A Walk Around Fewston Reservoir

The walk around the perimeter of Fewston Reservoir is one of the best of all the reservoir walks in the Leeds and Harrogate area. The paths are well maintained on all of the 3.7-mile walk. Additionally the views of the reservoir and the immediate countryside are virtually unobstructed. This cannot be said of the walk around neighbouring Swinsty Reservoir where much of the walk is enclosed by walls. This easily makes Fewston the preferred option. On a good day the views are spectacular as the photographs of my walk around the reservoir show.

Start Point

Car park off A59

Grid Reference

SE169553

Total Distance

3.7 miles (6.0 km)

Total Climbing

81 metres

Estimated Time

1.5 hours

Difficulty Grade

Easy

Route Files & Guide:

💾 Download GPX Route Google Earth (KMZ) 📖 About Fewston Reservoir

Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (1:25,000)

Essential paper map for exploring the route:

297 Lower Wharfedale →

Walk Report & Journal

Fewston Reservoir — the north-west end

Looking south-east across Fewston Reservoir

The Walk: Springtime is when this walk should be done. No doubt about it. Just make sure it is a sunny day to appreciate the rich and varied colours that are going to attract your eyes during this excellent level-ground waterside walk. Before you start prepare yourself to enjoy peace and tranquillity, rich flora, a selection of wildfowl, and splendid waterscapes. Just make sure you take care to avoid the lines of the anglers as they exercise their casting skills.

The path around Fewston Reservoir is very good

Submerged trees in Fewston's south spur

Fewston Reservoir has a well-laid path around the entire perimeter of the waterside and much of it is pretty close to the edge. There are sections to enjoy away from the water where songbirds thrive like the woody section around Beecroft Moor Plantation on the reservoir's south-west spur. There is a hollow on the spur where you are likely to hear and probably see a chaffinch or willow warbler. This area is also rich in butterflies. I saw loads of peacock butterflies during a walk around the reservoir on a sunny mid-May day.

Geese and goslings on Fewston Reservoir

Fewston Reservoir dam and spillway

As well as songbirds I was delighted to see two families of geese sticking together to lovingly protect their goslings. I counted 18 goslings in a clutch with four adults. There were also moorhens and ducks on the reservoir. Some of the ducks had young with them, but the moorhens did not. They breed more than once in a season and did not wish to oblige me this day.

Looking south-east to Swinsty from the road crossing Fewston Dam

Fewston Reservoir

Apart from the wildlife Fewston Reservoir is famed for its large variety of species of wildflowers. It is a botanist's dream with spring and early summer the best times to enjoy the flowers on offer. The wetter ground includes cuckoo flower, common valerian, common spotted orchid, and meadowsweet while drier areas support milkwort, common vetch, betony, goldenrod, common cow-wheat, and many, many more. Just bring a British wildflowers book and you can spend all day around Fewston Reservoir flower spotting. Don't do it though — despite the temptation some time must be spent looking over the reservoir to the superb views. This is indeed one of the family weekend walks.

Walking back towards Blubberhouses

Blubberhouses Church signals the walk is almost complete

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A Walk Around Fewston Reservoir

Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (1:25,000)

Walk Report & Journal

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