Dove Stone Reservoir

Dove Stone is the big, accessible one at the bottom of the valley, and it works as the gateway to everything above it. While Yeoman Hey, Greenfield and Chew sit higher up in rougher, quieter country, Dove Stone has the car park, the toilets, the wide made-up path and the panoramic view across the southern Pennines from the water's edge. It is a working drinking-water reservoir, so it is a place to walk beside rather than get into, and the shoreline paths are the point.

The classic outing is the circular route of about 2.5 miles (4 km) all the way round the water, part tarmac and part gravel. It is fairly level for most of its length but has two steep sections, so it is easy-going rather than completely flat. From the Dove Stone car park off the A635 east of Greenfield, the marked visitor trail starts around 50 m from the Blue Badge bays, and there are shorter options of roughly 1.2 km and 3 km if you want a taste rather than the full circuit. The route takes in the dam wall, the spillway and Celebration Wood, with woodland paths and open water views trading places as you go. An accessible gate on the route needs a RADAR key.

Head beyond the main loop and the character changes fast. Tracks and paths climb toward the upper reservoirs and open moorland, and they are rougher underfoot, wetter and far more exposed to wind. The tops here are blanket bog that built up over roughly 5,000 years, and ongoing habitat work is rewetting peat and improving the moorland, so expect boggy ground and stick to paths. Boots, a windproof layer and a proper look at the forecast matter more up there than they do at the waterside.

Nothing is guaranteed, but the reserve and surrounding moors hold a genuinely good cast. On the open moorland above, listen for curlew and golden plover, and watch for red grouse, ring ouzel and dunlin. Peregrines and ravens soar around the old quarry cliffs. Mountain hares can turn up on the rocks above the route toward Chew Reservoir, sometimes in a pale winter coat that stands out against dark gritstone. Lower down and in warmer months, look for bees, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies, plus frogs, toads and palmate newts near damp ground. Move slowly, keep quiet, and bring binoculars.

• Parking at the main car park off the A635, including four Blue Badge bays.
• Accessible toilets at the main car park. The Binn Green toilets are not available.
• No refreshments on site, so bring food, drink and a flask.
• Ashway Gap picnic area has five picnic tables and benches, two with wheelchair and pushchair friendly seating.
• Walking, bird watching, cycling and orienteering all happen here, and there is sailing at the site.

It is popular, and on a sunny weekend the lower loop can feel busy with families, dogs and bikes. The valley is open to the wind, which can make an otherwise gentle walk feel raw. Litter turns up in the busiest spots, and the toilet facilities are functional rather than smart. Because this is a working drinking-water reservoir, swimming and informal access to the water are not allowed, and the edges and the spillway deserve respect, especially with children or dogs in tow. Keep to the paths and the place gives you a lot for very little effort.