Overview

Another Miles Without Stiles route. A new section of path is meant to create an accessible circular route - if you can manage the steep and uneven section which is part of the new link it makes a wonderful 4 mile round trip. If you can't, then turn back at this point (it took two male members of my family and full power on my powercycle to get me up - so not for the fainthearted!) - and you will still have had a good outing. For the first section alone, I'd actually award 4 stars - the lower rating takes into account this difficult section, which frankly I wouldn't attempt again!

Transport & Parking

You need to drive. The sizeable car park has plenty of room in it. It's on multiple levels though, has some uneven ground and a very steep exit to the path, so care needed.

Access

The paths that are accessible are very accessible - four stars + in fact. They are gravel tracks or grassy tracks for the main part, with a few potholed sections. We took the exit at the far end of the Car park - this involves a short but extremely steep climb up a loose gravel surface. Not a good start - help needed - but luckily it was short. Then onto a track which would its way down to the reservoir. It undulated gently, with views of water, necks, woodland etc - all very scenic and easy to negotiate. Round the opposite shore though, at the far end, the path changes surface (it's clearly fairly new) and winds downwards. This is fine if care is taken but less easy than the first section. At the bridge over the beck, a steep and very uneven climb lies ahead. It's easier beyond this, but give up here and turn back if you wish - you're more than halfway round and have had the best views.

Toilets

Radar key operated accessible loo, though it wasn't locked when I visited. Very well equipped and clean. Well done, Yorkshire Water.

Staff

No staff.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

If there was only some way of getting the track up that hill without such a steep climb, this would be a great circular route. I feel a bit mean for giving it a low rating - as I said, as an out and back route it's superb and a great outing. Unfortunately the Miles without Stiles website has a video heralding this new section as creating a completely wheelchair accessible circular route. Maybe we went the wrong way....

Photos