Cow Green Reservoir
High in Upper Teesdale, the landscape opens out into wide moorland, big skies and a real sense of space. The journey up here feels like part of the adventure, with the scenery gradually becoming wilder and more remote.
This is a place of contrasts. Up at the reservoir it feels calm and expansive, perfect for a slow wander or a quiet pause by the water. Follow the path on and the mood changes, leading you towards the impressive dam and the raw power of Cauldron Snout, where the River Tees cuts through the landscape below. It is not a place to rush. It is somewhere to take your time and let Upper Teesdale sink in.
Parking and access
We parked at DL12 0HX, using the large car park at Wheelhead Sike near the top of the reservoir. The drive up through Upper Teesdale is part of the experience and really sets the tone for what is a wild and open place.
From the car park, there are information boards about the landscape and wildlife, and a clear path that leads down alongside the reservoir. Cow Green sits on open access land, but the main walking route follows this path rather than forming a full circular walk. It is an easy start, gradually leading you towards the dam and on towards Cauldron Snout
About Cow Green Reservoir
Cow Green Reservoir was built between 1967 and 1971 as part of a later phase of water management in Upper Teesdale. Unlike the older Victorian reservoirs further down the dale, Cow Green was designed to support modern industry by helping regulate the flow of the River Tees during dry periods, ensuring a reliable water supply further downstream.
The reservoir plays an important role in controlling river levels, releasing water when needed to maintain flows through Teesdale. This helps support both water supply and the wider river environment, particularly during drier spells when natural flows would otherwise drop.
Cow Green sits within an area of national environmental importance. The surrounding moorland and riverbanks support rare plants and wildlife, shaped by the unique geology of the area. Because of this, parts of the landscape are carefully protected and visitors are asked to stay on established paths to help preserve what makes this place so special.
Our walk from Cow Green to the dam and Cauldron Snout
From the Wheelhead Sike car park, we followed the clear path that runs down alongside the reservoir towards the dam. The walk is gentle and open, with wide views across the water on one side and moorland stretching away on the other. It feels peaceful up here, with plenty of space to wander at your own pace and stop whenever something catches your eye.
As you get closer to the dam, the landscape begins to change. The calm water of the reservoir gives way to the sound of water flowing over the dam wall, and beyond it the River Tees gathers pace on its way towards Cauldron Snout. The power of the waterfall soon becomes impossible to miss. There is no maintained path or handrails near the waterfall, so care is needed, but standing nearby really shows the scale and energy of this place.
Whin Sill rock and the story beneath your feet
Along the shoreline and riverbanks around Cow Green, dark volcanic rocks are a common sight, often marked with pale mineral lines running through them. This is Whin Sill dolerite, the same hard rock that forms the dramatic cliffs and steps at Cauldron Snout. The lighter veins were created as the rock cracked and cooled deep underground, allowing minerals to fill the fractures over millions of years.
These rocks help explain the landscape you see today. After the last Ice Age, the River Tees was diverted from its original course and forced to cut a new channel through the tough Whin Sill, creating the powerful drop at Cauldron Snout. Nearby smoother and grassy ground marks the river’s older route, shaped before the glaciers reshaped Upper Teesdale. Noticing details like this adds another layer to the walk and connects you more closely to the long history of the landscape.
What you’ll see at Cow Green Reservoir
Cow Green is a place of big skies, dramatic geology and powerful contrasts. Calm open water sits beside one of the most impressive waterfalls in Teesdale, with wide moorland stretching out in every direction. It’s a walk that feels remote, open and deeply connected to the landscape.
Below are a few of the standout features you’ll come across as you explore.
Whin Sill rock and geological detail
Dark volcanic Whin Sill rock is everywhere around Cow Green, often threaded with pale mineral veins. These rocks tell the story of how the River Tees was diverted after the last Ice Age, forcing it to cut through hard dolerite and create Cauldron Snout. It’s a place where geology feels close and visible underfoot.
Open moorland path to the dam
From the car park, a clear path leads down across open moorland towards the dam and Cauldron Snout. The walk feels exposed and spacious, with wide views across the reservoir on one side and the River Tees valley opening up ahead. As you head downhill, the sense of scale grows and the landscape starts to feel wilder and more dramatic.
Cow Green dam and spillway
The dam is an impressive sight, especially when water is flowing over it. Standing here, you can see the scale of the engineering and hear the change in sound as still reservoir water gives way to the moving River Tees below.
Cauldron Snout Waterfall
One of the most dramatic waterfalls in England, Cauldron Snout crashes through dark Whin Sill rock just below the dam. After rainfall or water release, the sound and movement here are impossible to ignore, showing the raw power of the River Tees as it cuts through the landscape.
A place to slow down
Cow Green Reservoir is one of those places that gently encourages you to slow your pace. The open moorland, wide skies and quiet paths make it easy to wander without rushing, whether you’re walking down towards the dam or simply sitting by the water taking it all in.
With a flask of coffee, a packed lunch and time to spare, this feels like a place to pause rather than push on. The stillness of the reservoir contrasts with the raw energy of the landscape beyond the dam, and spending time here reminds you that not every walk needs to be about distance or speed.
Sometimes it’s enough to move slowly, breathe deeply and let the landscape do the rest.