Swinsty Reservoir Loop

The route

From the Stack Point car park on the eastern edge of Swinsty Reservoir (HG3 1SU), the route circuits the reservoir on the Yorkshire Water track. The path follows the water's edge closely on the eastern and southern shores before crossing the embankment dam at the southern end and returning along the western shore.

Swinsty Reservoir was constructed in 1876 and sits at around 165m in the Washburn Valley. The surrounding land is managed as public open access and the tracks are maintained to a high standard. Total distance is 6.3km with minimal elevation change.

Washburn Valley

Swinsty is the most southerly of the four Washburn Valley reservoirs - Lindley Wood is just below, and Fewston and Thruscross sit above. The valley was systematically flooded in the 19th and early 20th centuries to supply Leeds with drinking water. The reservoir system still functions today; the surrounding landscape has had over a century to settle into something that now feels entirely natural.

The birdlife is a genuine feature of this circuit - the shallow margins attract waders and wildfowl and the surrounding woodland holds resident species year-round. Moving at a slow-to-moderate pace you'll see significantly more than at tempo.

When to use it

This is a recovery run, a starting point for someone new to trail running, or a warm-up before heading further into the valley. For a longer day, this circuit connects directly with the Fewston and Swinsty combined loop (10.3km) or the Thruscross from Blubberhouses route (13.5km). The car park at Stack Point serves all three options.

Note that the GPX records minimal elevation change - confirmed by the genuinely flat terrain. Ascent figures will appear as very low or zero depending on the device used to record.