Burnhope Reservoir

About the Site

Burnhope is a fairly large, upland reservoir situated in Weardale. It was built in 1936 at a height of 398 metres above sea level and regularly freezes over during colder months.

A small number of wildfowl use the site in winter, the most significant being mallard, teal and goosander. Waders occasionally roost, and various uncommon species such as pintail, gadwall, barnacle goose, shoveler and wood sandpiper pass through on the way to, and from, their summer breeding grounds. Black-headed gulls also roost on the reservoir with recorded peaks of up to 250 birds.

The 42.5 hectare reservoir is largely surrounded by sitka spruce plantations that are of low conservation value although redpoll, goldcrest, coal tit, great tit, chaffinch and robin do breed in these woodlands. There is a plant community at the western end of the reservoir that contains the scarce thread rush is well as more common species such as marsh cudweed and sneezewort.

A few common British butterflies may be seen flying over the grasslands during the summer such as large white, small white, green-veined white, orange tip, common blue, red admiral, small tortoiseshell, peacock, meadow brown and small heath.

Burnhope Reservoir

Location

Burnhope Reservoir lies in the heart of the Durham Dales, accessed from the villages of Ireshopeburn and Wearhead.

Grid reference: NY 840 388

Facilities

Car park with toilets; a public footpath runs along the shore of the reservoir.

Enquiries

Northumbrian Water Limited
Abbey Road
Pity Me
Durham
DH1 5FJ
Tel: 0870 2403549