A Quiet Loop from Bradfield: My Autumn Walk Around Agden Reservoir

After a day of relentless rain on Saturday, Sunday dawned bright, clear and too good to waste. I headed out to Low Bradfield, a lovely little village in the upper Loxley Valley just inside the Peak District boundary. It’s only about six miles from Sheffield, but it feels miles away from the city — peaceful, green and tucked into some of the most attractive countryside around Sheffield.

I parked near the cricket field in Low Bradfield and set off up the familiar lane towards Agden Reservoir. Back in the summer the water level had dropped dramatically, leaving a wide muddy fringe around the edge. Today it was a completely different picture: after all the heavy rain, Agden was back up to its normal depth, looking full and bright in the morning sun.

• 6 Miles
• 2.5 hours
• 1000ft ascent

Here is a link to the route

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Climbing Through the Woods

My route took me gradually uphill, through a stretch of woodland that’s always a pleasure to walk in — especially with the sun streaming through the trees after days of rain. The path climbs steadily until you reach Penistone Road, and when I popped out onto the top the views were fantastic. You can see across the moors and over towards the higher ground that divides the Loxley and Ewden valleys.

A little further along I picked up a narrow footpath on the left that curves gently around the hillside. This leads you towards one of the highlights of the walk: the rocky outcrop of Rocher Edge. It’s a dramatic, gritstone escarpment that’s hugely popular with climbers. On a typical weekend you’ll often find people practising their trad climbing skills here — but today it was silent, just a breeze moving across the rocks.

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Views Across the Reservoirs

Crossing the road again, I followed the path along the edge of White Lee Moor. This section is beautifully open, with big views across to the surrounding hills. A kestrel was hovering over the fields, searching patiently for lunch — one of those classic Peak District moments you always hope to see.

The path eventually reaches Walker Edge, an area that looks down into the Ewden Valley and over Broomhead Reservoir. Broomhead is much larger than Agden and sits next to More Hall Reservoir; together they hold over a thousand million gallons of water. From up on the moor you get a sweeping view across the valley and the long stretch of woodland that surrounds the reservoir.

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Dropping Back to Agden

From Walker Edge I continued along Load Field Road, a quiet track with a real feeling of old farmland and moorland meeting. At the crossroads I went straight over and joined a path along Agden Side, which slowly descends back towards the water.

This descent is lovely — the views open up, the reservoir comes back into sight, and the woods wrap around the hillside. Once I reached the bottom, I joined the circular path around Agden Reservoir itself. It’s such a peaceful loop, mostly enclosed by trees, with occasional glimpses of the water through the branches.

The low autumn sunlight flickered through the woodland and reflected off the water as I walked. With the reservoir now full again, it looked calm and quiet, as if nothing of last week’s wild weather had ever happened.

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Back into Low Bradfield

Eventually the path brings you right back down into Low Bradfield, completing the loop. The village sits at the meeting point of the Loxley and Agden valleys and, despite being so close to the city, it still feels wonderfully rural. The combination of stone cottages, farms, the cricket pitch and the easy access to the surrounding hills makes it a great base for a walk.

This was a steady 6–7 mile circuit for me, with a good mix of woodland, open moorland, rocky edges and waterside paths — perfect for a sunny autumn afternoon after days of rain. The conditions were spot on: clear skies, fresh air, and those bright post-rain colours that make everything feel sharp and alive.

I’ll be including plenty of photos from along the way, plus the full YouTube video of the route, so you can get a feel for the scenery and the changing landscapes.

If you’re ever in the Bradfield area, this is a gentle but rewarding loop with plenty of variety and some cracking views. And if you already know the reservoirs well, it’s one of those walks that always offers something different depending on the season and the weather.

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