue along the path for 1.8km with the reservoir on your left. There are some good spots along this first stretch to go down to the water’s edge and let the kids play and paddle.

6. As you get closer to the southeast end of the reservoir, the path finishes and you’ll need to continue along the pavement next to the road.

Damflask Reservoir walk

7. Keeping the reservoir close, follow the pavement around to the left, along the dam wall and left at the junction signposted to High Bradfield.

8. After 1.2km, you’ll notice a gap in the stone wall on your left. Take this path back down towards the reservoir. There are plenty of benches to stop and watch the sailing boats on the water.

Damflask Reservoir walk

9. Continue on the path for a further 2km. There are woodland trails on the righthand side with dens for the kids to play in. Finally, the path comes to an end and leads back onto the road.

10. Walk along the road for 400 metres until you reach the small bridge on your left that you crossed over at the beginning. Continue the 300 metres back the way you came to the car park.  Although, before heading back to the car, why not call in at The Schoolrooms for a hot drink, cake and a browse around the gift shop.


Peak District Kids is a free online resource. If you have found this website useful for planning your family adventures, you can show your support by buying me a coffee. Thanks so much!

Also, feel free to share your walk photos in our Peak District Kids Facebook Group or on Instagram using the #peakdistrictkids hashtag so we can share with our wider community.

Or perhaps purchase a Peak District Kids iron-on patch. £1 from every sale of the iron-on patches goes towards the Peak District National Park Foundation, a registered charity established to raise funds to care for the Peak District National Park.

Want more ideas for family walks?
Best Family Walks in the Peak District
Pram Friendly Peak District walks
Toddler walks in the Peak District


Or, use the search walks page to find your perfect family walk.

Also, come and join our friendly Peak District Kids Facebook Group for any questions or to share photos of your walks.

You may also like to read:
Pram friendly walk: Longshaw Estate (3.7km)
Pram friendly circular walk: Cressbrook Mill to Litton Mill (5.5km)
Buggy and pram friendly walks in the Peak District