Meldon Reservoir

Meldon Reservoir is a man-made lake in a steep valley near Okehampton on Dartmoor’s northern edge. The West Okement River feeds the reservoir, and a large dam holds back the water where the valley narrows. From the shore you see broad stretches of water framed by open moorland, wooded banks and the slopes above Okement Valley. The dam is about 55 metres high and 200 metres wide, so it is a substantial piece of engineering as well as a good place to look out over the landscape. Construction began in 1970; the reservoir opened in 1972.

The main visitor approach starts at Meldon Reservoir car park. A sloping path leads down toward the dam, where you can stop by a bench and look across the water before heading over the dam. Other paths run beside the reservoir and climb into open moorland. The same car park is a starting point for walks toward Meldon Viaduct and the old quarry, so it is easy to make this more than a quick look at the water. Steep banks limit access in places, so do not count on following the whole shoreline close to the water.

The reservoir sits in a striking mix of water, steep valley sides and open moorland. From the dam, include a slope and some of the valley with the water to show where the reservoir sits; a tight crop of the water loses that context. If you want a higher view, take one of the paths climbing onto the moor and look back over the water. This is a scenic walking stop, with extra interest if you like the industrial landscape around the viaduct and quarry.