While visiting Holmfirth in West Yorkshire, we wanted a nice, fairly easy walk with the dogs before heading home. Digley Reservoir was only a short drive away and turned out to be a lovely little circular walk with free parking and some beautiful views across the water.
The official Digley Reservoir circular walk is around 1.5 miles and is easy to follow. There is also a longer 5.5-mile Digley, Bilberry & Beyond route if you want to make more of a day of it, although this includes steeper sections and stiles.
We parked at Digley Quarry Car Park, HD9 2QD. Parking is free and the car park is hardstanding. There are disabled parking spaces, but there are no toilets or other facilities here. There is also another free car park at Digley South Car Park, HD9 2RX, which you pass during the walk.
From Digley Quarry Car Park, the route was easy to pick up. We followed the sign for the Holme Valley Riverside Way and set off to the right.
Walking Around Digley Reservoir
We set off to the right from the car park and followed the path. There were livestock in the fields to our left when we visited, but they were fenced away from the path.
Not far into the walk, we spotted a path leading down towards the reservoir on our left. We took this little detour to the water for a photo before returning to the main route.
From here, we continued with the stone wall on our right. The route was straightforward to follow and there were several benches along the way, which were handy if you wanted to stop and enjoy the views.
The terrain isn’t completely flat or smooth. Some sections were uneven and there was one part with large, boulder-like steps where I needed to take a little more care, particularly as I was walking with my older dog.
It could also get quite muddy during wetter weather, so I would definitely recommend walking boots in winter.
Reservoir Views
Around halfway round, Digley Reservoir really opens up on your left and you get some lovely views across the water and surrounding countryside.
We continued through several gates. One thing I particularly liked about this shorter route was that there were no stiles, which made it much easier with the dogs.
The walk eventually brings you into Digley South Car Park. This is another small free parking area and there was a bin here when we visited.
From the South Car Park, we turned left onto the quiet road and followed the pavement across the reservoir dam.
After crossing the dam, the road bends around to the right. Look out for a gate on your left, which takes you off the road and onto the path leading back towards Digley Quarry Car Park.
I actually missed this gate and carried on along the road! Luckily it was quiet when we visited, but taking the gate is the proper route back to the car park.
Is Digley Reservoir Dog Friendly?
We found Digley Reservoir a really enjoyable walk with the dogs. The shorter circular route is only around 1.5 miles, there are no stiles and there are several places to stop and take in the views.
There are livestock in the surrounding fields, but fenced it so dogs cold be off lead under control
For us, it was a good choice because I was walking with my older dog and didn’t want anything too long or difficult before our journey home.
Digley Reservoir Walk – Useful Information
Distance: Around 1.5 miles circular
Time: Allow around 1 hour at an easy pace
Parking: Free
Main car park: Digley Quarry Car Park, HD9 2QD
Alternative parking: Digley South Car Park, HD9 2RX
Toilets: None
Stiles: None on the short route
Terrain: Mixed paths with some uneven and rocky sections
Dog friendly: Yes, but be aware of livestock
Longer option: 5.5-mile Digley, Bilberry & Beyond walk
Would I Recommend the Digley Reservoir Walk?
Yes. If you’re visiting Holmfirth and looking for a short walk nearby, Digley Reservoir is a good option.
It’s not a completely flat, surfaced reservoir walk, so I wouldn’t describe it as suitable for wheels, and there are a few uneven sections to negotiate. But for a relatively short countryside walk, you get plenty of scenery for the distance.
It was reasonably quiet when we visited, easy to follow and just the right length for us and the dogs before setting off home.
If you’re looking for something longer, you can extend the walk to around 5.5 miles, taking you beyond the reservoir and into the surrounding countryside. This route is more challenging, with steeper sections and stiles, so we stuck with the shorter reservoir circuit on this visit.
Holme valley caravan and camping site
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay near Digley Reservoir, we stayed at Holme Valley Camping, around a 20-minute drive away. It’s a lovely base for exploring Holmfirth and more of the Holme Valley – read about our stay here.
Holme Valley Camping, Holmfirth – Our 2-Night Campervan Stay
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