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Scammonden Reservoir

2.49 miles (4 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap A circular walk around the pretty Scammonden Water in Kirklees. There are footpaths alongside the reservoir with nice views of the surrounding countryside, hills and woodland. You will often seen sailboats on the water as there is a sailing club located at the southern end. There is also a large free car park at the north eastern end of the water. The largely flat trail runs for a distance of just under 3 miles so it's ideal for an afternoon walk.
The Kirklees Way runs past the reservoir so you could pick this up to extend your walk. You could follow the trail to the nearby Deanhead Reservoir and then on to Slaithwaite Moor where you will find Cupwith Reservoir and splendid views over the surrounding moors.
Just to the north west you will find Ryburn Reservoir and Baitings Reservoir near Rishworth. This walk has nice views of the River Ryburn and some woodland sections near the reservoirs.
Just to the west you will find Booth Wood Reservoir where there's some nice footpaths to follow above the water.

Postcode

HD3 3FJ - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

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

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

Pubs/Cafes

The Booth Wood Inn is located about a mile north west of the reservoir in Rishworth. It's a very good pub which does excellent food and has a good selection of drinks. It's in a good spot in the rural village and has a few tables outside for warmer days. You can find it on Oldham Rd with a postcode of HX6 4QU for your sat navs.

Dog Walking

The reservoir is a nice place for a dog walk and you will probably see other owners on your outing.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Just to the south west is the dramatic scenery around March Haigh Reservoir and the fine viewpoint at Buckstones Edge on Marsden Moor.
National Cycle Route 68 and the epic Pennine Cycleway passes along the reservoir. You can use this signed route to extend your outing.

Photos

Scammonden Water - geograph.org.uk - 388832

Scammonden Water. Taken from the dam wall of Deanhead Reservoir

The southern end of Scammonden Water - geograph.org.uk - 81763

The southern end of Scammonden Water

Deanhead Reservoir, Scammonden - geograph.org.uk - 835471

Deanhead Reservoir, Scammonden From the bend in New Lane.

NCN Route 68, Scammonden - geograph.org.uk - 860130

NCN Route 68, Scammonden Looking down to Scammonden Dam. The cycle path does not go along the visible path, which would have views down the valley, but instead goes under the M62 and on a path on the reservoir side of the dam.

Scammonden Water, Scammonden - geograph.org.uk - 835475

Looking across from Sledge Gate to St Bartholomew's Church. The building in the foreground is Stone Stile.

Scammonden Dam and Valve Tower - geograph.org.uk - 85306

Scammonden Dam and Valve Tower. Scammonden Dam was a joint project between Huddersfield County Borough Water Dept. and the MOT, who were building the M62 Transpennine motorway - the motorway is on the crest of the dam, a massive structure of clay and concrete 76m high and 610 m long, which took three years to construct. The valve chamber can abstract water at three levels. The reservoir is fed not only from the surrounding moors, but also from the Colne Valley hillside via a tunnel through the ridge. The Pennine section of the motorway was opened in 1971.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

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

Memory Map Route

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