Rivelin Reservoir
WHERE
Sheffield
What it’s like
A flat circuit of walking, cycling and horse trails around a Sheffield reservoir, with the water itself strictly look-don't-touch.
The path round the water is the whole point here: a loop for walking, cycling or riding, with enough distance to tire out a scooter-mad six-year-old without anyone getting properly lost. It's flat enough for a buggy and there are toilets on site, so you're not planning the visit around a mad dash home.
What you don't do is get in the water, and the site is blunt about why. It's genuinely cold enough all year to cause cold water shock, there's machinery and strong currents under the surface from the treatment works, and blue-green algae can turn up and cause rashes or worse. Dogs can't swim in it either, and if you're walking near the farm animals or horses between March and July, leads are a legal requirement, not just a nicety.
The car park is the thing to plan around properly. There are only 9 spaces, they fill up quickly on most days, and the gate locks at 6pm sharp. There's a public car park nearby if you strike out, or roadside parking on Redmires Road as a backup. Parking's free, at least, which softens the blow of circling for a space.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Free car park with 9 spaces, open 8am-6pm
- Dogs
- Allowed but must be kept under effective control, on lead near farm animals
- Only 9 parking spaces, so an early or off-peak visit helps
- Car park gate locks at 6pm, don't cut it fine
- Leads on dogs are a legal requirement near livestock from March to July
- Toilets are on site but there's nothing listed for food
Plan your visit
Can we swim in the reservoir?
No, it's not allowed and the water's genuinely dangerous: cold enough year-round to cause cold water shock, with machinery and strong currents underneath, plus the odd bloom of blue-green algae.
Is there parking?
Free, but only 9 spaces and they go quickly most days. The gate locks at 6pm, so leave time to get back to the car, and there's a public car park nearby plus roadside space on Redmires Road if you're stuck.
Can we take the dog?
As long as they're kept under control. They must be on a lead near farm animals and horses, and they can't go in the water; blue-green algae is poisonous to dogs.
What is there to actually do?
Walking, cycling and horse riding trails round the reservoir. There are toilets on site but it's mainly about the loop itself.
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