Outdoor Adventures
Cronkley is located in a magical part of the world. Situated on the edge of the picturesque Derwent Reservoir in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, makes Cronkley perfectly placed for a wide range of outdoor activities. ​Enjoy outdoor adventures on your doorstep -explore the walking and cycling paths around the reservoir or spend a leisurely day fishing in the well-stocked waters. For those enticed by the water, head to the nearby sailing club for watersports and open-water swimming (when the weather allows!).
​​Walks
From Cronkley, we are lucky to have direct access onto the Waterside Park’s 4km multi user walking trail around the reservoir. Plus there is a huge array of other walking routes in the area.​​​
Cycling
The trail around the reservoir is also great for beginners cycling. To extend the route, you can do the full reservoir loop - half on the trail and half on roads.
​
Keen cyclists will be spoilt for choice with the whole of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to explore on relatively quiet roads. If you are keen to join a guided cycle, then you can join a group cycle with Cycle4Adventure, who put on group cycles at a number of locations, including right from Cronkley!​
​Fishing
The Derwent Reservoir is very well stocked. There is any method fishing on all banks for rainbow trout and coarse fishing for roach well as pike. Some of the best fishing spots on the reservoir are at Cronkley - so you’re just a few minutes walk to finding a good spot! Or if you fancy trying out some other spots around the reservoir, there are various points with parking, toilets and picnic spots. There is a shop/cafe and very decent playground across where the dam is. The shop is stocked with everything you need for a day’s fishing including rods, reels, tackle, accessories, clothing, worms and baits. You can buy a starter kit to get going in the shop and the rangers are really helpful in helping beginners.​​
Sailing and Water Sports
We’re very lucky to have a fantastic array of water sports close to us at the Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club, which is just a little further along the northern bank to us. It’s a 4 minute drive (or half hour walk). Their club facilities have changing rooms, hot showers, hot drinks and hot food to make a day of it. Visitors are welcome to the club and can access the reservoir on a Day Ticket Basis. For most activities, they offer a three-season safety boat coverage on Wednesday evenings, weekends and most bank holidays.
Sailing - Their impressive sailing provision ranges from leisure cruising, through to competitive racing, and everything in between with try-it sessions, training and coaching. The club is a RYA Teaching Establishment so they offer basic learn to sail courses - from aged 7 upwards - and have a range of coaching programmes for improvers. Non members may sail in their own boat or in a hired club boat.
Windsurfing - The club offers 2 hour Windsurfing Lessons (usually held on Saturday afternoons at 1.30 pm and some Wednesday evenings or by arrangement). These are run by Volunteer RYA qualified windsurfing instructors, in a friendly and professional manner at a cost of £35 for adults or £25 for juniors (U19) for the 2 hour session including kit, clothing, safety cover and instruction. They also offer one day courses at £95 per adult.
Paddle boarding - The calm waters of Derwent Reservoir make it perfect for paddle boarding.
Kayaking and Rowing - Kayaking and rowing is great for exploring the reservoir and all the views it has to offer.
Open water swimming - Sessions are run in the warmer months overseen by their safety team via a kayak equipped with a radio and whistle. It usually begins around May once the water temperature allows, with sessions held on Wednesday between 2pm and 4pm and Saturday and Sunday between 9am and 10am for a charge of £10 per session.
