Ulley Reservoir Country Park Circular
South Yorkshire
Ulley Reservoir was built to supply Rotherham with drinking water and is now decommissioned, where dogs are best kept on a lead near the water for the many birds recorded here, its 12 hectares of open water set inside a 19 hectare country park given over to sailing, fishing and walking. This 4km circuit follows well maintained paths around the shoreline, mixing woodland edges and open fields with views across the water, and passes close to Ulley Sailing Club partway round. The reservoir attracts a wide range of birds, with over 120 species recorded, including grebes, herons and a good number of ducks and summer warblers. The ground is flat, with barely 40 metres of climbing over the whole loop, on paths suitable for most fitness levels.
This dog friendly walk is a gentle, easy going option, though it is not really an off-lead walk: the reservoir supports a lot of birdlife, so leads are the sensible choice throughout, particularly close to the water's edge. There is no livestock on the route, and the paths are wide enough to share comfortably with other dog walkers, joggers and cyclists. Benches are dotted along the way if a dog needs a rest. There are toilets at the park during opening hours, and a small pop-up cafe runs on the third Sunday of the month. Parking is pay and display at the small car park off Reservoir Road.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.0 km (2.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 15 min
- Walk Type
- Lake, Park
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Low
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Toilets during park opening hours; a pop-up cafe on the third Sunday of the month.
- Parking
- Small pay and display car park off Reservoir Road, with disabled spaces.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Ulley Reservoir Country Park Circular, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Green Farm Holiday Cottages - The Pig Sty
Sleeps 4 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £523 / 7 nights
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ulley Reservoir Country Park Circular dog friendly?
Yes, dogs are welcome on this 4km circular walk around Ulley Reservoir, which earns a 7/10 on our dog friendly rating. The paths are well maintained, flat and wide enough to share comfortably with other walkers, joggers and cyclists, making it a pleasant outing for most dogs.
Can dogs be off lead at Ulley Reservoir Country Park Circular?
This isn't really an off-lead walk. The reservoir supports a rich variety of birdlife — over 120 species have been recorded here, including grebes, herons and summer warblers — so keeping dogs on a lead throughout, and especially near the water's edge, is the sensible and considerate approach. There is no livestock on the route, so it's not a difficult walk to manage on the lead.
What should I know before visiting Ulley Reservoir Country Park Circular with my dog?
Parking is pay and display at the small car park off Reservoir Road, which also has disabled spaces. Toilets are available during park opening hours, and a pop-up cafe runs on the third Sunday of the month if you fancy a post-walk coffee. The route is almost entirely flat with less than 40 metres of climbing, and there are benches dotted along the way if your dog needs a breather.
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