Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

United Kingdom

England

Yorkshire And The Humber

North Yorkshire

Harrogate

Little Timble

Thruscross Reservoir – Fewston Reservoir Dam loop from Little Timble

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

United Kingdom

England

Yorkshire And The Humber

North Yorkshire

Harrogate

Little Timble

Thruscross Reservoir – Fewston Reservoir Dam loop from Little Timble

Hard

4.8

(4)

hikers

Thruscross Reservoir – Fewston Reservoir Dam loop from Little Timble

05:22

20.2km

210m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: April 16, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Nidderdale National Landscape

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

970 m

Fewston Reservoir

Lake

5.14 km

River Washburn

Highlight • River

Not very wide in places, but a great track runs all the way from Thruscross Reservoir to Blubberhouses car park. You'll get the best views of the imposing Thruscross Reservoir dam, and the constant babbling of the River Washburn as it snakes through the adjoining woods and plantations makes for a peaceful walk.

Tip by

5.96 km

Hanging Wood

Forest

6.91 km

Thruscross Reservoir

Highlight • Viewpoint

When the mist is low and a chill creeps on the wind, Thruscross Reservoir can be a particularly ghostly place to be. This is possibly due to the condemned village of West End, which was submerged when the reservoir was constructed in the 1960s. The remains of the flax mill can still be seen, while when the water level is low, other ruined buildings rise from the water like apparitions.

Don't let this put you off though, as on any given day Thruscross Reservoir is a scenic place for an amble. Its remote location makes it the most serene of the Washburn Reservoirs, and it is a haven for wildlife.

Tip by

7.87 km

Ruins of West End Village at Thruscross Reservoir

Highlight • Settlement

It is very odd to think that an entire village once existed here, but that's what you're looking at here. The entire village of West End. Cloggers Lane dropped here towards Patrick's Mill, the Butcher's Arm and a church, all of which vanished under the Thruscross Reservoir in the mid 1960s. A curious, eerie sight.

Tip by

9.16 km

Little Wood

Forest

12.8 km

Scot Lane Lakeside Path

Highlight • Trail

Scot Lane runs on the northern bank of the reservoir. A pleasant, relatively newly planted hedge runs along this bank, and the views of the reservoir are lovely; you will be able to make out the dam from here on the opposite side of it.

Tip by

16.8 km

River Washburn at Blubberhouses

Highlight • Natural

As tends to be the case with small settlements in the Pennine valleys, Blubberhouses' scenic attraction is accompanied by the knowledge of the region's hard industrial past. The name 'Blubberhouses' is thought by some to have originated from the weeping of destitute children as they trudged to the flax and linen mills to start a tough day's work. Much of the labour here was made up of waifs and strays plucked from local workhouses.

However, it may be that the 'blubber' refers to the babbling of Hall Beck and the River Washburn, as they cascaded downstream. Today, the tranquil water courses, windswept moorland and the four scenic reservoirs are what attract hikers to this beautiful part of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Tip by

19.5 km

Fewston Reservoir Dam

Highlight • Viewpoint

Easily accessible as North Lane runs across the top of the dam. Great views of Fewston Reservoir to the west and Swinsty Reservoir to the east. Parking and picnic site just at the southern end of the dam in Swinsty Moor Plantation.

Tip by

19.9 km

Fewston Reservoir Dam and Overflow

Highlight • Structure

If you're not feeling very energetic you can just do the one reservoir.

Great walk for dogs.

Tip by

20.0 km

Fewston Reservoir Circular Path

Highlight • Viewpoint

Here in the Washburn Valley are two reservoirs right next to each other, Fewston and Swinsty Reservoirs. You can walk around both of them or just do a solo jaunt around one. The walk around Fewston reservoir is less obstructed than Swinsty and is the better of the two walks. The Fewston Path goes for 3.7 miles (6 km) around the reservoir on well-maintained paths that, on a sunny day, will give you super nice views along with a good dose of peace and tranquillity.

Tip by

20.2 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

8.48 km

8.07 km

2.70 km

833 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

14.6 km

2.52 km

2.17 km

861 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (260 m)

Lowest point (150 m)

Weather

Wednesday 8 July

27°C

14°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

Want to know more?

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Edit route

Download GPX

Move start point

Embed on a website

Report an Issue

Report restricted access

Nearby routes

Moderate

4.8

1,388

River Wharfe loop from Bolton Abbey — Yorkshire Dales National Park

03:07h

11.8km

110m

Hard

4.9

959

Simon's Seat and The River Wharfe loop from Bolton Abbey — Yorkshire Dales National Park

05:21h

18.4km

490m

Moderate

4.6

599

The Cow & Calf & 12 Apostles Stone Circle loop of Ilkley Moor

02:46h

9.56km

250m

Moderate

4.7

705

The Bronte Way loop from Haworth

03:24h

12.2km

230m

Moderate

4.8

804

Fewston and Swinsty Reservoirs Trail

02:51h

10.9km

80m

Moderate

4.8

572

Brimham Rocks & Glasshouses village loop from Pateley Bridge

03:46h

13.5km

260m

Easy

4.8

629

High Shaws Laithe and Valve Tower loop from Grimwith Reservoir Car Park — Yorkshire Dales National Park

01:50h

6.97km

60m

Moderate

4.9

377

Hebden and Lythe Plantation loop from Grassington — Yorkshire Dales National Park

02:05h

7.80km

90m

Moderate

4.7

253

Otley Chevin loop from Suprise View

02:17h

8.24km

140m

Moderate

4.6

233

The Druid's Temple & Sole Beck loop from High Knowle

02:09h

7.65km

150m

Moderate

4.8

265

Dales Way and Conistone Dib Loop

03:22h

12.3km

190m

Easy

4.6

204

Thruscross Reservoir and Cloggers Lane loop from Thruscross Reservoir Car Park

02:00h

7.54km

70m

Thruscross Reservoir – Fewston Reservoir Dam loop from Little Timble

River Washburn

Thruscross Reservoir

Ruins of West End Village at Thruscross Reservoir

Scot Lane Lakeside Path

River Washburn at Blubberhouses

Fewston Reservoir Dam

Fewston Reservoir Dam and Overflow

Fewston Reservoir Circular Path

Nearby routes

Sign up or log in to keep exploring this route

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️