Jumping for joy in front of Fewston Reservoir

Fewston Reservoir

Fewston Reservoir is one of the Washburn Valley Reservoirs, and is located right next door to Swinsty Reservoir.

Both are super popular walking spots, so why not check out this circular walk?

Have you ever been to Fewston Reservoir?

You can find Fewston Reservoir in what is known as the Washburn Valley, lying between between Otley and Pateley Bridge in Nidderdale. If you prefer, call it… the Valley of the Reservoirs… because that sounds more dramatic and it more accurately describes the area, which houses the four reservoirs, Thruscross (the top one, which is fascinating when there’s a drought year), Fewston (this one), Swinsty (the one that’s next to this one) and Lindley Wood Reservoir, which is at the bottom (not counting the little ones off to the side!)

Yup, this place is great if you love a walk around a reservoir!

Not everybody’s cup of tea, there is one thing to know for sure about a reservoir walk. They are pretty easy to navigate, and have mostly excellent pathways (I say mostly, there are always exceptions!)

But it does help in the pushchair department, and this one is pushchair friendly!

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I set up the Reluctant Explorers and maintain the website and attached social media accounts in my spare time, around mum-life and two jobs. It was designed to provide access for parents to free resources to help get more families outside and exploring in nature. These walks have all been created by myself and the kids and we have walked each one ourselves (and re-walk them regularly to keep the information as up to date as we can).

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Playing in the stick dens at Fewston

Playing in one of the stick dens by the reservoir

Walk details for Fewston Reservoir

Distance: 4.5 miles

Terrain: Easy underfoot. Virtually impossible to get lost (don’t quote me on that though!)

Is Fewston pushchair friendly? Now, it’s been a while since we’ve pushed a pushchair, so we have canvassed a few opinions on this, and the overwhelming opinion is yes, this is pushchair friendly. I would warn of a couple of steep inclines though!

Where to park for Fewston: Two options here. There is the main car park at the embankment between Fewston and Swinsty, but this does get very busy. There is another car park just off the A59, which is smaller, and slightly trickier to get into.

Public Transport? Yes! Fewston is accessible by bus, check out the Dales Bus website for more information about timetables.

Dog Friendly? Yes. Dogs on leads are welcome, be aware that the reservoir can get algae blooms.

Location: Washburn Valley between Otley and Harrogate

Map: 297 Explorer Lower Wharfedale and Washburn Valley or check out the Yorkshire Water trail map.

What 3 Words: verge.thing.unusable

Toilets/ Baby Change: At the main car park on North Lane

Nearest Cafe/ Amenities: There is a cafe at the Heritage Centre near Swinsty Reservoir, and an Ice Cream van at the car park.  

How to walk around Fewston Reservoir

Directions

  1. Starting from the North Lane Car Park (the main Fewston car park with the toilets), cross the lane into the woodland opposite. The path is wide and clear, and will be heading straight on towards the southernmost tip of the reservoir.

  2. Literally head around the reservoir. You cannot miss this one! As with most reservoirs, it’s easy to navigate and tricky to get lost! Along the way there are points to get down to the edge of the water, or explore the stick dens in the woodlands.

  3. As you reach the car park at Blubberhouses, the path heads along the edge of the car park, up onto the pavement which runs alongside the A59 and then turns right back down to the edge of the water. This road stretch is very brief.

  4. Head back along the northern shore of the reservoir, following the path. Should you have a map, the path indicated in the woodland near School House isn’t actually the path in reality. Yorkshire Water have created a wide path which heads straight through the woodland, which means you don’t have to walk along the road at all. It then comes down at the reservoir house, and heads back along the pavement of the embankment towards your starting point. Easy!

Last walked 2022

The path along the edge of Fewston Reservoir

The returning path along the edge of the reservoir

Stick dens at Fewston Reservoir

One of the giant stick dens!

The view across Fewston Reservoir

The view across the water of Fewston Reservoir

The woodland around Fewston Reservoir

The woodland around Fewston Reservoir in the sunsheeeine!

What’s super family friendly about Fewston Reservoir?

💦 Splash! This reservoir is great for stone throwing! Swimming is not permitted, so no paddling please, plus be aware of the algae blooms here.

🐶 This is a dog friendly walk!

🍦 Ice Cream! Who wants ice cream? ME! Well the Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream Company has an Ice Cream van here more or less all of the time!

🦆 There are ducks and geese to check out at Fewston.

🌳 If you need a bit of help on the whinge reduction front, then this place is ace for a stick collector. Why not check out some of our stick collectors activities? Or you could check out one of our walking games!

A brief pause to take in the Nidderdale views!

Helpful Information!

For our dedicated help and safety information page, head to the link.

⭐ We hope you enjoy our walks, but please exercise common sense as routes can change with the weather conditions and seasons! The routes have been walked by our own two feet, but you know your own limits. Always take a back-up map, don’t rely on GPS alone, wear appropriate clothing for the weather and take adequate snacks and refreshments with you (although as a parent, I know you already know that bit!)

⭐ Leave no trace! Take nothing away and leave nothing behind, take all rubbish home with you.

⭐ Do not swim in reservoirs.

Daffodils at Swinsty Reservoir
Playing in the water at Swinsty Reservoir

More reservoirs please?

There is the option to extend this walk around Swinsty Reservoir too, so why not check out our separate walk description and walk details over the the Swinsty page?

Find our Swinsty walk HERE!

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Leave No Trace

The Yorkshire Dales is our home, and the home of so many others who care deeply about this beautiful space.

Should you visit, make sure to:

Take home anything you bring, leave no rubbish behind.

Make the world a better place by picking up any rubbish you see, even if it isn’t yours.

Leave everything else as you found it.

Help us to protect our wild spaces.