Venford Reservoir, Dartmoor, Devon, near Newton Abbot
Venford Reservoir
Reservoir
Place photograph
7.2
Wildland
1–2 hours
Time
Check
Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
7.2Built to supply water to Paignton, Venford Reservoir now sits among Dartmoor’s craggy hills, with a meandering, wooded shoreline and a footpath just over a mile around the water.
A short waterside circuit feels unusually sheltered for this rugged corner of Dartmoor: broadleaf woodland hugs the reservoir, while the dam and surrounding moorland give the walk a sense of place beyond a simple lap of the water.
Peaceful · Secluded · Wild
Find your way
Open mapVenford Reservoir, Dartmoor, Devon, near Newton Abbot
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The experience
Walk the meandering footpath around the reservoir, pause to explore the broadleaf woodland and use the wildlife information trail to look more closely at the landscape. The circuit is just over a mile; allow extra time for the steps and uneven sections.
Things to do
Walk the reservoir-side trail
Follow the meandering footpath around the water through broadleaf deciduous woodland. The circuit is just over a mile; the route includes five steps and some sections inaccessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Allow 1–2 hours
Use the wildlife information points
Explore the trail’s wildlife interpretation; the Trust says visitors can take pencil rubbings of information about wildlife found around the lake.
Look for ground-nesting birds
Keep watch for ground-nesting birds, especially the rare ring ouzel highlighted by South West Lakes Trust. Sightings are not guaranteed.
Explore the nearby moorland
South West Lakes Trust identifies Holne Moor and the open moorland beyond Venford as places to explore, but check route details and conditions before setting out.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Allow 1–2 hours
Quick Escape: the reservoir circuit
- 01
Follow the meandering footpath around the reservoir, just over a mile in length.
- 02
Pause at the wildlife information points and look out for ground-nesting birds.
- 03
Allow for five steps about halfway around and sections that are not accessible to wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Half day · Half day
Make a half day of it: water, woodland and moor
- 01
Take the just-over-a-mile circuit around the reservoir through broadleaf woodland.
- 02
Pause for a picnic, as suggested by South West Lakes Trust, and explore the wildlife information points.
- 03
If conditions and time allow, continue exploring the surrounding countryside or Holne Moor; research a suitable route before setting out.
Verified history
South West Lakes Trust says Venford Reservoir was built to provide a water supply for Paignton. The Trust also notes that the area around it contains Dartmoor cultural heritage, including antiquities, hut circles, cairns and stone rows. Tripadvisor’s supplied attraction description gives a completion date of 1907; this date is not corroborated by the Trust source supplied here.
Hidden details
A lodge replica below the dam — South West Lakes Trust notes an exact replica of Burrator Lodge below the dam—a detail easy to miss if you focus only on the reservoir circuit.
Look for traces of Dartmoor’s older landscape — The Trust describes the wider area as rich in cultural heritage, with antiquities, hut circles, cairns and stone rows. No specific locations or access details are supplied, so check locally before seeking them out.
When to go
· Check local conditions; no specific time of day is established by the supplied sources.
The supplied sources do not identify a best season or seasonal wildlife dates.
Check the forecast and current path conditions before visiting; the route includes uneven sections and steps.
The route
- stiles
- Check before visiting
- surface
- Stable paths for most of the way; some uneven sections
- distance
- Just over 1 mile around the water
- duration
- Not stated; allow 1–2 hours as a planning estimate
- difficulty
- Not formally graded; includes uneven sections and five steps
- waymarking
- Wildlife information trail is described; waymarking details not supplied
- route shape
- Circuit around the reservoir shoreline
- start point
- Venford Reservoir; precise start point not stated
- parking start
- Check before visiting
- Broadleaf woodland around the reservoir
- Wildlife information points
- Below-dam replica of Burrator Lodge
- Open moorland and Holne Moor nearby
Worth pairing with
Holne Moor
South West Lakes Trust describes Holne Moor as a nearby option for further walking. Check route information and conditions before extending your outing.
What to look for
Look for the wildlife information points along the trail and watch for ground-nesting birds, including the rare ring ouzel mentioned by South West Lakes Trust. Below the dam, the Trust notes an exact replica of Burrator Lodge.
The story
Water supply; Dartmoor cultural heritage
Best time to go
Check current conditions; the woodland trail and moorland setting offer a walk in varied seasons.
Check local conditions before setting out. The woodland can make this a more sheltered outing than an exposed moorland walk, but weather and path conditions may still affect the experience.
How long to spend
1–2 hours
Perfect for
Walkers · Wildlife lovers · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
South West Lakes Trust describes Venford as a place to explore and gives its address. Check current access conditions before travelling.
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Parking
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Toilets
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Food & drink
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Dogs
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Accessibility
South West Lakes Trust says paths are stable for most of the route, but some areas are inaccessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs; five steps occur about halfway around.
Cost
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Check before visiting
Water
Reservoir
Gallery
Place photographs
Keep exploring
Around Venford Reservoir
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
