Walk · South Yorkshire

Winscar Reservoir

Dunford Bridge · S36 4TF

2.2MILES

1h 5mON FOOT

30mCLIMB

Linear — plan the returnSHAPE

Off-road 95% 5% shares tarmac with cars

Field & moor path 5%Lane & track 90%Road with traffic 5%

Our drawing of the route — the shape of the walk, not a navigation aid. Carry OS Explorer on the hill. Off-lead information here is what walkers reported or what signage allows — never our advice. Whether and when a dog is off the lead is the owner’s decision and legal responsibility; keep dogs under control near livestock and follow signs on the day.

Starts at

Broad Hill car park off Dunford Road, above Dunford Bridge, S36 4TF S36 4TF

Finishes at

Windleden Lane car park on Windle EdgeLinear — plan how you get back

Parking

Two free Yorkshire Water car parks and Yorkshire Water's own warning that both fill quickly on most days: 40 spaces at Broad Hill off Dunford Road and 14 spaces at Windleden Lane. There are picnic are

Directions to the start →

A high moorland reservoir above Dunford Bridge, with a wide tarmac bridleway carrying National Cycle Route 68 between the two Yorkshire Water car parks at Broad Hill and Windle Edge. Yorkshire Water's own description is that the track is flat for its entire length, which makes this the only surfaced level walk of any size at this altitude in the borough and the obvious choice on a wet day or with an older dog. The reservoir was built in the 1850s and enlarged in the 1970s, and the exposed moor around it means wind is the deciding factor rather than mud. Combine it with the Trans Pennine Trail, which ends at Dunford Bridge car park a few hundred yards away.

THE SMALL PRINTYorkshire Water's rules for Winscar: "Keep your dog on a lead" and "clean up after your dog". Dogs must not swim in or drink the water: "No, it's not safe for dogs to swim in Winscar Reservoir and they shouldn't drink the water", because of blue-green algae, machinery and currents. Yorkshire Water asks for a short lead between 1 March and 31 July for ground-nesting birds and all year round near farm animals. Barnsley Council's borough-wide dog control PSPO of 1 April 2025 applies: clear up, carry the means, lead the dog if an authorised officer directs; fixed penalty £100. Cyclists use the tarmac track at speed, which is the other argument for a lead.

REGION · SOUTH YORKSHIRE

GRID · 53.5192, -1.7690

SOURCE · HTTPS://WWW.YORKSHIREWATER.COM/THINGS-TO-DO/RESERVOIRS/WINSCAR-RESERVOIR/

Winscar Reservoir

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