Thruscross Reservoir Loop
Thruscross sits above the rest of the valley and feels it - more open, more exposed, and noticeably quieter than Swinsty and Fewston below. Worth the extra 5 minutes drive.
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Runnable start to finish — nothing here forces you to walk.
A 7.9km circuit around Thruscross Reservoir - the highest of the Washburn Valley reservoirs at around 265m. Compact, well-tracked, and quieter than the lower reservoirs.
Thruscross sits above the rest of the valley and feels it - more open, more exposed, and noticeably quieter than Swinsty and Fewston below. Worth the extra 5 minutes drive.
The route
From the Thruscross Reservoir car park (HG3 4BB, accessed from Reservoir Road), the circuit follows the Yorkshire Water track around the reservoir's perimeter. The path runs close to the water on the eastern and southern shores before crossing the embankment dam and returning along the western side.
Thruscross Reservoir sits at around 265m - approximately 100m higher than Fewston and Swinsty below - and was completed in 1966, the most recent of the four Washburn reservoirs. The dam is an earth-filled structure, one of the last built in England using this method. The drowned village of West End lies beneath the water; in prolonged dry summers, the ruins occasionally become visible as water levels drop.
Total distance is 7.9km with 97m of ascent - the most elevation of the single reservoir loops, reflecting the slightly more varied terrain at this height.
Above the valley
The higher elevation gives Thruscross a different feel to the reservoirs below. The surrounding moorland is more open, the tree cover sparser, and the views across the Washburn Valley more extensive. In winter and early spring the site can be exposed - it catches wind from the northwest that doesn't reach Swinsty and Fewston.
The reservoir is quiet. Fewer visitors make the drive up from the valley bottom, which means the circuit is almost always uncrowded regardless of season. Early morning in spring and summer gives you the best chance of seeing the moorland birds that use the surrounding ground.
Connecting routes
Thruscross sits at the top of a logical progression: Swinsty (6.3km) → Fewston and Swinsty (10.3km) → Thruscross from Blubberhouses (13.5km) → all three reservoirs from Blubberhouses (23.7km). This route is the isolated upper circuit; the connecting routes approach from below and link the reservoirs in sequence.
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More exposed than the lower reservoirs - stronger winds and reduced shelter on the western bank. Height barrier at car park (2.1m).
Leave No Trace
- Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories.
- Please respect the countryside and all its inhabitants.
- Dogs on leads near livestock, and around ground-nesting birds from March to July.
- Gates as you find them — open or closed, leave it that way for the farmer and the next runner.
- Take it all home — wrappers, peel, tissue, the lot. It doesn't count as biodegradable if you can still see it.
- Stick to the path where the ground either side is wet, planted, or nesting habitat.
Common questions
- Most runners complete Thruscross Reservoir Loop in 55 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on pace and conditions.
Run by us· last checked June 2026
Jason Millward has run this route and written it up from the ground. How we check routes
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Runner reports
Nobody's logged a run here yet. If you get out on it, a few lines about how it went helps the next person plan their day.
Routes nearby
Start from a town: Ilkley 10.3 km
VERY HARD
MODERATE
HARD
MODERATE
EASY
EASYRaces on this ground
All Nidderdale races →Races starting within 20 km of the Thruscross Reservoir Loop start, nearest first. If you are entered for one, this route is the rehearsal.
7
Nov
2026
The Grim Reservoir Dogs
Swinsty & Fewston Reservoir car park, North Lane, near Otley · It's Grim Up North Running · 3 miles away
A run with your dog round Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs on good woodland trail, one 3.3-mile loop or two. A fun dog race, not run under canicross rules.
Entries open
£18–£29
7
Nov
2026
Swinsty & Fewston Lakeside Dash
Swinsty & Fewston Reservoir car park, North Lane, near Otley · It's Grim Up North Running · 3 miles away
The 6.7-mile loop of Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs on well-kept trail, run once, twice, three or four times for the half, the twenty and the marathon. Everything starts at nine.
Entries open
£29–£43
7
Nov
2026
Moonlight Meander
Swinsty & Fewston Reservoir car park, North Lane, near Otley · It's Grim Up North Running · 3 miles away
Swinsty and Fewston in the pitch dark: one or two laps of the 3.3-mile woodland loop by head torch, fairy lights and whatever else you bring.
Entries open
£17–£29
6
Oct
2026
Autumn Headtorch Half
Swinsty Reservoir, North Yorkshire · Punk Panther · 3 miles away
The autumn running of the reservoir night race.
MODERATE TO HARD
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