WITH a high start near Skipton this makes for a pleasant winter walk. It is not difficult but there is a real feel of remoteness on Embsay Moor, particularly near the two reservoirs. The tracks though are good throughout but it is not a place to leave them!

On the road to Bolton Abbey from Barden Tower the road climbs to nearly 1,000 feet. At its height there are two flat areas where you can leave the car. The first has great views, the second a few metres downhill is where the out and inbound tracks meet.

Take the track heading due west and follow it for over one mile. The track has views over lower Barden Reservoir on your right which is situated in a wide valley with wild moors on its far northern side. After one mile leave the track on a wide footpath, initially cut in to the peat and follow this along flat ground for a further one mile. This track ends when you meet the dam at the South West corner of Upper Barden Reservoir.

The two reservoirs ultimately serve Bradford, the water is actually pumped down to Bolton Abbey before pumped back up hill to Chalker Reservoir. From there it is held until used. I must say when passing Chalker Reservoir I have never seen particularly low water (as elsewhere this summer). On arrival at the dam there is a plethora of signs amongst the stone pens. Take the simple approach and cross the dam and be confronted with a grand Gothic style house. There is a similar one at the Lower Reservoir. The houses came along when the reservoirs were built in the 1880s but they do seem very grand for water board officials!

There is an option to walk around the reservoir but it is muddy in places. However I headed past the house, bearing right to the middle track/road, heading towards the lower reservoir. There are some excellent views over the reservoir and towards Bolton Abbey as the road heads east.

After crossing a bridge just before the reservoir follow the track right towards the river leading into Lower Barden Reservoir. There is a ford to cross (it looked quite deep to me) but a few metres downstream there is an easy crossing. Just before the ford there is a small shelter (complete with table, bench and turf roof) which must be the intriguing Brass Castle mentioned on the O/S maps.

The track continues along the west shore of Lower Barden Reservoir before turning south and uphill just before arriving at the second Gothic tower. This is a permissive path (marked orange on the map) which marks the preferred route of Yorkshire Water. The track winds its way uphill for the final half mile to the cattle grid on the main road.

  • Jonathan Smith runs Where2walk, a walking company based in the Yorkshire Dales. He has published three books on walks in the Dales, The Yorkshire 3 Peaks, The Dales 30 mountains and the new Walks without Stiles book. All are available direct from the Where2walk website. Book a navigation training day in Long Preston, near Settle (beginners or "Compass & Contours"). The 2023 dates and further information are now available on the website. Where2walk.co.uk also features hundreds of walks across Yorkshire and beyond, from easy strolls to harder climbs.

Fact Box:

Distance: Roughly 5.5 miles.

Height to climb: 160m (5250 feet)

Start: SE 038556. There parking at the cattle grid just east of the road high point.

Difficulty: Medium. It is a rolling walk on good tracks and reservoir access roads.

Refreshments: Drive back to Embsay for the nearest pubs or even Skipton.

The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk. You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer OL 2) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass (essential on this walk). You must also wear the correct clothing and footwear for the outdoors. Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers head out at their own risk.

Please observe the Countryside Code and park sensibly.