Dove Stone

The Saddleworth fire, which has damaged around 200 ha at Dove Stone, has now been put out on RSPB managed land. Please follow the advice from emergency services and partners and do not attempt to go to the fire site. Thank you to support from the fire service, partners and local people. Fortunately, the blaze did not reach the restored areas of blanket bog on site. However, there are still hot smouldering areas of peat, which could cause the fire to reignite. Having played a key role in fighting the fire, the Dove Stone team are now continuing to try and cool the hot areas.
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Address
Dove Stone, Bank Lane, Greenfield (closest postcode OL3 7NE)
Grid ref
SE013036

A dramatic landscape surrounded by hills. Enjoy a stunning 2.5 mile walk round Dove Stone reservoir with picnic area and woodland paths on the way. There are additional tracks around Yeoman Hey and Greenfield reservoirs, or a 1.5 mile route to Chew reservoir, a steep walk rewarded by fabulous views.

Plan your visit

Opening times

Open at all times.

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
Free, but donations are very welcome.
Children
Free, but donations are very welcome.
Car park cost
  • Parking is pay-and-display and costs 60p for three hours or £1.80 for the day.
  • Free parking for Blue Badge holders.
  • Free parking for RSPB members (please ensure that your RSPB membership card is displayed in the windscreen - this is a council run car park and without it you could receive a parking fine).

Facilities

  • No visitor centre
  • Car park
  • Toilets
  • Accessible toilets
  • Pushchair friendly
  • Refreshments
  • Picnic area
  • Guided walks
  • Nature trails
  • Shop off-site

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

The nearest station is Greenfield. Walk through the village on the main road (A669), then follow brown signs for Dove Stone.

By road

From Manchester direction: Drive up the A635 towards Holmfirth, follow the brown signs for Dove Stone - the main carpark is a little way up the hill on the right, Binn Green further up the hill on the right.

From Holmfirth direction: Follow the A635 towards Greenfield, Binn Green carpark will be on the left (follow brown signs) and the main car park on the left towards the bottom of the hill (but there is no left turn into carpark, it is necessary to go down to the mini roundabout and come back up the hill).

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Get directions from Google Maps
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Group booking information

Groups are welcome though some activities will need permission from United Utilities and it is helpful if you could let the RSPB site team know you are coming. Please email Miriam.biran@rspb.org.uk.

Schools booking information

Schools are welcome though there are no formal educational facilities onsite. If more information is needed prior to a visit, please contact Miriam.biran@rspb.org.uk.

What will the weather be like?

21 degrees, Cloudy

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 347Kb

Dove Stone trail guide

Contact Dove Stone

What will you see?

Our star species

Recent sightings

Dove Stone RSPB reserve, view showing reservoir and surrounding hills, March 2011

Find out about recent wildlife sightings at Dove Stone.

Read more

Nature spectacles

Resident peregrine falcons can be seen all year round at Ashway Gap quarry, but are especially active in early spring and early summer when they are courting and then fledging young.

In the winter, mountain hares stand out in their white winter coats as they sunbathe on the rocks above the path leading up to Chew reservoir.

Seasonal highlights

In spring, see the aerial acrobatics of ravens and peregrine falcons as they begin their courtships and fight for nesting space on the quarry ledges. Hear the haunting cry of curlews over the moor. Golden plovers and dunlins nest on the moorland above Dove Stone and ring ouzels can be seen on the higher ground. Green hairstreak butterflies can be spotted.

During summer, watch for dippers around the watercourses and common sandpipers nesting close to reservoir edges. Swallows and swifts sometimes arrive in large numbers. Wildflowers appear in the meadows attracting butterflies and you may see a scarce upland Bilberry bumble bee with its distinctive red tail. Dragonflies, damselflies and amphibians in the wildlife ponds. Peregrine chicks fledge.

Autumn is a great time to spot waxcaps in the fields and look out for stonechats and meadow pipits. Late autumn sees fieldfares and redwings arriving to feed on hawthorn and rowan berries.

The Peak District is the southern most place to see mountain hares which are easier to spot in winter in their distinctive white coats. They can often be seen sunning themselves on the track up to Chew reservoir. Bramblings and siskins visit the feeders at Binn Green car park.

About Dove Stone

Habitat

  • Open moorland above Dove Stone reservoir, with internationally important blanket bog undergoing restoration. Supports increasing numbers of breeding waders such as curlews, golden plovers and dunlins as well as mammals such as mountain hares and water voles.
  • Old quarry cliffs provide nesting sites for peregrine falcons and ravens.
  • Conifer plantations which are being converted to mixed woodland, along with newly planted woodland support a variety of birds and mammals.
  • Grassland, which through varied grazing and by planting wildflowers, supports a range of bees, butterflies and other insects.
  • Wildlife ponds supporting dragonflies and damselflies, as well as palmate newts, toads and frogs.

Conservation

The internationally important blanket bog above Dove Stone reservoir took around 5000 years to develop, but over the last 200 years has suffered degradation from acid rain, burning and heavy grazing, which has left vast areas of bare, eroded peat and deep gullies.

Conservation work carried out in partnership with the landowners, United Utilities, aims to make the bog wetter again, blocking the gullies with stone and heather bales and revegetating the bare peat by planting sphagnum mosses with the help of local volunteers.

Healthy peat bogs lock in large amounts of carbon which is important in reducing the effects of climate change. They also improve drinking water quality by reducing the amount of peat being washed down into the reservoirs.

This work also benefits breeding waders such as curlews, golden plovers, red grouse and dunlins whose numbers are now increasing at Dove Stone in the restored areas.

While much of the conservation work is carried out on the higher moorlands, we are also working to make the moorland edges more diverse, with patches of trees, bilberry and heather, attractive to ring ouzels and other wildlife. Woodland management, planting wildflowers and creating wildlife ponds means that there is more wildlife to see around the main Dove Stone trail too.

Partners

RSPB Dove Stone are working to restore degraded upland peat bogs and other habitats alongside a number of partners, including United Utilities. Habitat restoration work has been delivered with the support of the Landfill Communities Fund, including Sita Trust, GrantScape and Wren.

  • Spreading the Moss - The ‘Spreading the Moss’ project, involving innovative sphagnum moss propagation techniques, is being delivered with a grant from Wren Biodiversity Action Fund (FCC Environment).
  • Natura 2000 - In 2016, RSPB Dove Stone was awarded the Natura 2000 Conservation Award in recognition of their work to restore threatened blanket bog habitat.
  • MoorLIFE 2020 partners - RSPB Dove Stone are delivery partners (Associated Beneficiaries) for the MoorLIFE 2020 project. The MoorLIFE 2020 project is a Moors for the Future Partnership Project in the EU designated South Pennine Moors Special Area of Conservation. Delivered by the Peak District National Park Authority as the lead and accountable body (the Coordinating Beneficiary). On the ground delivery is being undertaken by Moors for the Future staff team with work also undertaken by the National Trust High Peak Estate and Marsden Moor Estate, RSPB Dove Stone Estate and Pennine Prospects (the Associated Beneficiaries). The MoorLIFE 2020 Project is funded by the European Commission’s Life+ Programme, and co-financed by Severn Trent Water, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water. With advice and regulation from Natural England and the Environment Agency, and local advice from landowners.

Site information

  • Sits within the Peak District National Park.
  • Owned by United Utilities and managed by the RSPB in partnership with them.
  • The RSPB manage 4000h, much of which is SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and SAC (Special Area of Conservation) status, and includes internationally important blanket bog.
  • Wheelchair accessible track round Dove Stone reservoir (radar keys needed).
  • Family activities at Ashway Gap picnic area most Sundays.
  • Dogs welcome but must be on leads around livestock and in bird breeding season.
  • No fires, camping or BBQs allowed.
  • Take all litter home and clear up after your dog (4 dog waste bins on site and litter bins in the carparks).
  • The RSPB hold the sporting rights throughout the 4000h we manage but not over Yeoman Hey or Greenfield reservoirs, where pheasant and duck shooting can take place September to January. The concessionary paths round these 2 reservoirs will be closed on shooting days.
  • Careful cycling permitted but pedestrians have right of way.
  • RSPB-managed memorial wood.

Latest blog posts

read our blog

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

The easy 2.5 mile trail round Dove Stone reservoir (accessible to buggies) makes it a popular place for families looking to run off steam in a beautiful landscape, but there is plenty to see and do on the way depending on the season.

  • Duck feeding close to Sailing Club building is popular, though please feed them grain rather than bread.
  • Chew Brook - a short walk from the main carpark - is a popular place for a picnic and paddle.
  • Temporary interpretation boards round the main trail pick out the seasonal highlights and may offer self-led activities for families.
  • There is a wildlife pond and natural play logs at Ashway Gap picnic area (about half way round the main trail) and the new Pennyworth Wood trail allows woodland exploration. See if you can spot the giant wooden bugs.
  • There is a volunteer at Ashway Gap most Sundays where families can try a monthly changing quiz, adults and older children can see if they can spot the resident peregrine falcons or (in spring and summer) do some bug hunting or pond dipping.
  • Please note there is no visitor building and no dedicated baby changing facilities at Dove Stone. 

Leisure activities

The site and surrounding area are popular for walking, jogging/running, sailing, climbing, orienteering and cycling.

There are cabins/pods available to hire close to Dove Stone (not run by the RSPB).

Events

Friday 27 July
Bogtastic Walk
Greater Manchester
Saturday 28 July
Wonderful Woodland Weekend
Greater Manchester
Meet the Wildlife of the Night
Greater Manchester
Sunday 29 July
Wonderful Woodland Weekend
Greater Manchester
Butterfly Safari
Greater Manchester
Saturday 11 August
Night/star trail photography
Greater Manchester
Sunday 12 August
Meteor Night
Greater Manchester
More events

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