Howden Reservoir, a region in the Peak District National Park, is characterized by its expansive water, forested hills, and diverse terrain. It is the uppermost of three reservoirs in the Upper Derwent Valley, offering a mix of smooth surfaced roads, unpaved paths, and moorland trails. This varied landscape supports several sports like road cycling, hiking, mountain biking, touring cycling, and more.
The Howden Reservoir area provides more than 10 routes across several sports like…
114
Routes
4.5
(833)
Average rating
10052
People visited

4.6
(130)
917
riders
26.0km
02:26
590m
580m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.7
(40)
489
riders
40.0km
03:42
900m
910m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.6
(29)
126
riders
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

55
riders
23.2km
01:50
400m
400m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(164)
961
hikers
12.8km
03:46
340m
340m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(23)
123
hikers
6.03km
01:45
160m
160m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(7)
32
hikers
12.0km
03:34
340m
340m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(74)
546
hikers
13.6km
03:55
320m
320m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
129
runners
34.8km
04:14
670m
670m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

5.0
(4)
103
runners
12.3km
01:33
340m
340m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

4.7
(3)
70
runners
26.7km
03:31
820m
830m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

4.5
(4)
814
runners
16.4km
01:44
190m
200m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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60
riders
84.1km
04:39
1,480m
1,470m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.5
(2)
36
riders
94.4km
04:58
1,480m
1,480m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.8
(4)
41
riders
42.5km
02:33
810m
810m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.0
(1)
268
riders
57.5km
02:48
750m
750m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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85
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.8
(37)
624
riders
16.9km
01:15
190m
200m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.7
(3)
517
riders
31.0km
02:37
540m
540m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.8
(8)
114
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.9
(11)
87
riders
16.8km
00:57
200m
190m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(11)
90
riders
17.8km
01:00
210m
210m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
riders
40.5km
03:13
790m
790m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

14
riders
36.3km
02:57
760m
760m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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5.0
(1)
3
hikers
17.9km
05:27
560m
560m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4
hikers
8.60km
02:53
380m
380m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

5.0
(1)
2
hikers
11.0km
03:35
430m
430m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

2
hikers
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Howden Reservoir is located in the Upper Derwent Valley within the Peak District National Park. It is the uppermost of three reservoirs in the valley, known for its serene beauty, forested hills, and expansive water. The reservoir was constructed in the early 20th century and is a popular destination for various outdoor activities.
Howden Reservoir offers a range of outdoor activities including Road cycling, Hiking, Mountain biking, Touring cycling, Jogging, Gravel biking, and Mountaineering. The region features diverse terrain suitable for different sports. There are more than 10 routes available across these sports.
Yes, Howden Reservoir is popular for road cycling. The western side of the reservoir features smooth-surfaced roads suitable for road cyclists. A guide for Road Cycling Routes around Howden Reservoir is available.
Howden Reservoir offers numerous hiking trails, ranging from easy circular walks to more challenging ascents into the surrounding moorlands. A comprehensive guide for Hiking around Howden Reservoir provides detailed information. Other guides include Easy hikes around Howden Reservoir and Family-friendly hikes around Howden Reservoir.
Yes, mountain biking trails are available, particularly on the eastern side of the reservoir which offers dirt paths and more challenging segments. Some routes may include inclines and stone paths. An MTB Trails around Howden Reservoir guide is available.
Howden Reservoir offers family-friendly options, particularly for hiking. There are easy circular walks around the reservoir suitable for families. A specific guide for Family-friendly hikes around Howden Reservoir is available.
Yes, there are dog-friendly hiking options at Howden Reservoir. Visitors can find suitable routes for walking with dogs. A guide specifically for Dog-friendly hikes around Howden Reservoir is available.
Routes at Howden Reservoir have an average rating of 4.58 out of 5 stars on komoot. This rating is based on more than 54,000 reviews from over 397,000 visitors. The community highly regards the outdoor experiences in this region.
Howden Reservoir is known for its serene beauty, forested hills, and expansive water. Key features include the imposing Howden Dam, a significant early 20th-century engineering feat, and Slippery Stones at the northernmost point. The area transitions from forestation to moorlands, offering diverse scenery.
Yes, a popular circular route connects Howden, Derwent, and Ladybower Reservoirs in the Upper Derwent Valley. This route is approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) long. It can typically be completed in 1-2 hours by bike, offering varied terrain.
Information for the Howden Reservoir area can be found through the Peak District National Park website and the Visit Peak District & Derbyshire website. The main visitor hub for the Upper Derwent Valley is the Fairholmes Visitor Centre. The phone number for the Upper Derwent Valley Visitor Centre (Fairholmes) is +4414336.
Yes, there are options for traffic-free cycling at Howden Reservoir. These routes provide a safer and more tranquil experience for cyclists. A guide for Traffic-free bike rides around Howden Reservoir is available.

