A dam good walk

THRUSCROSS Reservoir is the uppermost of the four large reservoirs along the beautiful Washburn Valley; it is also perhaps the most intriguing.

When the dam wall was built across the narrow steep-sided valley in 1966 and the peaty waters began to slowly rise, the hamlet of West End gradually disappeared beneath the waves.

This was once a thriving village with several mills alongside the fast-flowing River Washburn, a church and an old stone bridge.

According to the historian Arthur Mee ('Yorkshire, West Riding' 1941), one of these mills had a terrible reputation during Victorian times, "Here scores of children are said to have been employed by brutal masters who kept them standing at the looms till they fell exhausted."

Perhaps it is better that these old mills have disappeared deep beneath Thruscross Reservoir.

When I was much younger I was led to believe that West End village was still standing beneath the reservoir and, if I looked carefully, I may just catch sight of the steeple poking above the surface - images of fish swimming around the pews of the church sprang to mind!

This image was shattered somewhat when, in the dry summer of 1990, the water level fell so much that the village re-appeared.

I slid down a very steep and muddy bank, crossed muddy stone walls and walked over the old stone bridge spanning the River Washburn.

There were no buildings standing, only piles of stones and lots of tree stumps - the whole of the village had been demolished in 1965 before flooding and the churchyard moved to higher ground just off Greenhow Hill Road. The layout of the lanes and fields could still clearly be seen, although I was slightly disappointed not to find the church still there.

Downstream of the large dam wall (129-ft high, to be precise), the Washburn Valley remains very much intact with thickly-wooded banks carpeted by a profusion of wild flowers, flat meadows and the River Washburn tumbling across its rocky bed.

This beautiful river landscape sadly lasts for only about two miles before the river begins to back up once again at Blubberhouses, trapped behind the dam wall of Fewston Reservoir.

Fact file:

Distance: 5 miles

Time: 2 hours

Start: Thruscross Reservoir car park.

Date walked: Friday, July 4, 2003

Maps: OS Explorer 297 'Lower Wharfedale'

Terrain: Forest paths, moorland tracks and riverside footpaths, with some short sections along quiet country lanes.

Parking: Large car park just west of Thruscross Reservoir dam wall.

Refreshments: None en route.

How to get there: Turn off from the A59 Harrogate to Skipton road at Blubberhouses and follow the minor road up towards Pateley Bridge, then turn left at the Stone House Inn down to reach Thruscross Reservoir. The car park is just across the dam wall.

Directions:

1 From Thruscross Car Park (overlooking the dam), walk down the steps towards the dam wall then, at the junction of paths, turn right towards the 'Washburn Valley Path'. Follow this path down through woodland to reach the end of a clear lane along the valley floor. Head straight on along this lane for about a quarter of a mile then, just after the lane bends slightly to the left, take the footpath to the right (be observant!) up some stone steps into woodland.

2 Follow the path up to a stile at the top of the woods, after which slant up to the right to reach a road. Turn left along the road then, almost immediately, turn right over a stile just to the left of the stone wall that runs down to join the fence-line. Head straight up along the wide enclosed path (with the stone wall on your right) to reach a wall-stile at the top of the enclosed path (just to the right of Redshaw Hall Farm). Head straight on through a corner of the farmyard, after which continue up along the path ahead (enclosed by stone walls) to reach a junction of rough tracks at the top of the walled lane. Head through the wall gap ahead that leads out on to an open field, then head diagonally to the right across the field to a stile beside a gate in the far right-hand corner. After the stile, follow the stone wall as it bends round to the left then head straight on along a clear grassy track alongside this wall all the way to reach the road.

3 Turn left along the road, over a cattle grid and down bending to the left over Redshaw Gill Beck then continue straight on along the road gradually climbing up. The road soon levels out and bends slightly to the right then passes some old flooded quarries on your left, just after which the road bends sharply to the right - turn left on this sharp bend along a clear stony track down to reach a gate (signpost). Head straight on along this clear track gradually dropping down for just over a mile to join a lane.

4 Head straight on (to the right) along this lane and follow it down passing Blubberhouses Hall on your left to reach the main Harrogate to Skipton road (A59) opposite Blubberhouses Church. Turn left along the wide verge beside the road, over the road-bridge across the River Washburn immediately after which turn left down some steps to join a riverside path. Follow this clear permissive path straight on through woodland, keeping close to the River Washburn on your left all the way, gradually heading up through the Washburn Valley to eventually reach a footbridge to your left over the river after about a mile and a half.

5 Cross the footbridge and follow the track up to the right then, where the track levels out, head left over a stile beside a wooden gate up to quickly re-join the lane through the valley. Turn right back down to the end of the lane where you follow the path to the left slanting steeply up through woodland back to the car park just to the left of Thruscross dam wall.

Click here to view a map of the walk

Updated: 08:57 Saturday, July 19, 2003