A great walk taking in the woods and fields in the Ryburn Valley between the Ryburn and Baitings Reservoirs, just near Ripponden.
The Route
- what3words for start point: ///shredding.grades.erupted
- Start / FinishPoint: Yorkshire Water Car Park, Ripponden, Sowerby Bridge HX6 4LE
- Distance: 4 Miles
GPX Route Map
Download file for GPSWalk Description
Go to the top of the car park and cross the lane towards a stile into a field. Walk through this field on a level track and head towards the next stile. Cross this stile and continue on the path which heads through the trees alongside the edge of the water and eventually over a footbridge.
Just before the end of Ryburn Reservoir, you reach Beeston Hall Rocks. The path now follows the feeder stream to a junction of paths. Ignore the left turn over the bridge, and carry on out of the wood the reach the embankment of Baitings Reservoir – following the path as it turns right into a car park.
Leave via the steps or, if required, carefully via the entrance gateway – but take extra care as this is also a vehicle entrance. Turn left onto the pavement and continue for a short while when you reach the entrance to the permissive footpath on your left.
Take the path and walk along the north edge of Baitings Reservoir. The section provides great views across the reservoir and the surrounding countryside.
At the end of the reservoir, leave the path onto a road, and turn left to walk across Baitings Viaduct. Soon after crossing, turn left onto the permissive path to continue along the southern edge of Baitings Reservoir.
When you reach the embankment, turn right, and then left at the next footpath, to head back towards Ryburn Reservoir. Just after a path joins from the left, the path turns a sharp right to meet another path. Continue along the track until you reach a stile. Cross over into the field and follow the boundary fence – which becomes a wall – downhill, until you reach some gates in the corner.
Follow the yellow waymarker, through the gate into an enclosed path along the side of the next field. At the farm buildings, carry on and over a stile into a section of old walled track – but not into the open field. This track turns right through a squeeze stile at the side of an iron gate. Go through the gap and turn left straight away down the slope, keeping the wall on your left.
At the bottom corner of the field, go over a stile and down through the wood to a footbridge. Cross the bridge, turn left and continue alongside the reservoir towards the dam. Cross the dam wall to return to the car park.
