The Great Outdoors Spring 2019

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FIVE OTHER NOTEWORTHY

BRITISH RESERVOIRS

1 HAWESWATER, LAKE DISTRICT

Six and a half kilometres long and almost a

kilometre wide, Haweswater occupies a broad

swathe of Mardale valley in the eastern Lakes.

Begun in 1929, it was another which required

the looding of two farming villages.

2 TALYBONT, BRECON BEACONS

The largest still-water reservoir in the

Brecons, Talybont is set in a steep-sided, heavily

forested valley. There’s a good high-level

walking circuit around the surrounding hills, and

it also draws ly-ishers in search of wild brown

trout.

3 TOTTIFORD, DARTMOOR

The oldest reservoir on Dartmoor, dating

back to 1861. It was the subject of a visit

from Channel 4’s Time Team in 2010, who

temporarily drained the reservoir to reveal a

stone circle and other prehistoric remains.

4 KIELDER WATER, NORTHUMBERLAND

A 200-billion-litre reservoir surrounded

by the colossal plantation that is Kielder Forest.

It was a controversial construction when it

opened in the early 1980s, and also gets used for

sailing and other water-sports.

5 BLACKWATER, SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Building began on the reservoir in 1904,

using a 3,000 strong workforce – accidents,

sometimes fatal, were regular occurrences. The

dam alone is more than 900 metres long. It’s

located in the mountains above the village of

Kinlochleven, in Lochaber.

Photo: Cameron McNeish

Photos: Shutterstock

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