GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Beaver Dyke Reservoir

4 miles (6 km)

This walk visits Beaver Dyke Reservoir, John O'Gaunt's Reservoir and Scargill Reservoir near Harrogate in North Yorkshire. It's a remote and peaceful spot with some lovely views over the water to the surrounding hills.
Beaver Dyke Reservoir was decommissioned in 2015 and is now dry but the other two have nice waterside paths.
Start the walk at John O'Gaunt's Reservoir where you can pick up the Dales Way Link and follow the trail east along the water to Beaver Dyke and Liberty Farm. Here you can follow a trail south to visit Scargill Reservoir.
On the southern side of the first reservoir you will find the remaining ruins of John O' Gaunt's Castle. The castle was the hunting lodge of John O'Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, who was Lord of the Manor of Knaresborough for 28 years until 1399. There's a nice view to the reservoir from here.

Postcode

HG3 1SJ - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Beaver Dyke Reservoir OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Beaver Dyke Reservoir Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head a mile or so west and you will come to Swinsty Reservoir and Fewston Reservoir. There's more nice lakeside and woodland walking trails to be found here.

Photos

John O'Gaunt's Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 644428

John O'Gaunt's Reservoir was built in 1800 and claims to be the oldest Yorkshire reservoir still in use.

John O'Gaunt Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 2570811

John O'Gaunt Reservoir and the surrounding countryside in summer 2011

John O'Gaunt's Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 644438

This shot was taken from John O'Gaunt's Castle looking north-west over the reservoir. The farm on the horizon is known as 'Tree House'.

John O' Gaunt Reservoir spillway flowing into Beaver Dyke Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 474061

John O' Gaunt Reservoir spillway flowing into Beaver Dyke Reservoir in 2007

Footpath near Beaver Dyke Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 2533249

Woodland footpath near Beaver Dyke Reservoir

Beaver Dyke Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 16488

Lower Beaver Dyke reservoir Haverah Park taken from the embankment between the reservoirs in 2005 before it was decommissioned.

Scargill Reservoir overflow to Spillway after heavy rain - geograph.org.uk - 474042

Scargill Reservoir overflow to Spillway after heavy rain

John O' Gaunt's Castle - geograph.org.uk - 16486

The remains of John O' Gaunt's Castle

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Beaver Dyke Reservoir.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Share>Save to Files')