🐾 Dog-Friendly Fernilee & Errwood Reservoirs at a Glance
🦮 Lead Rules: Mostly fine off-lead on main paths; keep dogs close on leads near livestock, around the water and hall ruins
🚶 Walk Length: 2–7 mile routes, depending on whether you do one or both reservoirs
🌿 Terrain: Woodland tracks, gravel paths, gentle climbs, and a few muddier bits after rain
🐑 Livestock: Can be present, so be ready with your leads
🏰 History & Ruins: Remains of Errwood Hall tucked above the reservoir
🚻 Facilities: None on-site; nearest toilets and cafes in Whaley Bridge and Buxton
🅿️ Parking: Free car parks at Fernilee and near Errwood Hall
☕ Dog-Friendly Nearby: Good options in Whaley Bridge, and Buxton
About
Fernilee and Errwood Reservoirs sit side-by-side in the Goyt Valley, surrounded by rolling hills, woodland, and the Errwood Hall ruins.
Errwood Hall was built in 1843 within an estate of over 2,000 acres by Samuel Grimshawe, a wealthy Manchester businessman. The hall had a short life, being demolished in 1934, when Fernilee reservoir was constructed, submerging most of the estate’s farmland.
Dog Access and Rules
You’ll find the trails here ideal for walking with dogs. The paths are clear, well-maintained, and mostly wide enough for a relaxed stroll without worrying about bikes or crowds.
Things To See & Do
You have several walking options, from specific loops to just a random stroll.
Walk Fernilee Reservoir Loop (approx. 4 miles)
A peaceful, easy circuit with gently rolling paths. You wander through woodland on one side and open views on the other. It’s perfect if you want something steady but still scenic.
Fernilee and Errwood Reservoir Loop (6–7 miles depending on route)
If you’re up for a longer outing, linking both reservoirs is a lovely way to spend half a day. There’s more height variation, especially around Errwood, but the viewpoints are worth it. The mix of water, moorland and quiet lanes gives your walk a nice ebb and flow.
Visit Errwood Hall Ruins (1 mile)
Hidden in the trees to the south of the reservoir are the remains of Errwood Hall. It’s wonderfully atmospheric, with mossy stonework, the outlines of rooms, the remains of formal gardens, a hill-top cemetery, and echoes of a time when this valley looked very different.
Access and Facilities
You have a few parking options: Fernilee Reservoir Car Park and Errwood Hall Car Parks (two small ones). These car parks are gravel and have no facilities, so you need to be prepared and bring everything you need.
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