Fewston Reservoir Detailed Walk Guide

I decided to come out and walk the Fewston Reservoir, because it was forecast to be a bit rainy. I needed something with trees for protection. Having had a look at the photos online, it looked there would be tree cover.

Looking through the straggly trees, down to the water of the Fewston Reservoir, on the walk up the hill around it. There is a mass of trees on the other side of the reservoir, and some hills in the distance.

There was, but I forgot about the fact that there are no leaves on the trees, so I was protected from nothing.

The Fewston Reservoir and Swinsty Reservoir, in Nidderdale AONB, are right next to each other, so I actually walked them both, but I decided to separate it into two guides, as they are both a little different, and you may want to just do one over the other. You can read about Swinsty here.

What to expect on the walk

The walk around the Fewston Reservoir is mostly on an easy laid out path. It undulates in places, and whilst you are mostly under the trees, there are some sections that are a bit more open. There is one section where you walk past a vast expansion of fields, to mix up the views.

A large green grass field with white sheep dotted about grazing, on the walk around the Fewston Reservoir. There are two leafless trees on the grass. It is a misty day.

Looking across the water of the Fewston Reservoir, to the trees and hills on the other side, when walking around it.

The road bit of the Fewston Reservoir walk is along the bridge (with a pavement) where, if you are tall, you will get a view to the Swinsty Reservoir on the other side….I wasn’t tall enough, I had to stick my camera over the top.

A road bridge leading to a stone cottage, surround by woodland trees. There is a pavement and stone wall on the left side of the road, and hedge on the right side.

Looking down to the Swinsty Reservoir, with masses of trees projecting into it.

Compared to Swinsty, I found it to be a bit more rugged.

These reservoirs have actually been on my radar, after previously walking around the Thruscross Reservoir, which is not too far from here. I was curious to see the difference.

Between the three, the Thruscross Reservoir is my favourite. Although I didn’t actually enjoy that walk, which was actually due to the snow rather than the route itself. If I look beyond the snow, the route is a lot more varied and interesting in my opinion.

Fun fact: The Thruscross Reservoir feeds water into both Fewston and Swinsty.

I have since walked around Grimwith, Scar House, and Wessenden, which are also Yorkshire Waters Reservoirs. These ones are now my favourite of all of them.

How long is the walk around Fewston reservoir?

The full circular walk around the Fewston Reservoir, is about 4 miles. It took me about 1h15min, at a fairly quick pace. I only stopped once to de-layer as I got sweaty, and had the occasional pauses for photos.

Looking down across the grass fields, with a bit of the trail visible to the left side, on the walk around the Fewston Reservoir. There are leafless tree branches poking through on the left side of the frame.

If you want to add in the Swinsty Reservoir, it’s about 7 miles total.

Parking to walk around Fewston Reservoir

The main car park is called the Swinsty and Fewston Reservoir car park, located on the southern end. It has public toilets, and an ice cream van. This is where I parked. At the time of writing, it is free to park. There are plans to start charging, supposedly in 2022, although it hasn’t happened yet. So get there quick!

There is also a small area for parking at the northern end of the Fewston Reservoir.

When I arrived, on a rainy weekday, I found the car park to be pretty packed. Also note, that it is a big car park. However, it didn’t feel busy at all when walking around the Fewston Reservoir. Maybe because it’s large enough that it dilutes everyone. I dread to think what it’s like on a weekend though.

Is the walk dog friendly?

The Fewston Reservoir is a popular place for dog walkers. There is no livestock, no stiles, and there are dog poo bins about. Part of the walk is along a road (with a pavement), but I found it to be very quiet. There is blue green algae in the water, so dogs shouldn’t swim or drink from it….I did see dogs swimming in it. Maybe they didn’t know.

Two dogs swimming in the Fewston Reservoir, on the circular walk around it. There are green leaved trees on the other side.

There were a lot of dogs off lead, although, the signs do say to keep them on lead.

Can you swim in the Fewston Reservoir?

No. First of all, there are signs everywhere warning you of how dangerous and cold it is. It is also prohibited to swim in the Fewston Reservoir. You can find out more on Yorkshire water (who one the reservoir).

Logistics

Start/Finish: Swinsty and Fewston Reservoir car park
Where is it: Located in the Washburn Valley in Nidderdale AONB, Yorkshire. Not too far from Harrogate.
Public transport: DaleBus 59 stops at Blubberhouses (the Northern end of the Fewston Reservoir). It runs between Harrogate and Skipton. Note, it only stops here on Saturdays. Or the Dales Bus 820, 821, which are also just as infrequent. You can see the bus timetable here.
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 1h15min (allow longer if you want to go at a leisurely pace)

Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Dirt trail, a small bit of road
Dog friendly: Yes
Amenities: Public toilets and ice cream van at the car park. Lots of benches around the reservoir.
Time of year: I walked it in early spring

Map for the circular walk around Fewston Reservoir

You can find my more detailed map for the walk route around Fewston Reservoir on AllTrails.

For more local walking ideas, other than reservoirs, check out my guide to the best walks in Nidderdale here.

A guide to the walk around the Fewston Reservoir

From the main car park, the trail start is directly across the road. There are actually two trail options once across. Either will work. I chose the left one. Once on the Fewston Reservoir edge, I decided to walk clockwise, and leave the bridge to the end.

An opening in the stone wall on the other side of the wall, leading into a mass of woodland with tall trees.

A dirt path leading through the tall trunked trees. there are two people walking ahead on the trail.

The dirt trail curving along the left side of the Fewston Reservoir, with a couple of people walking along it. The left side of the trail is full of woodland trees.

Now it’s just as simple as following the trail.

It takes you under tree cover to start, then opens up a little, before taking you uphill and into a mass of trees.

A path lined with tall orange hay grass, with a wooden bench on the left and the water just visible to the right.

A winding trail, with a stone wall curving along the left side of it, containing the woodland.

A path leading through a mass of tall trunked trees, on the walk around the Fewston Reservoir.

As mentioned earlier, the trail undulates a lot. I liked how you get to see a view of the Fewston Reservoir from a bit higher up.

The trail will then take you downhill and alongside the edge of a mass of fields. Maybe with sheep.

A path leading ahead to the right, with some leafless trees and hay to the right of it, and a stone wall and hill to the left.

Looking across a vast green grass field, with a few sheep grazing in the distance, on the walk around the Fewston Reservoir. There are a few trees dotted about and its a misty day.

After a bit more walking in and out of trees, you will reach the northern end of the reservoir and car parking area, with a view of St Andrew’s Church.

A trail leading ahead, with a moss covered bank on the left side, and the Fewston Reservoir to the right, halfway into the walk. The trail is lined with trees.

Walk back along the other side of the reservoir

At the car park, go straight up to the road, turn right, and the trail entrance is a short way ahead. This is the one bit I didn’t like about the walk around the Fewston Reservoir. You are only next to the road for a few meters, but it was busy and noisy. Enough to disturb the peace of the walk.

A path with a wooden railing on the right. It is lined with leafless bushes and trees. There is a sign on the left side of the path. — The trail as you come off the road

The trail on this side is similar, and undulates a little. It’s a little bit more under the trees than the other side.

A dirt path leading straight ahead, with tall trunked trees on the right side, and a messy hedge on the left.

The dirt trail snaking ahead, with a stone wall, bushes and trees on the left side, and a few think trunked trees on the right, with a small view to the Fewston Reservoir, on the walk back to the start.

As you near the end, you will get a cool view along the road bridge, past the cottage.

Looking down over the stone walled cottage, towards the road bridge. There is a grass hill field on the left side of the road. There are leafless tree branches hanging from above.

Once you reach the road, if you want to continue on to the Swinsty Reservoir, you can take the trail straight across. To go back to the car park (where you also have a trail option to go to Swinsty), go over the bridge. I decided to go back because I wanted to walk over the bridge. If I went straight onto the Swinsty Reservoir now, I would miss out the bridge entirely.

Looking along the road bridge with a pavement on the right. There is a stone wall on the right side of the road and hedge on the left side. There is a mass of woodland trees on the other end of the road.

Looking across the water of the Fewston Reservoir, at the end of the walk arounds it. Way on the other side of the reservoir is woodland.

I do like a bridge.

Plus I wanted a snack from my car.

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Fewston Reservoir walk guide in Nidderdale, Yorkshire.