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To view route as a dynamic Ordnance Survey map click here. Introduction: This walk is a circuit of Swinsty and Fewston Reservoirs in the lovely Washburn Valley in North Yorkshire, not far north of Otley. It was with some surprise that I realised I had never included this walk in total on my website, although part of it is included in my Washburn Valley route. It is a walk which barely needs any directions at all, as the route follows the shores of the two reservoirs on wide, very well defined paths/tracks. The route includes an optional visit to St. Andrews Church at Blubberhouses although ‘Blubberhouses’ as a place is rather elusive! Swinsty and Fewston are the two centre reservoirs of four in the Washburn Valley, the others being Thruscross and Lindley Wood. Swinsty Reservoir was created by the then Leeds Waterworks Company to service the city, as were the others in the valley. Construction started in 1871 and was finally completed in 1878. In the process a narrow gauge railway was created to bring in construction materials. The rising waters submerged New Hall, originally home of the Fairfax family. At the side of the reservoir is the largely hidden 17th Century Swinsty Hall, best known in 2025 as being the home of Gareth Southgate, former manager of the England football team. Fewston Reservoir was also for Leeds Waterworks Company, on a similar timeline to Swinsty, and feeds into it. Construction and completion dates were 1874 and 1879 respectively and the same railway equipment was used. Wikipedia describes Blubberhouses as a “village”. Sure enough the name appears on the Ordnance Survey map but you try finding it! In reality it is a wide scattering of properties without any centre one might recognise as a ‘village’. The name ‘Blubberhouses’ may originate from Anglo-Saxon bluberhūs, meaning something like “the houses at the bubbling stream” but there are other theories linking it to a distortion of ‘blaeberry’ or other berries. The Medieval English words bluber (spring) and blober (swell of a local water supply) may also figure Either way, anyone trying to find the village may well think the whole place is a myth!. There is however no known connection to whales and blubber at all! Despite its dispersed nature, it does have a church; St Andrew’s which is a Grade II listed building constructed in 1851. At the junction of the two reservoirs there is a road leading up to the pretty village of Timble, a pleasant three quarters of a mile each way diversion if you have the time. There is also a path from the side of the reservoir near Swinsty Hall. There are lots of benches around the walk for a picnic stop, including some picnic tables and toilets at the junction of the two reservoirs and a pub at Timble (check its opening hours). There is also a pleasant bench at Blubberhouses church. The walk starts from the pay and display car park at the east side of Swinsty Reservoir. To get there, take the B6451 from Otley. After about five and a half miles, turn left, signposted for “Fewston”. The car park is on the left after about half a mile. From Harrogate and the north, turn off the A59 between Harrogate and Skipton on to the B6451 signed for “Otley”. The turn to the car park is on the right after just over half a mile. Start: Exit the car park back on to the road and turn right. Cross the bridge separating two parts of the reservoir and take the broad clear footpath on the right which takes you to the dam (SE 200535).
Cross the dam and turn immediately right following the broad track parallel with the water’s edge, passing Swinsty Hall which is barely visible through the trees.
You arrive at the Swinsty and Fewston Reservoirs car park (SE 187538). Turn left along the road if you want to visit Timble, otherwise take the footpath entrance across the road. It immediately splits. It does not matter which path you take but on reaching the waters edge, turn left to follow the water’s edge.
As you reach the Fewston car park (SE 169553), you can see St. Andrew’s Church to the left, should you want to visit.
Otherwise, continue the reservoir footpath from the far side of the car park. The route leads you round the other side of Fewston reservoir. When you reach the road after descending some stone steps (SE 190543), continue straight across the road on to the Swinsty Reservoir path.
After about three quarters of a mile, turn left into the car park, through a gap in the wall. If you reach the road, you have overshot but it is but a few yards left along the road is the car park entrance. If you need to buy any hiking equipment/clothing before your trip see the Hiking Store All information on this site is given in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of any damage, loss or injury which might result from acting on it.
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