2 min to read
Hiking Piethorne Reservoir
A foggy, boggy winter wander on the trail
Hike Details
🥾 Piethorne Reservoir Winter Hike Review
Piethorne is one of those walks that never quite feels the same twice, and this late December outing was very much a case of embracing the conditions rather than fighting them.
We headed out for a brisk morning hike, mainly to get the blood flowing and clear the head before the rest of the day. From the off, the weather set the tone foggy, misty and damp, with a light drizzle hanging in the air. Not unpleasant, but definitely the sort of weather that seeps into your clothes if you’re not paying attention.
🌫️ Conditions & trail notes
Underfoot, things were very boggy in places, especially across flatter sections of the trail. A good reminder that even relatively short hikes on the tops can feel harder work in winter. Waterproof boots were absolutely essential.
One odd moment came when part of the trail was gated off, despite there being no obvious works or hazards going on. With no clear diversion signed, we ended up leap-frogging the gate and carrying on slightly annoying, but not enough to derail the walk.
Visibility was limited for most of the hike, meaning the usual dramatic views from Piethorne were largely hidden. That said, the mist gave the landscape a quiet, moody feel, and it was refreshing to have the place largely to ourselves.
🏞️ The walk itself
This isn’t a long hike, but the combination of elevation gain, boggy ground and winter conditions made it feel nicely earned. The steady climb gets the heart going without being punishing, and even on a grey day the moorland has a rugged charm. We got some good views of Piethorne Resevoir and others, quite a cluster of them in this area.
There were a couple of brief moments where the mist lifted just enough to hint at the drop beyond the edge fleeting, but atmospheric.
☕ Final thoughts
This was never about big views or epic mileage. Instead, it was a short, sharp winter walk perfect for getting moving, blowing off the cobwebs and reminding yourself why good kit matters.
Piethorne continues to be a reliable goto for a quick moorland and reservoir walk fix, even when the weather isn’t playing ball. Sometimes, a damp, foggy hike is exactly what you need.
📸 Photo Gallery
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