Wessenden Head

A wild moorland reservoir at the top of Wessenden Valley, the launch pad for some of the Peak District's quietest waterfall walks.

Why go

  • Four reservoirs line the valley floor, each with waterfalls spilling into the cloughs between them, making this one of the most rewarding waterfall walks in the northern Peak District.
  • The Pennine Way runs straight through, so the paths are well-signed and easy to follow even in low cloud.
  • Paths turn boggy quickly after rain and the stepping stones at the Wessenden Reservoir weir can submerge, so check conditions before setting off.
  • The upper moor rewards with big open skies and, on clear days, views stretching across the Yorkshire Moors.
  • Marsden village is a short distance downhill at the end, with good pubs and cafes to finish the day.

Full route

Wessenden Head Waterfall Circuit
4.6 mi / 7.4 km · 221 m · 3 to 4 hours · Moderate
Starts at the Wessenden Head Road lay-by. Cross the road and descend the Pennine Way track alongside Wessenden Head Reservoir. Follow the valley path past the deer farm and over clough footbridges with waterfalls visible to both sides. Cross the dam wall at Wessenden Reservoir and head onto the moor to find the upper waterfalls. Note: the stepping stones at the weir can be submerged in high water. Climb to the air shaft, bear left and follow the moorland path skirting Black Moss back to the lay-by car park.
  1. 1. From the lay-by car park on Wessenden Head Road, cross the road and pass through the gate; Wessenden Head Reservoir is visible immediately to your left.
  2. 2. Follow the Pennine Way track downhill into the valley, passing the Ashley Jackson picture-frame art installation and the deer farm on your right.
  3. 3. Continue along the valley track, crossing footbridges over the cloughs where waterfalls drop to either side.
  4. 4. At Wessenden Reservoir, cross the dam wall and bear onto the moorland footpath; look for the upper waterfall where the path crosses a fast-flowing stream via stepping stones (avoid in high water).
  5. 5. Climb the hillside to the old air shaft, then turn left and follow the moorland path as it skirts around Black Moss.
  6. 6. The path descends back to the weir at the top of Wessenden Reservoir before the final section returns along the track to the Wessenden Head Road lay-by.

Wessenden Head

Wessenden Head Reservoir sits at 386 metres above sea level, the highest of four reservoirs strung along the Wessenden Valley on the northern edge of the Peak District National Park. The land is managed by the National Trust as part of the 5,000-acre Marsden Moor Estate, and the Pennine Way threads straight through the valley below, meaning the trails are well-trodden but rarely crowded. The lay-by car park near the old quarry on Wessenden Head Road is the natural starting point, with the reservoir visible from the moment you arrive and the picture-frame art installation by Ashley Jackson framing views across the water as you head down towards the moors.

The classic circuit from here drops onto the Pennine Way and winds alongside the chain of reservoirs, crossing cloughs and footbridges with waterfalls tumbling into the valley on either side. The terrain shifts between firm reservoir tracks and rougher moorland paths that become boggy after rain, so boots are essential. A deer farm sits mid-valley, and the return leg can be made either via the high moor above Binn Moor or along the lower reservoir-side path back towards Marsden. Longer variations take in the summit of Black Hill or the SSSI outcrops at West Nab.

The valley has a lived-in history: the reservoirs were built from 1836 onwards to supply the mills of West Yorkshire, and ancient packhorse routes linking Lancashire and Yorkshire crossed the moors long before that. There is no visitor facility on site, but Marsden village, a short drive or walk downhill, has cafes, pubs and a railway station for those arriving without a car.

7.4 km Distance 4.6 mi
221 m Ascent
3 to 4 hours Duration
Moderate Difficulty

Reviews

5 ★★★★★ 5 reviews
Winsome Williams 1 month ago
★★★★★

Lovely place to visit. The falls, streams and Greenlands, were very picturesque. Would definitely go again.

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