Swinsty Reservoir Walk: Detailed Guide

This is an easy and short walk, taking you around the Swinsty Reservoir in Yorkshire. I walked it straight after the Fewston Reservoir, which is just next door. I decided to separate them into two guides though, because they are each a little different.

Looking across the Swinsty Reservoir in Nidderdale, on the walk around it. There are leafless trees lined around the edges.

What to expect on the walk

Just like the Fewston Reservoir, the Swinsty Reservoir walk is along an easy laid out trail. Between the two, I found the Swinsty Reservoir to be a bit more gentle, and less rugged. There are less undulations, it’s a bit shorter.

I even felt that it might be a bit prettier. It’s hard to stay for sure, because everything was still dead. But there were slightly more moss covered stone walls, more curvy wooden railings. There is even a section with tidy grass and wooden picnic benches.

The water of Swinsty Reservoir with small ripples, lined with green leafed trees on the circular walk.

A winding dirt trail in the woods, with a wooden railing on the left and stone wall on the right on the walk around the Swinsty Reservoir.

With it being the smaller of the two reservoirs, you got a better view of the other side, and the trees. I think in Autumn it would be gorgeous.

However, due to it being the smaller of the two, I suspect that during busier times, it will feel more crowded.

How long is the walk around the Swinsty Reservoir?

The full circular walk around the Swinsty Reservoir is just over 3 miles. It took me under an hour at a quick pace. If you want to combine both reservoirs, it’s about 7 miles.

Is the walk dog friendly?

Yes. The Swinsty Reservoir is a popular place for dog walkers. Although, I did see more walking around the other reservoir. There are no stiles, no livestock, and there are dog poo bins. Be aware though, that there are signs warning of blue green algae in the reservoir. As such, dogs must not swim or drink the water.

A wooden gate with a red warning sign for blue green algae, and a blue sign warning of the cold water.

Parking to walk around the Swinsty Reservoir

There are two main car parks to choose from to walk around the Swinsty Reservoir. I chose the Swinsty and Fewston Reservoir car park on the north east side of the reservoir. It has public toilets, and at the time of writing, it is free (there are plans to start charging though).

The other one is called the Swinsty Reservoir car park, and is located mid way down the western side of the reservoir. This one is also free (at the time of writing), and has an ice cream van, but no toilets. It is also much smaller. This one will also start charging at some point.

Can you swim in the Swinsty Reservoir

No. It is prohibited to swim in the Swinsty Reservoir. Apart from the algae, there is dangerous machinery and strong currents. You can find out more on Yorkshire water, who own the reservoir.

Logistics

Start/Finish: Swinsty and Fewston Reservoir car park
Where is it: Located in the Washburn Valley in Nidderdale AONB, Yorkshire.
Public Transport: Yes, but only on summer Sundays and Bank Holidays in some months. You can see the bus timetable here.
Distance: Just over 3 miles
Time: Under an hour at a quick pace, although, allow longer if you want a leisurely stroll.
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Dirt trail. Small bit of road.
Dog friendly: Yes
Amenities: Public toilets and ice cream van at the car park.
Time of year: I walked it in early spring

Map for the circular walk around the Swinsty Reservoir

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

A Guide to walking around the Swinsty Reservoir

To start the walk around the Swinsty Reservoir, the trail is practically in the car park, on the toilet end. This will take you onto a nice big tree lined path.

A wide path with tall trees on the left side.

A wide path lined with forest trees, and a few logs on the right side on the grass.

When you reach the junction, you can take either trail. I chose the one straight ahead. This leads towards a big house. As you get nearer the house, there will be a trail sign arrow directing you away form it. Ignore that, and follow the path to take you past the house so you will be walking next to the reservoir.

A wide path curving to the right ahead, and a house ahead to the left.

At the reservoir, turn right to walk along a wide dirt road towards the bridge.

a wide dirt path with a stone wall to the left and grass bank to the right, with tall trees on both sides.

Looking across the Swinsty Reservoir, with the bridge to the right, partway through the walk.

Looking along the bridge, to a house and trees on the other side, on the walk around the Swinsty Reservoir.

There was an Ocado delivery truck crossing the bridge when I got there. I guess the big house gets their food delivered. What a life. Living on the reservoir edge, having your food come to you. You never need to leave.

Cross the bridges

Once on the other side of the bridge, turn left. You will still be on road, this time lined with some trees and neatly cut grass. There are a few wooden sitting benches, so you can go and sit overlooking the reservoir if you wish.

A road lined with trees, and a stone shed budding to the right. There are fallen orange trees on the grass on the right side of the road.

A large area of grass with a wooden bench overlooking the Swinsty Reservoir, with a few trees on the grass.

At the end of this section of the road, you should see the trail entrance to the left. You will now walk along dirt trail, right on the edge of the Swinsty Reservoir.

A dirt path lined with lots of thin trunked trees, and a few bushes with orange leaves.

A dirt path curving ahead to the right, with a stone wall on the right side. It is lined with lots of trees.

Looking across the patchy grass to the water of the Swinsty Reservoir, halfway into the walk. There is woodland on the other side of the water.

A short way along, you will reach the next bridge crossing. I got a weird deja vu here. The view along this bridge looks almost identical to the view along the bridge between the two reservoirs (the one I walked across earlier when I did Fewston), just a little smaller.

The road bridge which leads uphill on the other side, through a mass of woodland trees with green leaves.

Once across, turn left. This is where you will find the other car park, but also a neatly cut grass section with picnic benches, and maybe some ducks.

Three ducks on the green with a tree and wooden picnic bench ahead, looking out to the Swinsty Reservoir when walking around it.

Follow the pretty trail

The next section of the trail has some very gentle undulations, lined with trees, curvy wooden railings and stone walls. I particularly liked some of the views across the Swinsty Reservoir when walking this bit. A bit prettier and cuter than along the Fewston Reservoir.

A dirt trail lined with lots of woodland trees on the right and a wooden railing on the left.

Looking across the Swinsty Reservoir, with a large tree trunk on the left, and water grass coming out of the water.

A dirt path leading to the right, with a wooden railing to the left, next to the Swinsty Reservoir near the end of the walk. There are bushes and trees on the right side of the path with orange and green leaves.

Once you reach the end, you will be on the road. Turn left to go past the house, and then along the final bridge, with Fewston Reservoir to your right, and Swinsty Reservoir to your left. You will need to be tall to see Swinsty. I wasn’t tall enough and had to hold my camera up high to get a photo.

The road leading ahead to the left, and a stone cottage on the corner. The right side of the road is lined with a stone wall.

Looking down to the grass hill and Swinsty reservoir, with masses of trees cutting through the water, at the end of the walk.

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

If you want to continue onto Fewston, you can read more on my Fewston Reservoir guide here.

More reservoir walks near Swinsty

Not too far away from here is the Thruscross Reservoir. This was my favourite of the three in this area of Nidderdale. Sort of. I didn’t actually enjoy that walk, which was more down to the weather. However, if we take the weather out of it, it would have been my favourite. It’s more varied and rugged.

Another reservoir owned by Yorkshire Water is Grimwith, located over in the Yorkshire Dales. This is one of my favourites, which you can read about here. My other favourite is Scar House which is further North in Nidderdale. You can take a look at the Scar House route here. If I was to recommend any, it would be these ones without a doubt.

For more walking route ideas in Nidderdale, other than reservoirs, you check out my guide on the Best walks in Nidderdale here. Or neighbouring Nidderdale, you have the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and you can read about the walks I recommend there, on this guide.

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