Winter walk around Rudyard Lake

The perfect place for a circular stroll

Rudyard Lake is situated just north of Leek in the Staffordshire Moorlands.  It was built as a reservoir in 1797 and is owned by the Canal and River Trust. It still supplies the canal system today.

Rudyard Lake

The lake is over 2.5 miles long and the footpath skirts the side of the lake on the eastern shore, following the line of an old railway track. On the western side the footpath heads up behind the lakeside houses and through a former golf course.

We approached from the north and parked at the side of the path shown on the map below. There is also a car park at the southern end of the lake.

  

Parking to the north of the lake

After parking the car we decided to walk clockwise around the lake, following the eastern shore first. To do this follow the path to the left when it splits and go under the bridge.

There is a narrow gauge railway along this side and a small steam train runs along here from April to November on weekends.

It is easy walking, along a flat path and between the trees along the side of the lake.

It was quite a breezy day and the water in the pools at the side of the lake was shimmering.  The reflection of the trees in the water caught my eye as it seemed like impressionist art.

Impressionist art, reflections in the water

Towards the southern end of the lake there are some boat houses and then the path goes over a bridge across the bottom of the lake.

Boat house

Seagulls on a boat

At the south end of the lake, on the western shore there is a carved wooden statue commemorating a tightrope walker 'The African Blondin' (Carlos Trower) who crossed the lake a number of times on a tightrope 30 metres above the lake in the late 1800s.

Tightrope walker

Various activities are available, including canoeing, sailing and fishing.  There is also a cafe at the visitors centre, however this was closed on the day we visited (Monday).

The footpath rises behind the shore front houses on the western side and you begin to lose sight of the lake for a while.  Look out for the footpath signs, otherwise you might end up in someone's driveway.

Eventually the path goes through the top end of a field overlooking the northern end of the lake and then swings right through some woods and returns to the parking area.

It is an enjoyable stroll and a great one to blow away the cobwebs!