Hillend Reservoir
This walk visits the pretty Hillend Reservoir in Caldercruix, North Lanarkshire.
You can start your walk from the car park at the Caldercruix Countryside and Nature Park at the western end of the water, near to the dam. Here you can pick up a section of the Airdrie to Bathgate Cycle Path which runs along the southern side of the water along a disused railway line. There's lovely views across the tranquil lake and good trout fishing as well.
The lake is great for wildlife spotting too with heron, coot, moorhen, great crested grebe, osprey, oystercatcher, northern lapwing, curlew, kingfisher and white-throated dipper to look out for. You may also see roe deer in the woods and otters in the river area.
Postcode
ML6 8PA - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsHillend Reservoir Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Hillend Reservoir Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Hillend Reservoir OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Hillend Reservoir Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
To continue your walking around North Lanarkshire you could head to one of the local country parks. There's some fine trails in Polkemmet Country Park, Palacerigg Country Park, Fannyside Lochs and Drumpellier Country Park where you can enjoy a walk along the Monkland Canal. To the west there's more good lochside walking around Hogganfield Loch on the outskirts of Glasgow. Forrestburn Reservoir is located just to the south east near Armadale.
To the south there's Forrestburn Reservoir and Roughrigg Reservoir where there's a circular walk along the grassy paths of the old railway track.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Path beside Hillend Reservoir. Bath between the railway trackbed and reservoir.
Hillend Reservoir or Loch is a naturalised reservoir established between 1797 and 1799 when the North Calder Water was dammed to supply water for the Monkland Canal. At the time the dam was constructed, Hillend was the largest man-made reservoir in the world.
Road bridge at the east end of the reservoir.
Hillend Reservoir from Nether Bracco Pasture
Caldercruix, The North Calder Water
Dam wall at the western end