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ADVERTISING FEATUREN E HEALTH9WaterwaysCome rain or shine, walking by water isalways an experience. Health editorBARRY NELSON reports on thenumerous reservoir walks in the regionRESERVOIRS are not only vital to theNorth-East’s water supplies but theyprovide recreational opportunities forwalkers. Many of NorthumbrianWater’s 22 reservoirs in the North-Eastand North Yorkshire are fully or partly accessiblefor walkers.Grassholme reservoir near Middleton-in-Teesdaleprovides an excellent introduction for firsttime walkers. Improvements to the perimeter footpath,which has included additional steps and safetyrails mean that walkers can enjoy an uninterruptedcircuit of this picturesque body of water.A clear path follows the edge of the reservoir andvisitors can also visit a recently opened tearoom,which also sells outdoor clothing.Although the circuit is pretty straightforward,there are some steep steps.Northumbrian Water’s leisure manager recommendsthat visitors who intend to walk shouldbring waterproof footwear. Ideally, visitors shouldalso carry waterproof clothing in case the weatherconditions change.The nearby Hury reservoir in Teesdale providesan easy one and a half mile walk with no steep gradients.Baldersdale and Lunedale reservoirs, alsoin Teesdale, also have circular walks around them.For a booklet giving details of walks aroundthese reservoirs, you should contact TeesdaleDistrict Council.Further south, Scaling reservoir, between Guisboroughand Whitby, provides an enjoyable andscenic three-mile circuit of the man-made ‘lake’.Half a mile of the track, near the east car park, iswheelchair-friendly.A bonus is the nature reserve at its western end.Although walkers are not allowed into the reserveitself, they should be able to glimpse different typesof birds as they follow the footpath round.Cow Green reservoir, one of the region’s largest,also provides a spectacular and straightforwardtwo mile walk from the car park to the dam andback again.The beauty of the Cow Green walk,which is accessible off the B6277 Alston road, isthat it takes you up among the high Pennine fellswithout too much effort.The large Derwent reservoir, near Consett, alsoprovides a one and a half mile walk from the southernend of the dam which ends in Powhill Countrypark.Further east, the Tunstall reservoir in the WearValley also provides good views from the lakesideas well as an ancient oak woodland.Further north at Kielder reservoir, the daddyof-them-all,there are plans to create a 27-mile routearound Britain’s largest man-made lake which willbe suitable for walkers, cyclists and wheelchairusers.Two sections have been completed, a five-milestretch from the southern end of the dam up to thevisitor centre at Tower Knowe and a second sectionfrom Leaplish Waterside Park to Bull Crag.Paul Russell says everyone is welcome to enjoyNorthumbrian Water’s upland reservoirs but heurges visitors to take sensible precautions.“All we ask is that visitors keep to footpaths andobserve any safety signage. It is also sensible to letsomeone know when you are going out for a longwalk, especially if you are going alone.”Walkers not used to exposed, upland areasshould remember that the weather can quicklychange, he adds. “So go equipped and don’t forgetto take a bottle of tap water to keep yourselfhydrated.”Relaxing: reservoir fishing is a wonderful way to shrug off the stresses of everyday lifeGRASSHOLME RESERVOIRGRASSHOLME enjoys a lovelysetting in Lunedale inTeesdale, surrounded bybuttercup meadows that arecriss-crossed by dry stone wallsand punctuated by traditionalstone barns.There is a visitor centre, a sailingclub and a nature reserve with abird hide.The well stocked lake is a verysuccessful trout fishery attractinglarge numbers of anglersthroughout the season.Grassholme is stocked from a fishfarm at Lartington, near BarnardCastle.It is not a really large area ofwater at 57 hectares (140 acres)but it is deep off the dam goingdown to 38 metres (120ft). Thedeep water ensures that thefishing continues even during thewarmer summer months.During the early season, as thespring air warms the water, theshallows and the streammouths are the places to fish.Grassholme is a popular day-out❛Although walkersare not allowedinto the reserve itself,they should be able toglimpse different typesof birds as they followthe footpath rounddestination. The visitor centre hastoilets and a hands-on exhibitionthat details the recreationalopportunities in the area andcurrent conservation initiatives.The centre is open daily and is agood place to begin an explorationof Lunedale, neighbouringBalderhead and High Forcewaterfall.The terraced car park offersspectacular views of the valley andlake, and on summer weekendsthe undercroft tea room providesrefreshments.Teesdale sailing club is basedhere and its members sailregularly on the water in summer,enjoying both dinghy and boardsailing.At the western end of the lake anature reserve, with adjacent birdhide, protects a large breedingcolony of blackheaded gulls.Toilets, parking and an anglingplatform are available for disabledusers.www.nwl.co.ukIN ASSOCIATION WITH