Tunstall Reservoir was a water supply storage reservoir completed in 1879, and now solely used to maintain minimum regulatory flows on the River Wear. The earthen embankment dam, which surrounds the reservoir is where pressure grouting with cement grout was first used by engineer Thomas Hawksley in 1876. 

The Waskerley Way is a beautiful route, (also part of the Coast to Coast Cycle Route) passing through a varied landscape; from urban fringe through to upland sheep farms and then on to exposed heather moorland. Hownsgill Viaduct towers 46 metres above the tree canopy of Knitsley and High House Woods near Lydgetts Junction.This is one of the most impressive railway structures in the North East.From further up the Railway Path there are stunning views across Smiddy Shaw, Waskerley and Hisehope reservoirs.