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Burnhope Reservoir

2.5 miles (4 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Enjoy a peaceful circular walk around this reservoir in Weardale. There's a parking area at the south eastern tip of the water where you can start your walk. Follow the trails around the reservoir where there are some woodland trails and lakeside paths to enjoy. It's a very quiet place with a series of picnic tables where you can stop to enjoy the lovely scenery of the North Pennines AONB.
You extend your walking in the area by exploring Burnhope Moor and climbing to Burnhope Seat, the highest point in County Durham.
You can also pick up the Weardale Way long distance trail, just to the east of the reservoir. Here you can enjoy a riverside walk to Wearhead and Gowshill.
To continue your reservoir walking head south to Cow Green Reservoir and Cauldron Snout where there's nice waterside trails and a visit to a beautiful waterfall.

Burnhope Reservoir OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Burnhope Reservoir Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

At the nearby Nenthead mining heritage centre you can learn all about the lead and zinc mining history of the North Pennines. There's also mine entrances, dumps, old buildings, reservoirs and some rare plants growing on the metal-rich mine dumps. The area is located a few miles to the north west and well worth a visit.
Just east of Nenthead there's also Allenheads where you will find more ruined mines, a heritage centre and a decent pub dating back to 1770.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Burnhope Reservoir overflow - geograph.org.uk - 984005

Burnhope Reservoir overflow. Standing on the dam, looking North East. This giant plughole is a shaft which takes water into the stream when the water levels in the reservoir get too high.

Burnhope Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 868623

Burnhope Reservoir. The steep gradient of the Burnhope Burn means that the reservoir has the usual triangular shape found in Pennine reservoirs. A big dam and not a long run of water behind it.

Burnhope Burn - geograph.org.uk - 273424

Little waterfall on the Burnhope Burn at the western end of the lake.

The end of Burnhope Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 868968

The Burnhope Burn flowing into a low reservoir.

Burnhope Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 1443578

A view down to the reservoir from above. Image captured from Burnhope Seat - over 3 miles distant and 746m (2451 ft) above sea level.

Burnhope Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 868617

A nice view of the waterside footpath in summer.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Burnhope Reservoir.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Burnhope Reservoir.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)