Burrator reservoir, Devon

The reservoir, which supplies water for Plymouth, is situated in the western part of Dartmoor, near Yelverton. The banks are heavily wooded. Roads and footpaths go all the way around the reservoir, making it a popular route for cyclists and walkers. The circuit is about 3 ½ miles and fairly flat.
It doesn’t really matter where you start: there is parking by the main dam and at the opposite end where a stream enters the lake. Nor does it matter which way you go round, but if you start by the main dam and walk anti-clockwise you will soon come to another dam, which closes off a secondary valley. The head of the lake is still a long way off… If you walk along the lakeside paths on the northern side, you may come across an interesting ruin. To the north of the reservoir, in the woods, can be found old leats that supplied water to Plymouth, and also a disused tramway track with road bridge.