Yorkshire Walks

The frozen river Washburn as it approaches Fewston reservoir

From the car park we crossed the road bridge over the river Washburn and set off along the water company's permissive path down the east side of the reservoir. After about 1.5km we reached the reservoir dam. From the road over the dam we continued on the permissive path down the side of the dam to follow the shore of Swinsty reservoir.

At about 10.30 this morning I met a group of friends in the little car park at Blubberhouses at the head of Fewston Reservoir, map ref. SE 168553. It was an absolutely fabulous day for a good walk, with crisp cold air, clear blue sky, bright winter sunshine and a sprinkling of snow on top of the hard frost of the last few days.

The frozen head of Fewston reservoir

A muscovy duck and a young goose try their luck for a share of our lunch

From the picnic area we crossed an arm of the reservoir on a road bridge and then continued on the permissive path to the dam of Swinsty reservoir at map ref. SE 197527.

After about 1km we reached a picnic area next to a car park at map ref. SE 197536 where we stopped for a drink and we were instantly the focus of attention for a huge flock of geese and ducks.

Icicles next to the riverside path

Path beside the river Washburn below Swinsty Reservoir

Here we turned away from the river and climbed the track up the hill to a farm called Folly Hall. The farm house is an imposing three storey stone building. We walked through the farm yard and continued to climb the hill on the lane with a lovely view across the Washburn valley.

By this point we had joined a public footpath which we followed down the side of the dam to the River Washburn. We walked beside the river for about 1km to map ref. SE 190517 where there is a bridge over the river.

Climbing up the track towards Folly Hall

The lane joined a minor road at map ref. SE 195515 and we walked down the hill on the road to Dob Park Bridge over the river Washburn at map ref. SE 196508. Dob Park Bridge is a lovely old stone pack horse bridge. Once over the pack horse bridge we turned upstream to follow the river for about 1km to map ref. SE 188517.

Here there is a tiny stone footbridge over Timble Gill Beck, built in 1967 as a memorial to a rambler, Arthur Adamson.

Gorse in flower and hazel catkins - it's spring despite the snow

From the memorial bridge we followed the path up the hill to Nether Timble where we joined the track to the village of Timble about 1km farther on. One of my friends had fond memories of the Timble Inn as a good walkers' pub with stone flag floors but the pub today was closed down and unoccupied.

Climbing the hill to Nether Timble

Keen interest in the information board in Timble village

We crossed the road and continued through the woods to join the Dales Way Link route (from Harrogate) at map ref. SE 175538.

From Timble village, map ref. SE 179529, we took the path northwards to a minor road at map ref. SE 177534.

Menwith Hill Air Base seen from Timble