Wilstone Reservoir

From the car park, take the steps up to the reservoir. At the top you can obviously turn either way – I opted to turn right and take an anti-clockwise route.

Follow the grass track that hugs the side of the reservoir. Unless your dog is water-wise, I suggest leaving the lead on for now. There are lots of waterfowl around making a tempting target, and it’s quite a drop down to the water. After 500 m the track turns sharp left before running about 300 m through a safer, fenced and tree-lined path. At the end of this, there is a track heading left, signposted to the hides. Dogs aren’t usually welcomed by bird-watchers, so best to come back alone.

Continue straight on to exit the trees and take the obvious path that leads straight on across a field. Then follow the hedge line through the next field. You then have a choice – turn left then right to follow the field boundary, or cut across the field at 45 degrees to the left. I suggest you base your decision on how muddy it is. Keep the hedge line on your left to make a 90 degree left shortly followed by a 90 degree right. If you’ve got it right (which you should as it’s very clear to see), you will find yourself walking up a slope before a few steps bring you to a short stretch of disused canal. This is actually part of the Grand Union – the longest in the UK.

Turn left to follow the canal for about 250 m. You will pass a footbridge and just beyond that is a gate. Go through this and down the pretty wooded walkway which opens out onto a track. To the left lies private land.

This track runs very close to the eastern side of the reservoir. If you’re bored of tracks, there are some narrow paths running through the trees at the water’s edge.

Another 90 degree left turn brings you to the northeastern side of the reservoir. Follow the edge of the reservoir all the way back to the car park.