Reservoir Walks

In and around the Yorkshire Dales

Are you looking for Reservoir Walks?

Then you are in the right place because on this page you are going to find all of our family friendly reservoir walks all on the same page!

Reservoir walks are great for so many reasons! Often easy to navigate and packed full of nature, a wander next to water is just what the doctor ordered! All of these reservoirs are either found on the edges of the Yorkshire Dales National Park or inside and you might even find a tarn or two chucked in there for good measure too!

Want to see what takes your fancy? Scroll down the page! Or if you want to check out more family friendly walks, then head to the walks menu above, or at the bottom of the page.

Walk Difficulty Ratings

All of our tried and tested kid friendly walks have been divided into 3 categories dependant on difficulty, length and terrain:

⭐ Little Monkeys:

Walks suitable for younger children. Shorter length walks with occasional pushchair access.

⭐⭐ Little Adventurers:

Walks suitable for pre-schoolers. Medium length/ difficulty walks.

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers:

Walks suitable for older children. Longer length walks with some difficult terrain.

The hut next to Grimwith Reservoir

Walks at a Glimpse

Here is our quick look key so you can identify what each walk has without taking too long!

👶 Suitable for Pushchairs

🎒 Suitable for Carriers

🚘 Car Park/ On Street Parking

🚌 Public Transport Links

🐶 Dog Friendly

🥾 Sturdy Footwear or Wellies

🧒 A park or play area

🦆 Ducks to Feed

💦 Water play/ paddle/ swim

✨ Cool history or geology

👻 Legendary Story

🌳 Walking Games

The weir at Scar House Reservoir
Looking over Scar House Reservoir

Scar House Reservoir

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

📍 Lofthouse, Upper Nidderdale

🥾🚘🎒🌳🚌🐶

📏 4.5 miles

This absolute gem of a reservoir is located in the middle of nowhere, which means it is starkly beautiful and breath-taking! It’s also a little bit off the beaten track, oh and it has a waterfall at the end of the road too!

Playing in the water of Swinsty Reservoir

Swinsty Reservoir

⭐⭐ Little Adventurers

📍 Washburn Valley, North Yorkshire, near Harrogate

🥾🚘💦👶/🎒🌳🚌🐶

📏 4 miles

This is an excellent little wander around the smallest of the Washburn Reservoirs! Since 2022 the embankment has reopened so the circular route is good to go again!

Standing looking at Grimwith Reservoir

Grimwith Reservoir

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

📍 Wharfedale, The Yorkshire Dales, near Grassington

🥾🚘🎒🌳🚌🐶

📏 4.5 miles

This reservoir boasts incredible views across Wharfedale, from it’s elevated position. Plus, it is home to the Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club, so there are often boats to watch too!

Looking at Lower and Upper Barden Reservoirs

Lower and Upper Barden Reservoirs

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

📍 Bolton Abbey Estate, The Yorkshire Dales

🥾🚘🎒🌳

📏 5.5 miles circular

This walk takes you around both of the stunning reservoirs on Barden Moor, overlooking the Bolton Abbey Estate.

Jumping in front of Fewston Reservoir

Fewston Reservoir

⭐⭐ Little Adventurers

📍 Washburn Valley, near Otley

💦🥾👶🌳

A top reservoir walk that starts and ends with an Ice Cream. And it officially has to be two ice creams (one at the start one at the end!!) It’s a borderline 2-3 star walk, the terrain is easy, so if you take your time, little legs could handle it despite the distance.

Jumping in front of Embsay Reservoir

Embsay Reservoir

⭐ Little Monkeys

📍 Embsay near Skipton

🎒🚘🧒🌳🚌🐶

📏 1 mile

This is a fabulously short reservoir walk perfect for the youngest kids! With bugs to spot and a play park in the village too what’s not to love?!

Throwing stones into Semerwater

Semerwater

📍 Raydale, just up from Bainbridge Wensleydale

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

🥾🚘🎒🌳👻✨🐶

📏 5 miles

This walk not only takes you around Semerwater where an alleged submerged town lays hidden in the depths of the water but you’ll find a hike with a wild swim spot and paddleboarding too!

Thruscross reservoir in drought

Thruscross Reservoir

📍 Washburn Valley, near Otley/ Harrogate/ Pateley Bridge

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

🚘🥾✨👻💦 🚌🐶

📏 6 miles

Thruscross is the highest of the Washburn Reservoirs and is an awesome circular route! In dry weather, you may even see the remains of the submerged village of West End.

Map reading at the edge of Malham Tarn

Malham Tarn Circular

📍 Malham, Malhamdale

⭐ Little Monkeys - ⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

📏 Circular walk, under 2 miles - 5 miles

🥾👶/🎒🚘✨💦🌳🐶

Malham Tarn is the highest natural Lake in England and the largest in North Yorkshire! A designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, this walk will take you to the Nature Reserve and round in a circular route taking in sculptures, a bird hide, the ruins of a smelt mill and water sinks.

There is a shorter pushchair friendly route, and also a wheelchair accessible route too with all terrain wheelchairs available to borrow from the Malham Field Centre.

Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks

Follow us for up to date Outdoors Adventures!

We live and BREATHE the Yorkshire Dales outdoors life!

Come follow our journey over on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, where you’ll find up to date walk info, breaking news on Yorkshire Events, new Yorkshire Dales wild swim spots, climbing, caves and more!

Follow us on Social Media for all the up to date info: @thereluctantexplorers