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?

Located in what is known as the Washburn Valley between Otley and Harrogate, the valley is home to four reservoirs! Lindley Wood, Swinsty, Thruscross and Fewston!

All the reservoirs are popular spots for a walk, because they are set in stunning countryside!

And Fewston is no exception. A perfect family friendly circular walk!

Playing in the stick dens at Fewston

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 and there appears to have been some debris washed across the path by the 2022 Winter storms, which would make that small section tricky and you would probably need somebody to help lift!

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

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.  

Looking at the view from Fewston Reservoir

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
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!

Helpful Information!

⭐ 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. The water is exceedingly cold and is unlikely to warm up under any circumstances. There is also submerged buildings, old machinery and equipment under the water level.

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?

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