20 MINUTES FROM PATELEY BRIDGE
Scar House Reservoir
At the very head of Nidderdale, past Lofthouse and Middlesmoor, Scar House and Angram Reservoirs sit in some of the wildest scenery the dale has to offer. A 7-mile circular route rings both reservoirs, taking in the dam walls, open moorland and the remains of the temporary village built to house the workers who constructed them. It is free to visit, easy to reach, and a world away from the road in minutes.
Visit information
- Location
- Scar House Reservoir, Lofthouse, Harrogate HG3 5SG
- From Pateley Bridge
- 20 minutes up the dale via Lofthouse and Middlesmoor
- Open
- Open year-round, free access at all times
- Entry
- Free, no booking needed
- Dogs
- Welcome, please keep on leads near livestock
- Facilities
- Car park at the reservoir, no on-site cafe so bring supplies
A reservoir built to last
Scar House Reservoir was built by Bradford Corporation between 1921 and 1936 to supply the rapidly growing city with clean water, following on from the slightly earlier Angram Reservoir a little further up the valley. Together they remain a remarkable feat of engineering, tucked away at the head of one of Yorkshire's quieter dales.
To house the thousands of workers needed for the project, Bradford Corporation built Scar Village, a self-contained settlement complete with a school, hospital, shops and even a recreation hall. Little remains above ground now, but the low foundations are still visible along the walking route if you know where to look.
Both reservoirs remain in active use supplying water today, which is why the surrounding moorland has been so well protected from development, leaving the dramatic, open landscape you see now.
Making the most of your visit
The full circular route around both reservoirs is around 7 miles and takes most walkers two to three hours at an easy pace, with the surface good enough for road bikes for much of the way. There is no shelter or cafe up here, so come prepared with food, water and weatherproof layers.
This is open moorland, so the weather can change quickly even on a fine day in Pateley Bridge. Check conditions before you set off, and allow extra time if you want to explore the Scar Village remains properly.
It pairs naturally with a stop at How Stean Gorge on the way up or back down the dale, making for a full and varied day out without leaving Nidderdale at all.
What to see
The Reservoir Circuit
A superb 7-mile circular walking and cycling route rings both Scar House and Angram Reservoirs, with the dramatic dam wall, open moorland views and the chance to walk right along the water's edge. Flat and well surfaced for most of its length, making it popular with families and cyclists alike.
Scar Village Remains
Look out for the low foundations and traces of Scar Village, the remarkable temporary settlement built to house the workforce who constructed the reservoirs in the early 20th century, complete with its own hospital, school, and even a billiard hall.
The Dam Walls
Both reservoirs were built by Bradford Corporation between 1908 and 1936 to supply the city with water, and the sheer scale of the dam walls is still striking today, a fine piece of Victorian and early 20th-century engineering at the head of the dale.
Upper Nidderdale Views
The walk opens out into some of the wildest scenery in Nidderdale, with heather moorland rising on either side and curlews calling overhead in spring and summer. A proper escape from the road just a few minutes further up the valley.
At the head of the dale
Scar House Reservoir is 20 minutes from Pateley Bridge, following the road up through Lofthouse and Middlesmoor. There is no entry fee and no booking needed, just turn up and park.
