Langsett Reservoir Short Walk From Langsett | 4-Mile Route

Langsett Reservoir from moorlands

Langsett Reservoir walk is a great fairly low-level route you can do that’s accessible for most walkers.

This beautiful walk is perfect for a summer or winter walk as it has some shelter through the wooded sections, handy to shade from the sun or rain (depending on the season).

Here you will find details on how to get to the start of the walk at Langsett, route information, facilities on the walk, plus a detailed step by step guide of the walk.

I would always recommend that you take a paper map with you on the walk, details below on which map you need for this walk.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve done this walk from Langsett and what you think!

Langsett Reservoir Walk from Langsett Car Park

Langsett Reservoir
Langsett Reservoir

Walk information + GPX

Walk type: Short circular walk

Distance: 4 miles/6.5 km

Walk time: 1.5-2.5 hours

Total ascent: 216 m/708 ft

Highest point: 327 m/1,072 ft

Walk highlights: Langsett Reservoir, views across moorlands and woodlands

Trigs: 0

Ethels: 0

Stiles: 3 (stone stiles) or 0 – option to shorten walk towards end and miss these out

gpx file

Langsett Reservoir walk map

Langsett Reservoir walk map
Langsett Reservoir walk map
© Crown copyright and database rights (2022) OS 002572460 Click for OS online map

Walk start point

Start grid reference: SE 210 004

There is free parking at Langsett Barn car park, Langsett, Sheffield, S36 4GY – Google location

During busy periods there is an overflow car park further down the road. There is no parking on the verges.

Langsett Reservoir car park
Langsett Reservoir car park

Public transport

Nearest train station: Sheffield train station (15 mile/25 km)

Unfortunately, there are no suitable public transport options for this walk. From Sheffield train station there are no buses available. The only option is to catch a train to Manchester, then catch the bus from there, about 50 minutes.

Facilities on the walk

There are public toilets available at the start of the walk at the Langsett Reservoir car park.

Water on your walk – I recommend a filter water bottle for your Peak District walks, it saves you from carrying extra weight and you can fill up safely and drink water from the streams on your walk.

Other useful information

The path at the beginning of the walk is good to walk on but on the other side of the reservoir it can get quite muddy in places, so hiking boots are a good idea in wet weather!

The route is signposted in places but I would always recommend you take a map and compass (see below).

Peak District weather

Check the weather for your walk location and hills. We’d recommend that you check a few resources and for hill walks look at the weather conditions in the valley and on the hilltop as they can greatly vary.

Ordnance Survey Walk Map

The map for this walk is OL1 – Peak District (Dark Peak Area)

View the different prices here with Ordnance Survey or Amazon. If you’re hiking in all weather the Active OS maps are good to have as they are laminated so better on rainy days.

And don’t forget your compass, I recommend the Silva Expedition or the Silva Classic compass.

For online maps, I recommend OS Online App (I have been using it for many years and it is worth getting if you want to start walking more). Check prices here for the one-month or annual option with OS Online App. All the walks on the website are created using OS Online + you can download them to the App.

See both maps that cover the Peak District here.

Want to learn more map skills? Check out our Guided Walks with map reading skills here.

Check prices here for the one month or yearly option with OS Online App. 

 

Want to read later? Save the walk to Pinterest

Langsett Reservoir walk

Langsett Reservoir walk route

Stage 1 – Langsett Car Park to End of Langsett Reservoir (Bridge)

Distance: 1 miles/1.6 km

Grid reference SE 210 004

Woods next to Langsett Reservoir
Woods next to Langsett Reservoir

From the car park take the far left exit heading down towards the reservoir. Follow the path then bear right, keeping Langsett Reservoir on your left.

Walk along the path which takes you through the woods next to the reservoir, following the short fingerposts with yellow arrows.

As you reach the end of the reservoir, you’ll see a stone pathway leading down to the bridge at the far end of Langsett Reservoir

Path leading to the end of Langsett Reservoir
Path leading to the end of Langsett Reservoir

Stage 2 – End of Langsett Reservoir (Bridge) to Thickwoods Lane

Distance: 1.2 mile/2 km

Grid reference SE 197 006

Walk over the bridge, then through the gate and continuing following the path as it snakes gradually upwards to the open moorlands.

(If you fancy exploring further there are some great walks from Crowden further up the road from Langsett)

Views of Langsett Reservoir
Views of Langsett Reservoir from the moorland

Continue heading upwards until you reach a path leading off to the left, at a short fingerpost with a green arrow. (Extend the walk option here). From here you have wonderful views of Langsett Reservoir as you loop back towards it.

Go through a gate, then head towards a small wooded area – Thickwoods, following the path alongside it until you reach a second bridge.

After you’ve crossed the bridge, follow Thickwoods Lane for a short distance. Then as the track heads off left, continue straight heading alongside the edge of the reservoir.

Path alongside Langsett Reservoir
The path alongside Langsett Reservoir

Stage 3 – Thickwoods Lane to Langsett Car Park

Distance: 2 miles/3 km

Grid reference SK 208 995

Follow the path through the woods until you reach a short fingerpost signposted Yorkshire Water, here you head upwards through the woods and up a small set of stones steps.

Steps through the woods
Steps through the woods

Then continue walking next to the boundary wall until you come out on a track. Turn left here and follow the track until you reach the main road. (Option to shorten the walk here).

Cross the road, climbing over the stone stile, across a muddy field, then over a second stone stile with a large green public footpath sign.

You start to head downwards, continuing along a muddy single track, over another stone stile then across a bridge and up a single overgrown track to the road.

Crossing the bridge
Crossing the bridge

At this point, the footpath ends and you have to carefully make your way on the grassy bank next to the road. About half-way along you can hop over the wall to walk on a path for a short distance.

When you reach a small side road, opposite the Bank View Cafe, turn left and follow the path back to the edge of the reservoir.

Go through the gate then back to Langsett Reservoir car park to end your walk.

Do you have any more questions about the Langsett Reservoir walk, maybe what to wear on your hike? Ask me in the comments below.

Additional options

Shorten the walk

Stone stile in wall
Turn left at the road instead of going over the stile

If you want to shorten this walk then during stage 3 you can turn left at the road, instead of crossing the road and going over the stile. This only reduces the total walk by about 0.7 km. But it does mean you don’t have stiles to go over.

Extend the walk

Options to extend the walk, you can increase by about 2.5 km. During stage 2, if you continue walking straight at the fingerpost instead of turning left and walking back towards the reservoir.

This option includes about an extra 100 metres of ascent as well.

More Walks in the Peak District

Love the walks in the Peak District? You might like these Peak District circular walks.

Have you done this walk, let me know any feedback in the comments. Which bits of the walk did you like?

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Langsett Reservoir walk

Langsett Reservoir walk

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