Fewston and Swinsty Reservoir Loop

The route

Starting from the Swinsty Moor car park at the southern end of the Fewston embankment (LS21 2NP), the route runs north along the eastern shore of Fewston Reservoir, crossing the embankment at the northern end to pick up the western shore. The return follows the western edge of Swinsty Reservoir - the more southerly of the two - before cutting back across the embankment to the start.

The two reservoirs are managed by Yorkshire Water and the surrounding land is maintained as public access. The tracks are well-graded gravel, wide enough to run freely, and stay in good condition even after prolonged wet weather. It's one of the most reliable all-season routes in the area.

Total distance is 10.3km with minimal elevation change - the loop climbs around 41m in total and the surrounding tracks barely deviate. This makes it fast underfoot and good for tempo efforts or recovery runs when you don't want to think about the ground.

Washburn Valley

Fewston and Swinsty sit in the southern end of the Washburn Valley, part of the Nidderdale National Landscape. The valley was flooded in the 19th and early 20th centuries to supply water to Leeds - four reservoirs in a chain, each feeding the next. The water held here is treated and gravity-fed to the city below.

The birdlife is a reliable secondary attraction. The reservoir margins attract waders and wildfowl year-round, and the surrounding woodland holds resident woodland species. If you're moving at an easy pace, you'll hear them before you see them.

For a longer day, this circuit connects naturally with the Swinsty Reservoir loop to the south, or can be extended northward to incorporate Thruscross. See the combined reservoir routes for both options.

Practical notes

The terrain is genuinely flat, with around 41m of ascent across the whole loop. The car park at Swinsty Moor has toilets (including accessible RADAR facilities) and there is sometimes an ice cream van present. No cafe on site; nearest is Otley, 8km south.