Molly Miller from Bewl Water talks about the return of the annual photo competition at the reservoir…
The arrival of autumn welcomes the return of Bewl Water’s photography competition, Best of Bewl where amateur and professional photographers are being encouraged to get outdoors and capture everything from woodland to water.
The competition follows the beauty spot’s announcement last week that the change of season has brought new activities to Bewl Water as they encourage more families to get out in their natural surroundings.
One activity includes three new self-guided walking trails that allow walkers and cyclists to see the reservoir at their own pace and take in the season’s colourful palette.
Surrounding the waters are 12.5 miles of trails that follow a collection of forest paths and country lanes and the new green, blue and red routes will help visitors navigate their way through.
Starting from the terrace outside the Waterfront Café, the green route is suitable for buggies and toddlers and takes 30 minutes to complete.
Follow the path through the ancient woodland and keep walking down towards the fishing boat jetty on the water’s edge where you might spot the fishing boats coming back in.
Turn left (water on your right) and cross the decking bridge past the wooden gazebo before heading to the adventure playground for some play time fun.
If its wildlife and meadows you’re after, take the blue route. Approximately 1.5 miles, this route takes an hour to complete and is also suitable for buggies and toddlers.
Starting at the Waterfront Café, visitors should follow the footpath across the top of the Reservoir Dam, passing the two towers.
There will be sheep and rabbits in the meadows behind the dam and often kestrels hovering overhead. When you reach the gate into Chingley Woods, you can either return (1 hour walk) or continue the adventure.
The final route of the three is the most challenging and takes 2.5 hours to walk, however is still suitable for buggies. The 3.5-mile red route follows the 1-hour blue route to the chestnut tree lined Chingley Woods.
The stone path is fine for pushing buggies all the way to where the path opens to a meadow at Hatheralls Bay which is a great spot to take a break and enjoy the views across the water.
This sheltered inlet will reward you with wonderful wildlife encounters as it’s popular with Canada Geese, Great Crested Grebe, and Tufted Duck.
The new walking trails will allow those looking to get outdoors this autumn the opportunity to explore the unique landscape of Bewl Water where three competition entrees have already captured its wonderful views.
Dawn Turner, Gary White and Swoop Media’s colourful photography submissions are just a small part of what visitors can expect from the new trails.
Bewl Water is run by Elite Leisure Collection, owner of One Media, the publisher of the Times.
