Cowpe Reservoir

Cowpe Reservoir is a reservoir on the Rossendale moors that features on the walk to Waugh’s Well. It’s an easy landmark to spot on the route and adds a nice stretch of open water to the moorland scenery.

It was likely built in the late nineteenth century, when Rossendale’s growing mill towns needed reliable supplies of clean water. During the Industrial Revolution, places such as Rawtenstall, Bacup and Waterfoot expanded through textile manufacturing and other industries, and reservoirs like this became an important part of the area’s water infrastructure. Cowpe Reservoir is thought to have been linked to the old Bacup Corporation Water Works system.

Today, while its original industrial role has faded, the reservoir remains a well-known local landmark. It is now better known for walking, fishing and wildlife, while still reflecting the mix of moorland, industry and local history that has shaped Rossendale.

Cowpe Reservoir sits out on the Rossendale moors near the little hamlet of Cowpe, between Rawtenstall and Bacup. It is only a small upland reservoir at about 16.5 acres, but it has that proper Pennine feel about it, with open moorland and big skies all round.

It is not really the main event on this walk, more a handy landmark and a nice side feature on the way over towards Waugh’s Well. Still, it adds a bit of character to the route, especially if you enjoy those quieter corners of Rossendale that feel shaped by both the landscape and the weather.

Like plenty of reservoirs across this part of Lancashire, Cowpe Reservoir has its roots in the industrial era, when water was needed to serve the growing towns and mills. These days it feels much calmer, just sitting quietly on the moor as part of the story of the valley.