Ramsden Reservoir walk, including a pub-stop (4.2km, circular)

Ramsden 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.

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This walk follows the below map in a clockwise direction.

Need to know

DISTANCE OF WALK: 4.2km / 2.6 miles

TYPE OF WALK: circular reservoir and woodland walk with a pub stop enroute

PARKING: Brownhill Lane Car Park. Click here for Google Maps location. Postcode is HD9 2QE. Parking is free, although this is a small car park and spaces are limited (approximately 16 spaces, including 1 disabled space). 

WALK HIGHLIGHTS: Ramsden Reservoir, playing in the stream, woodland, The Fleece Inn.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE: Whilst this walk can be done in 1 hour and 45 minutes, with young kids we recommend a good 3 hours; longer if you plan to stop at the pub.

ACCESSIBILTY: This walk is very hilly with lots of ups and downs. There are also a few stiles to climb over.

TOTAL ASCENT: 180 metres

FACILITIES: The only facilities on this walk are in the village of Holme where there is a pub (The Fleece) and public toilets opposite the pub.

The route

START: Brownhill Lane Car Park
Click here for Google Map point
Grid reference: SE 1150 0563
Post code: HD9 2QE
what3words: ///harmonica.churn.spots

Route follows a clockwise direction.

1. From the car park, take the footpath that leads through the woods up the hill, alongside a little stream. After 20 metres when you reach a picnic table on you right, cross over the stream and continue uphill along the footpath.

2. At the footpath junction, take a right. Then a right again at the next junction, to walk downhill through the pine trees. 

3. At the bottom of the hill, take a left in front of the house. Follow the lane around to the right to cross over the reservoir. 

4. Once you’re over the other side of the dam wall, continue straight ahead. 300 meters from the end of the dam is a stile on your right. Cross over this. 

5. Keeping the drystone wall immediately on your right, follow the footpath downhill from the stile. Then take a left alongside the barbwire fence down to the a stream. This stream feeds into Ramsden Reservoir. 

6. Cross over the footbridge (kids may want to find a way across using the rock in the stream). Then follow the arrowed footpath up the hill the other side. 

7. At the top of the hill, immediately In front of the drystone wall, take a sharp left and follow this footpath towards the mobilephone mast. After 200 metres, the footpath bears around to the right following a derelict drystone wall, very gradually ascending. 

8. When you reach the wooden stile at the top of the hill, climb over and continue straight ahead. Keep the derelict drystone wall on your immediate left and follow it as it bears rights towards Holme. 

9. Cross over another wooden stile and head into the woods, following the stone steps steeply downhill. This leads to a footbridge over a stream. Continue the footpath uphill, on the other side of the footbridge. 

10. The footpath leading up from the footbridge passes through a few wooden gates, and alongside a residential garden, before leading out onto a road. At the road, you will see The Fleece Inn just to the right. This is a lovely pub to stop in for refreshments or a bite to eat. If you are not stopping at the pub and need the toilet, there are public toilets across the road from the pub. 

11. From The Fleece, continue along the road with the pub on your left. Just after the road bears round to the right, there is a footpath sign on your right. Take this footpath and follow it downhill. 

12. Follow the arrows and walk down the stone steps to take a right towards a wooden stile. Climb over the stile and follow the footpath down to a footbridge over a waterfall. This is a great spot for a paddle (upstream from the bridge). 

13. From the footbridge, follow the footpath to the left. This leads uphill for a short section and then levels out, before heading downhill at the footpath arrow signs. 

14. Ramsden Reservoir soon comes back into view. Follow the arrows downhill to the reservoir, with railings either side of you. Then cross over the dam wall. 

15. Walk up the steps on the other side of the dam and continue the along the path to the left. Then take a right along the road to the car park to complete this circular Ramsden Reservoir walk.