Best Foot Forward Water walk we’ve lined
This week’s walk comes courtesy of Yorkshire Water and explores the beauty of Ryburn Reservoir. The route is two-and-a-half miles long, but if you would prefer a more challenging route, there is an option to extend the route by half a mile.
Geoff Lomas, catchment and recreation manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “A good hearty walk for avid explorers, this route weaves through woods and fields in the Ryburn Valley between Ryburn and Baitings Reservoirs.
“There are magnificent views across these upper Pennine Valleys where the weather can be kind and often dramatic.
“The walk takes you through a varied landscape which gives opportunities to see nature in its many forms, birds and flowers of the woods, fields and water.
“There are the foundations and the fallen walls of old buildings, which may spark your imagination of who lived here and what it was like to make a living in the upper Pennines before efore electricity and internet.
“The routeute you will follow is on Yorkshire Water permissive paths and public rights of way.
“The pathsths can be muddy, so wear appropriate e footwear. Please take care and respon- sibility for your safety and that of others.
“Please respect those that make a living from the land over which you will walk and follow the Country Code.
“If you bring a dog please keep it on a lead. Many of the fields will have livestock in them and it is the lambing season.
“Dogs can kill and also cause sheep to miscarry. We‘d also ask you to please clean up after your dog should it foul to protect those that work at these sites and reduce the transfer of diseases to humans and livestock.”
LOCATION: West of Ripponden
ACCESS: Turn off the A58 just over a mile south west of Ripponden opposite Smithy Clough Lane and continue down through Swift Place to the small car park at the bottom of the lane by the dam wall. Please use the Yorkshire Water car park and do not park outside residential properties.
FACILITIES: Car Parking, Picnic Site
ROUT E:
Start from the top of the Yorkshire Water car park at the end of Ryburn Dam (point 1).
Ryburn Dam was built in 1933 and is a compensation reservoir which releases water to maintain the flow of water
down the Ryburn Valley, sustaining the industry of the valley and river ecology.
Baitings Reservoir further up the valley collects the raw water for treatment, reducing river water flows at some times of the year.
Cross the access road to the path and a stile leading into the field. Cross the field on the level track and go over a stile alongside the gate into the wood.
Continue forward through the trees and follow the marked path parallel to the shore line, crossing a footbridge, and passing Beeston Hall Rocks (point 2), for a third of a mile to the head of this arm of the reservoir.
The path now follows the feeder stream to a junction of paths at point 3.
As you walk this path note the range of tree species within the woods and along the reservoir shore.
Much of Yorkshire Water’s woodland management is to increase the variety and age range of trees of the woodland habitat for future generations.
This diversity increases resilience improving the woodland’s capabilities to cope with the impacts of diseases and climate change.
Turn left over the footbridge following the sign to Back O’the Height.
Note the colour of the water which is caused by the natural iron in the rocks and soils.
Also watch the water as it leaves the pipe as it can often be seen to pulse.
Having crossed the stream turn right to the wall and then left up the steps.
Go over a stile at the top of the wooded section and continue straight up the wall side for 250 yards to the ruin of New House at the top.
To the right there’s a fine view of the downstream side of Baitings Dam.
Baitings Dam was built in 1958 to supply Wakefield some 20 miles away.
Yorkshire Water has now developed a ‘water grid’ giving options for water to be trans- ferred around the region. This means towns like Wakefield can now be supplied from a number of sources making it less dependent on a single source of supply like Baitings.
By the ruin, turn right following the sign marked Baitings and car park. This leads along a grassy lane to the old farm at Higher Wormald.
Go through the gate and across the frontage of the building. Note the date 1796 over the barn doorway, along with initials of the first owner.
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And now spring has bloomed into life, there is
Leave the farmyard and continue along the path to bear right through the field gate (closing it behind you) and follow the track across the next farm - Upper Schole Carr.
Go through the farmyard to the lane at point 4.
At this point the walk links to the Baitings Walk. Turn right to visit Baitings dam returning to point 4 afterwards.
To continue your walk at Upper Schole Carr, stroll along the access lane to the public road. Turn left up the