Holme and the reservoirs
Walk through the picnic area next to the car park and cross the stile into a lane. After climbing for 80yds (73m), pass between stone gate posts and swing right, on a grassy track and over a stream, past a conifer plantation. Continue uphill on a wide track, which re-crosses the stream, to a junction. Waymarked trails continue ahead and left here; your way, however, turns right, between wooden posts. After 90yds (82m), you come to a junction with a well-defined rough track.
Turn right, downhill, into the conifers, occasionally glimpsing Ramsden Reservoir through the trees. After 300yds (274m), the track reaches a junction, by an isolated house. Turn left to cross the dam wall of Riding Wood Reservoir, high above Ramsden Reservoir on your right, with views across to the village of Holme.
Continue along the track beyond the dam, past the huge retaining walls of Yateholme Reservoir. Although this track is very quiet and rarely used, be aware that timber-hauling lorries and machinery might occasionally come this way. After crossing several streams the track crosses to the opposite side of the clough, gently climbing to offer fine views down the Holme Valley.
About 1.3 miles (2.1km) after crossing Riding Wood Reservoir, a public footpath sign directs you off the track right, over a wooden step stile down a boggy field, parallel to the wall 20yds (18m) to the right: scout around for the driest ground. Cross a dilapidated wall after 140yds (128m) and turn left along it to cross a wooden stile, into oak and birch woodland and down stone steps.
Cross Rake Dike on a wooden footbridge. An obvious path slants right, up the opposite bank, climbs three fields and passes through a gate into a garden, and out the other side through a gated stile. Ascend a driveway to emerge on a road opposite Holme’s Fleece Inn.
Turn right, past the public toilets and an old phone box, now an information booth. Just 65yds (60m) past Holme Sunday School, turn right on a public footpath, past Underhill to your right. Beyond a narrow metal gate, the path drops along the left edge of a field, passing through a wooden gate half-way down to continue within an enclosed path. Beyond a stone step stile, turn right through a narrow gap in the wall to drop diagonally down the next field.
The path, beyond a stile at the bottom, follows the wall on the right, above woodland, before descending to cross Rake Dike above a small waterfall. Beyond, it ascends a rough stone path back to the treeline, with occasional views of Brownhill Reservoir, then drops again through the woodland. Cross the face of Ramsden Reservoir’s dam wall and bear left at the end up to the road, then right, back to the car park.
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Walking in Safety
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Nearby places to stay
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