Wet Sleddale

Wet Sleddale is a man-made reservoir set among the Shap Fells to the south of the village Shap. Roughly triangular in shape, it was constructed by damming Sleddale Beck to supply Manchester with fresh water. Public access is via a footpath from a car park at the end of the dam and there is a circular walk around the reservoir on well-marked tracks, although some sections can be wet and muddy. There are good views of Shap and its limestone works on a clear day, and also of Sleddale Hall, the cottage used in the cult film Withnail and I. This area of the Lake District is less popular with walkers and so often more peaceful.