Lower and Upper Barden Reservoirs

The circular walk directions

Directions:

1. Starting from the Barden Moor information board at the parking area on Barden Road, head across the cattle grid and to the gate on the left immediately after it. There is a stile, head over it! (Use the what 3 words location, or check out Google Maps, it is visible on the satellite image and is marked P. You can see the track leading from Barden Road, leading right to the corner of Lower Barden Reservoir. That’s your starting track, and the Parking is right at the top of it, next to the cattle grid. I hate it when it’s a vague parking location, but hopefully I’ve done my best to describe it!)

2. Follow the track all the way to the small group of properties at the nearest corner of the reservoir. You need to head left here. It’s all signposted. Just an FYI. I spent ages trying to figure out if there’s a circular route around Lower Barden Reservoir on its own. There are a lot of websites which suggest there is. There is not. There is clear signage to state that there is no public access across the embankment.

3. Continue along the track, roughly following the edge of the reservoir until you reach the farthest edge. Here there is a signpost which states that the permissive path, heads off the track and across to the right. You will cross a cast iron bridge across the water, then head over a little embankment. The path heads left and upwards, and joins the stony track at the top.

4. At this point, turn left and the instructions are easy. Keep to the wide stony track! Shortly after your turn, you’ll see a little fork appear over a bridge. You need to keep to the right at this point, and follow it all the way up to Upper Barden Reservoir.

5. Follow the signposts, which show you where the permissive path is, and cross the embankment. At the far end the path begins to bend round to the left, and then the stony track heads past the edge of a wall. Almost immediately after this, on your right, is a signpost. You need to take the path that is signposted, Halton Heights. At this point you come off the stony track and head onto the moorland. This is the point that can get muddy, although we were here towards the end of winter after a lot of rain so I’m hoping for the best for you!

6. The path is wide and grassy, and is very clear to see. Just be aware that there is a fork very shortly after you begin on this path. The right fork is a track that heads to the teeny tiny reservoir of Lumb Gill. You want to ignore this, and keep to the left hand fork. Follow the path all the way until you again rejoin a stony track (this is after about 3/4 of a mile).

7. Turn left down the stony track and follow it for just under a mile. At this point, there is another fork in the track. Both routes are clear and wide tracks. Head down the left fork, which heads to a wide metal gate designed to prevent unauthorised vehicular access onto the moor. The path heads around this and then right back to the car park!

 Last walked March 2022