Ryburn and Baitings Reservoirs Circular
West Yorkshire
Ryburn Reservoir and its neighbour Baitings Reservoir sit in the Ryburn Valley west of Ripponden, where dogs must stay on a lead throughout among grazing sheep and over several stiles, both built by Yorkshire Water to supply the Calder Valley towns below. This 4km circular walk from the car park by the Ryburn dam wall weaves through woods and sheep pasture, with roughly 150 metres of climbing and views across the dam tops and down the valley. The going is varied and often rough: established sections give way to unsurfaced, sometimes boggy paths, with stiles and narrow gates to cross on the way round. An easier, shorter option follows wide, surfaced tracks between the two reservoirs and avoids the stiles.
This is a dog friendly walk through classic Pennine reservoir country, though there is little opportunity to go off lead: Yorkshire Water asks that dogs are kept on a lead throughout its Ryburn land, and sheep graze the pasture sections for much of the route. The stiles and narrow gates along the way can be awkward for a larger dog, so this suits an agile dog more than a puppy or an older animal. There is no swimming in either reservoir, though the woodland sections offer shade and the becks feeding the valley are a source of water. There are no facilities on route, but Ripponden village, a short drive away, has shops and pubs to visit afterwards.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.0 km (2.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 1 hr 55 min
- Walk Type
- Reservoir, Woodland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- None
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- None on route; Ripponden village, a short drive away, has shops and pubs.
- Parking
- Free Yorkshire Water car park near the Ryburn dam wall, off Swift Lane.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Ryburn and Baitings Reservoirs Circular, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Weavers Cottage - Slaithwaite
Sleeps 12 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £1,975 / 7 nights
Lower Mount Farm - On The Tops
Sleeps 4 · 1 dog · Enclosed garden
from £669 / 7 nights
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All dog friendly stays in West YorkshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Ryburn and Baitings Reservoirs Circular dog friendly?
Dogs are welcome on this walk, though it comes with some caveats that are worth knowing before you go — hence its 6/10 dog-friendly rating. Yorkshire Water requires dogs to be kept on a lead throughout its Ryburn land, and sheep graze the pasture sections for much of the route, so this isn't a walk where your dog gets much freedom. That said, the woodland sections offer shade and the becks in the valley provide a natural water source along the way.
Can dogs be off lead at Ryburn and Baitings Reservoirs Circular?
Unfortunately not — Yorkshire Water asks that dogs are kept on a lead throughout, and the sheep grazing across the pasture sections makes this a firm requirement rather than a guideline. There is also no swimming in either reservoir, so opportunities for your dog to splash about are limited to the valley becks feeding the route.
What should I know before visiting Ryburn and Baitings Reservoirs Circular with my dog?
The route includes stiles and narrow gates that can be tricky for larger or less agile dogs, so it suits a nimble, medium-sized dog better than a puppy or an older animal. The paths can be rough and boggy in places, and dogs must stay on a lead throughout the 4km circular walk. There are no facilities on route, but Ripponden village, a short drive away, has shops and pubs if you fancy a stop afterwards.
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