Smiddy Shaw Reservoir, Muggleswick Common, County Durham

Smiddy Shaw Reservoir Loop

route · Waterside walk

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5.6

Wildland

1–2 hours

Time

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Cost

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Why it's Wildland

5.6

A quiet circuit beside a North Pennines reservoir, with open-water views and upland countryside. The reservoir was completed by 1872 and forms part of a group of three reservoirs on Muggleswick Common.

The appeal is a simple, open-water walk in a broad upland setting, with a specific reservoir history and a reported chance of seeing red grouse and red kites. It is a worthwhile short outing, but the available sources support a modest, practical listing rather than claims of unusual facilities or hidden features.

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Smiddy Shaw Reservoir, Muggleswick Common, County Durham

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The experience

Follow a circular route beside Smiddy Shaw Reservoir, pausing for the water views and scanning the surrounding moorland for birds. The supplied route sources give different circuit lengths, so choose a route description before setting off rather than assuming the circuits are identical.

Things to do

Walk a circular route beside the reservoir

Follow a sourced loop around Smiddy Shaw Reservoir. AllTrails describes a 3.9-mile, 1–1.5-hour loop from Hawkburn Head car park; Ramblers Routes lists a separate 1.8-mile, 52-minute route. Check the route details and map before choosing.

52 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on the route

Watch for upland birds

The Ramblers route description suggests looking for red grouse in the heather and red kites overhead.

Make a day of it

Quick escape · About 52 minutes for the Ramblers route; a separate AllTrails circuit is listed at 1–1.5 hours.

Quick reservoir circuit

01
Choose one of the sourced circular route descriptions before starting; they give different distances.
02
Walk the reservoir circuit and pause at open stretches for views across the water.
03
Scan the surrounding countryside for red grouse and red kites.

Verified history

Smiddy Shaw Reservoir was completed by 1872 and is owned and operated by Northumbrian Water. It is one of three reservoirs on Muggleswick Common; Smiddy Shaw and Waskerley feed water by gravity towards a treatment works at Honey Hill, while Hisehope feeds into Smiddy Shaw.

Hidden details

Part of a three-reservoir system — Smiddy Shaw is one of three reservoirs on Muggleswick Common. Hisehope feeds into Smiddy Shaw, while Smiddy Shaw and Waskerley feed water towards a treatment works at Honey Hill.

When to go

· Not specified in the supplied sources.

The supplied sources do not establish a best season.

Check the forecast and current ground conditions before walking; the supplied sources do not give specific weather or path-condition guidance.

The route

ascent: AllTrails: 190 ft.
distance: AllTrails: 3.9 miles; Ramblers Routes lists a separate 1.8-mile route.
duration: AllTrails: 1–1.5 hours; Ramblers Routes: 52 minutes.
difficulty: AllTrails: moderate; Ramblers Routes: easy.
route shape: Loop / circular
start point: Hawkburn Head car park is the start described by AllTrails; Ramblers Routes also identifies a car park at Smiddy Shaw Reservoir.
parking start: AllTrails identifies Hawkburn Head car park as the start. Check current availability and access before travelling.
shorter alternative: Ramblers Routes lists a separate 1.8-mile, 52-minute easy circular route. Check its route map; it may not be the same circuit as the 3.9-mile AllTrails route.

Views across Smiddy Shaw Reservoir
Open North Pennine countryside
Reported chances to see red grouse and red kites

What to look for

Look across the reservoir and over the surrounding upland for red grouse and red kites, which the Ramblers route description identifies as wildlife to watch for.