Top 4 Lakes around Howden Reservoir

Very nice area in summer to have a lunch stop, can get busy

Stunning views around the dams

This is a trail that’s close to my heart, it’s so beautiful but also very manageable for someone with not so good fitness, once you climb the first part away from Kings Oak roundabout it’s easy going walking along the tree lined track, the reward for the climb is the stunningly beautiful packhorse bridge that was removed in the 1940’s from it’s original site in the village of Derwent and rebuilt in it’s present position at slippery stones, after crossing the bridge the landscape here then opens up to display the open moorland peaks beyond.

This lovely section of gravel takes you along Derwent and Howden reservoirs and ascends to Slippery Stones. It links with the gravel trail around Ladybower to the south and then onto the MTB classic Cut Gate in the north. The scenery is spellbinding along this section and beyond.

Howden Reservoir was completed in 1912. It's the highest of the three Derwent Reservoirs. The River Derwent flows into the northern arm and the River Westend flows into the western arm. After the Howden Dam the Derwent flows almost directly into the Derwent Reservoir and from there into the Ladybower Reservoir. You can walk most of the way around the reservoir but you can't cross the Howden Dam so to create a circular walk you need to loop Derwent Reservoir as well.

The cascade is beautiful in wet weather.

An incredibly enjoyable gravel ride across pine forests and fantastic scenery. Worth the trip.

Fantastic gravel section along the east side of Derwent and Howden reservoirs