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Through the woods at Langsett Reservoir
Through the woods at Langsett Reservoir
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Our view
"Langsett Reservoir now welcomes walkers and wildlife, a far cry from the old days."
Walk directions
Leave the southwestern corner of the car park through a fence gap to the right of wall-side picnic tables. At the path junction take the second left indicated public footpath, down an initially walled track (wall on your left) into the trees. At a fork go right and continue along this more or less level route high on the wooded slopes of Langsett Bank, ignoring all paths leading off.
After a mile (1.6km) you come out at a wide cross track, with a short concrete strip underfoot. Go right, then in 275yds (251m) turn hard left onto a public bridleway, signposted ‘Swinden’.
This track begins between old mossy walls, then runs along the edge of the woods, with an open field on the right. Beyond a second gate turn left at the path junction to reach the site of the farmstead of Swinden.
Turn left opposite the large old barn, go through a gate and walk down a direct forest track, sometimes a little boggy in places. Go past a small pond, cross over a footbridge and then head up the grassy slope beyond to return to the concrete strip at Point 2. Turn right and walk down the wide track for 75yds (69m).
Turn left onto the signposted public footpath for a wide track that steadily descends through the trees towards the shores of the reservoir. Stay on this main track towards the bottom of the woods, with the water to your right.
Eventually the reservoir dam and the rooftops of Langsett appear ahead. Ignore paths off to the left. Instead go through a fence gap, and at a junction take the second path on the left, signed ‘car park’, to walk back up to the start.
Terrain
- Firm woodland paths and farm tracks, with one potentially muddy stretch
Landscape
- Upland reservoir fringed by woodland and high pasture
Dog friendliness
- Good on woodland tracks, but lead required in sheep fields around Swinden
Parking
- Langsett Barn car park
Toilets en route
- At car park
About the walk
The three reservoirs of Langsett, Midhope and Underbank were constructed in the final years of the 1800s to provide drinking water for the growing industrial communities of Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham. But to meet their needs sacrifices had to be made. Halfway around the walk you... come to the former farmstead of Swinden, last inhabited in the 1930s. Like many other historic farms in the water catchment area for the newly built reservoirs, it was forcibly abandoned amid concerns that the precious water supplies might get contaminated. Swinden Farm was over 400 years old when, in the early 1930s, the very first visiting ramblers could knock on the door for a pot of tea. All that’s left today is a large and very handsome old barn, much beloved of photographers. At least it didn’t meet the same fate as another farm just to the south of the reservoir – North America Farm was used as target practice by tanks on the moors during World War II. The creation of Langsett Reservoir also meant changes to some historic routes, most notably the old drovers’ track across the moors to Penistone market. Farmers used to drive their sheep and cattle from the Derwent Valley across the high moorland on a route known as Cut Gate, then down to Langsett and on to Penistone. This walk is a little more modest, keeping to the wooded northern shores of Langsett Reservoir; but it also goes on to explore the mixed woods and farmland further west where several of the abandoned farms are located. Woodland habitat At the start of the walk there are the usual conifer plantations, which are such a feature of upland reservoirs. They were originally planted to stabilise the ground and screen the water from the public, since access was discouraged. But as you will see by the paths and welcoming signs, Yorkshire Water’s attitude is quite different today. Some of the monotonous and wildlife-unfriendly plantations have been thinned, and broadleaved varieties introduced. Indeed, on the southwestern shores below North America Farm, most of the conifers are being replaced with birch and oak to create woodland habitats for birds such as warblers, flycatchers and woodpeckers. On the walk you will also pass a pond, in the woods near Swinden, which attracts wildlife such as newts, dragonflies and frogs; there’s another near Brookhouse Bridge, beyond the western end of the reservoir. Langsett Reservoir may still be about providing drinking water, but conservation and recreation are now part of the equation, which can only be a good thing.
"Langsett Reservoir now welcomes walkers and wildlife, a far cry from the old days."
Walk details
1hr 30min
Difficulty:
Easy
Gradient:
Gentle
Distance:
2.75 miles (4.4kms)
Ascent:
246ft (75m)
Walk directions
Leave the southwestern corner of the car park through a fence gap to the right of wall-side picnic tables. At the path junction take the second left indicated public footpath, down an initially walled track (wall on your left) into the trees. At a fork go right and continue along this more or less level route high on the wooded slopes of Langsett Bank, ignoring all paths leading off.
1 of 6
After a mile (1.6km) you come out at a wide cross track, with a short concrete strip underfoot. Go right, then in 275yds (251m) turn hard left onto a public bridleway, signposted ‘Swinden’.
2 of 6
This track begins between old mossy walls, then runs along the edge of the woods, with an open field on the right. Beyond a second gate turn left at the path junction to reach the site of the farmstead of Swinden.
3 of 6
Turn left opposite the large old barn, go through a gate and walk down a direct forest track, sometimes a little boggy in places. Go past a small pond, cross over a footbridge and then head up the grassy slope beyond to return to the concrete strip at Point 2. Turn right and walk down the wide track for 75yds (69m).
4 of 6
Turn left onto the signposted public footpath for a wide track that steadily descends through the trees towards the shores of the reservoir. Stay on this main track towards the bottom of the woods, with the water to your right.
5 of 6
Eventually the reservoir dam and the rooftops of Langsett appear ahead. Ignore paths off to the left. Instead go through a fence gap, and at a junction take the second path on the left, signed ‘car park’, to walk back up to the start.
Terrain
- Firm woodland paths and farm tracks, with one potentially muddy stretch
Landscape
- Upland reservoir fringed by woodland and high pasture
Dog friendliness
- Good on woodland tracks, but lead required in sheep fields around Swinden
Parking
- Langsett Barn car park
Toilets en route
- At car park
About the walk
The three reservoirs of Langsett, Midhope and Underbank were constructed in the final years of the 1800s to provide drinking water for the growing industrial communities of Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham. But to meet their needs sacrifices had to be made. Halfway around the walk you... come to the former farmstead of Swinden, last inhabited in the 1930s. Like many other historic farms in the water catchment area for the newly built reservoirs, it was forcibly abandoned amid concerns that the precious water supplies might get contaminated. Swinden Farm was over 400 years old when, in the early 1930s, the very first visiting ramblers could knock on the door for a pot of tea. All that’s left today is a large and very handsome old barn, much beloved of photographers. At least it didn’t meet the same fate as another farm just to the south of the reservoir – North America Farm was used as target practice by tanks on the moors during World War II. The creation of Langsett Reservoir also meant changes to some historic routes, most notably the old drovers’ track across the moors to Penistone market. Farmers used to drive their sheep and cattle from the Derwent Valley across the high moorland on a route known as Cut Gate, then down to Langsett and on to Penistone. This walk is a little more modest, keeping to the wooded northern shores of Langsett Reservoir; but it also goes on to explore the mixed woods and farmland further west where several of the abandoned farms are located. Woodland habitat At the start of the walk there are the usual conifer plantations, which are such a feature of upland reservoirs. They were originally planted to stabilise the ground and screen the water from the public, since access was discouraged. But as you will see by the paths and welcoming signs, Yorkshire Water’s attitude is quite different today. Some of the monotonous and wildlife-unfriendly plantations have been thinned, and broadleaved varieties introduced. Indeed, on the southwestern shores below North America Farm, most of the conifers are being replaced with birch and oak to create woodland habitats for birds such as warblers, flycatchers and woodpeckers. On the walk you will also pass a pond, in the woods near Swinden, which attracts wildlife such as newts, dragonflies and frogs; there’s another near Brookhouse Bridge, beyond the western end of the reservoir. Langsett Reservoir may still be about providing drinking water, but conservation and recreation are now part of the equation, which can only be a good thing.
