More images

More (2)

Combs and Combs Reservoir

Recommended by

Walk directions

Follow the path from the dam along the reservoir’s western shore, ignoring the first footbridge over Meveril Brook.

As the reservoir narrows the path traverses small fields, then comes to another footbridge over the brook. This time cross it and head straight across another field. Beyond a foot tunnel under the Buxton Line railway, the path reaches a narrow hedge-lined country lane. Turn left along the lane into Combs village.

Past the Beehive Inn in the village centre, take the lane straight ahead, then the left fork. This climbs out of the village towards Combs Edge.

Take the second footpath on the left, which begins at a muddy clearing just beyond Millway Cottage. Go through the gate and climb on a partially slabbed path and then uphill across pasture with the wall on your right. Away to the right is the huge combe of Pyegreave Brook with Castle Naze on its left. Head uphill following the wall. Go through a gap in the boundary wall that once would have been a gate and continue uphill before crossing the remains of an old boundary wall. Head for the right end of the remains of the next boundary wall. Continue across the field and go over a stile, continuing straight ahead with a wall on your right. When the path forks, keep right to the higher path by a wall, looking down on to a sunken path. Cross another stile and keep ahead, with the railway line and reservoir below and to the left.

The path comes down to a track that runs alongside the railway line. This joins a lane just short of Bank Hall Lodge. Turn left to go under the railway and north to Down Lee Farm.

Turn left through a kissing gate 100yds (91m) beyond the farmhouse. Cross a field and stile to walk with a line of trees and fence on your right, towards Marsh Hall Farm. The fields can become very boggy on the final approaches. When you reach the farm complex turn right through a gate and follow a vehicle track heading northwest.

After 109yds (100m), turn left over a stile and immediately right through a gate on to a field path alongside the edge of Chapel-en-le-Frith Golf Course. Crossing over a stile on to the golf course, waymarking arrows show the path across the fairway. The stile marking the exit from the golf course is on the right (grid ref SK044799) before reaching the clubhouse. Cross a small field to reach the B5470.

Turn left along the road (there’s a pavement on the far side), and follow it past the Hanging Gate pub at Cockyard. After passing the entrance to the sailing club, turn left to cross over the dam of Combs Reservoir and return to the car park.

View all directions

Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Can be muddy; several stiles

Landscape - Reservoir, meadows and high moors

Dog friendliness - Farmland; dogs should be kept on leads

Parking - Combs Reservoir car park

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Derbyshire Dog-friendly walks in Derbyshire

About the walk

This is a fine little corner of Derbyshire, tucked away from the crowds of Castleton and Hathersage. The route starts by the west side of the dam on a narrow path between the reservoir and Meveril Brook. The site is an SSSI due to a community of short-lived mosses and liverworts. The reservoir... itself feeds the Peak Forest Canal and has a sailing club based on it. You may see great crested grebes swimming among the rushes. Beyond the reservoir the path tucks under the railway, which brings to mind a mysterious story concerning Ned Dixon, who lived in nearby Tunstead Farm. Ned, or Dickie as he was known, was brutally murdered by his cousin. Locals say his spirit lived on in his skull, which was left outside to guard against intruders. Strange things were said to happen when anybody tried to remove the skull. It is also claimed that the present road from Combs to Chapel was constructed because the railway bridge would not stand over Dane Hey Road. After the first bridge was completed it collapsed, burying the workmen’s tools. This was blamed on the skull: Dickie had been against the railway going across Tunstead land. Combs A lane with hedges of honeysuckle and hawthorn winds into the village of Combs, where a handful of stone-built cottages are centred on the welcoming Beehive Inn. Combs’ most famous son is Herbert Froode. He made his name in automotive engineering as one of the inventors of the brake lining. Starting out in the early 1890s he developed woven cotton brakes for horse-drawn wagons, but his ideas didn’t really take off until 1897 when the first motor buses emerged. Froode applied his knowledge of brakes to this much greater challenge and by the end of the century had won a contract to supply brake linings for the new London omnibuses. Ferodo, his company, is an anagram of his surname. Final views Through the village the route takes to the hillsides. Now Combs Reservoir, which is spread beneath your feet, looks every bit a natural lake. Beyond it are the plains of Manchester and the hazy blue West Pennine horizon. In the other direction the gritstone cliffs of Combs Edge, which look rather like those of Kinder Scout, overshadow the sullen combe of Pyegreave Brook. This very pleasing walk ends as it starts, by the shores of the reservoir. If you look along the line of the dam towards the right of two farms, you’ll see where Dickie lived. He’s probably watching you, too.

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

The natural features of this central English county range from the modest heights of the Peak District National Park, where Kinder Scout stands at 2,088 ft (636 m), to the depths of its remarkable underground caverns, floodlit to reveal exquisite Blue John stone. Walkers and cyclists will enjoy the High Peak Trail which extends from the Derwent Valley to the limestone plateau near Buxton, and for many, the spectacular scenery is what draws them to the area.

Route details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Moderate

Distance:

4 miles (6.4kms)

Ascent:

500ft (152m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

Find more walks in Derbyshire

Combs and Combs Reservoir

Recommended by

Walk details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Moderate

Distance:

4 miles (6.4kms)

Ascent:

500ft (152m)

Walk directions

Follow the path from the dam along the reservoir’s western shore, ignoring the first footbridge over Meveril Brook.

1 of 8

2 of 8

Past the Beehive Inn in the village centre, take the lane straight ahead, then the left fork. This climbs out of the village towards Combs Edge.

3 of 8

4 of 8

The path comes down to a track that runs alongside the railway line. This joins a lane just short of Bank Hall Lodge. Turn left to go under the railway and north to Down Lee Farm.

5 of 8

6 of 8

7 of 8

8 of 8

Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Can be muddy; several stiles

Landscape - Reservoir, meadows and high moors

Dog friendliness - Farmland; dogs should be kept on leads

Parking - Combs Reservoir car park

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Derbyshire Dog-friendly walks in Derbyshire

About the walk

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Derbyshire

Combs and Combs Reservoir

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

Sign up to our travel newsletter

Get the latest insider tips and recommendations to make the most of your next trip

Combs and Combs Reservoir

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

Sign up to our newsletter

Join over 4,000+ travelers who are getting the most out of their trips