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Cowm Reservoir

1.4 miles (2.2 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This short circular walk visits Cowm Reservoir in the Whitworth area of Rossendale. The reservoir was created with nearby Spring Mill Reservoir to augment Rochdale's water supplies during the 19th century. Today it makes for a scenic walk with fine views across the water to the surrounding moorland scenery.
The walk starts from the car park at the southern end of the water. From here you can pick up a circular trail heading around the reservoir where you can look out for sailboats from the The Water Ski Academy.

Postcode

OL12 8BE - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

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

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

Dog Walking

The site is a nice place to bring your dog for a walk so you'll probably meet other owners on a fine day.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head to the east and there's another good circular walk around Watergrove Reservoir.
Head a few miles south west and you could pick up the epic Pennine Bridleway and follow it to Greenbooth Reservoir.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Greater Manchester Walks page.

Photos

Cowm reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 625266

Cowm reservoir is currently used as a water sports centre. The dark object protruding from the water is a waterski jump. Britannia Quarry is in the background.

Cowm Reservoir, Whitworth - geograph.org.uk - 121950

View looking east over the reservoir from the stone picnic furniture assembled from waste from the former Hey Lane Quarry. The hills on the skyline are, left to right, Hades Hill, Middle Hill and Brown Wardle Hill.

Cowm Reservoir, Whitworth - geograph.org.uk - 118912

The south-western corner of the reservoir (nearest camera) falls in this grid square. View of the western shores looking north to the head of the valley. Some tree planting has been on the site of a disused quarry to the left of the picture.

Cowm Reservoir and Water Ski Boats - geograph.org.uk - 690667

Cowm Reservoir and Water Ski Boats. The reservoir is no longer used to store drinking water. It is instead open during the summer months for water ski-ing and is the northern training site for the British Disabled Water Ski Association.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

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

Memory Map Route

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