9k Run High Peak: Scenic Loop around Errwood Reservoir

Route Overview & Local Insights

Tackle a quintessential High Peak challenge on this 9.4km scenic loop that expertly blends paved sections with rugged, hilly terrain. Starting from Burbage, you'll climb out toward the moors via Bishop’s Lane, navigating a steady 273m of ascent that offers breathtaking views of the Cheshire Plain. The route transitions from road to trail as you descent toward the tranquil Errwood Reservoir, providing a technical but rewarding middle section. Runners should prepare for a Category SL (Short Local) fell-style experience, where the undulating Goyt Valley paths will test your ascending legs before you hammer the home stretch along the historic Macclesfield Old Road.

The Goyt Valley is steeped in Peak District heritage, once a bustling industrial hub of coal mining and gritstone quarrying that has since been reclaimed by nature. As you run alongside the sparkling waters of Errwood Reservoir, you are traversing the site of the former Errwood Hall, a grand Victorian estate whose ruins still haunt the nearby woodland. This area is favored by local harriers for its reliable mix of solid footing and wild, open expanses, offering a sense of isolation and grandeur just a stone's throw from the spa town of Buxton. Keep an eye out for the local red deer herd that often grazes on the slopes above the Goyt during the quieter morning hours.