Denton Reservoir
This walk near Grantham takes you from the village of Denton to Denton Reservoir. It's a lovely spot with nice views across the water and lots of wildlife to look out for. Birdwatchers come to the site to see coot, moorhen, mallard, teal, pochard, heron, great crested grebe and kingfishers.
The reservoir is located a short distance from the centre of the village. Starting on Church Street head east to Casthorpe Road and then turn north. Shortly after you will see a footpath on your right which will take you up to the reservoir. Here you will find a nice grassy footpath around the perimeter.
The whole route is about 2 miles but if you feel like stretching your legs further you can head to the nearby Grantham Canal. Following the towpath east will take you into Grantham while heading west leads you towards Woolsthorpe. Around here you can pick up the long distance Viking Way and visit the splendid Belvoir Castle with its lakes, woodland and parkland.
Also nearby is the pretty village of Knipton where there are some nice country lanes along Knipton Reservoir.
Postcode
NG32 1JT - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsDenton Reservoir Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Denton Reservoir Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Denton Reservoir OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Denton Reservoir Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
Head south into Denton village and you can enjoy refreshment at The Welby Arms. It's an historic pub dating back to 1662 and sits in a fine location next to the village green. They serve good food and have a lovely garden area to sit out in. You can find them on Church Street at postcode NG32 1LG.
The village is another nice place for a stroll too with a Grade I listed church and the 17th century Denton Manor to see.
Dog Walking
The reservoir is a fine place for a dog walk so you'll probably see other owners on a fine day. The Welby Arms mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Just to the north is Denton Wharf on the canal. There's a car park here which makes an alternative start point to the walk.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Denton Reservoir. One of two main feeder reservoirs for the Grantham Canal (the second one being Knipton in SK8130), Denton Reservoir is the main water supply for the summit pound of the canal. At full capacity, the reservoir holds 61,000,000 gallons (277,311,612 litres) of water and is fed via small feeder streams which rise from the ridge of hills near Harlaxton.
Earlier in the 20th century, the lake was noted as an ice skating venue during the winter months and it is now well known for its fishing, particularly pike, bream, roach and perch; contact the Grantham Angling Association for details.
Northern shore. Note the choppy nature of the water here compared to the calm surface at the southern end. The open aspect of this reservoir and the fact that it is higher than the surrounding farmland means that even the slightest breeze can increase enough to disturb the water at the more exposed northern end. Note the beginning of the footpath to Harlaxton Wharf by the trees at the right side of the picture.
As you walk round the reservoir you move from the open path at the edge of the water, back into a wooded environment with trees right down to the water's edge. Looking through the branches of this old willow you get a view of the woodland that clothes the north west side of the embankment.
This footbridge crosses Old Beck and is the view point for the Old Beck. Climb the steps and you have access to the circular footpath round Denton Reservoir. This underlines how much higher the water level in Denton Reservoir is in relation to the surrounding countryside
Picnic table at Denton Reservoir. No takers on this cold January afternoon but this is a popular picnic spot in summer. This shows the wide perimeter path which follows the top of the retaining bank to the reservoir.
Public footpath, Denton village. This footpath goes from the church to the school. The houses in the distance are on Park Lane. Mary Welby, the widow of Richard Welby of Denton Manor, endowed a school for 24 boys and 6 girls in 1715. The grand house on the left is the Old School House built in 1720. Above the door is an inscription: 'Learn to know God and Thyself".
