Grimwith Reservoir and Trollers Gill

Saturday, 24th July

12.5 km  (8 Miles)

I got this walk from an old Paul Hannon book, "Rambles in Wharfedale". I can vouch for it's age since, according to the record in the back of the book, I did this walk in October 1994 !! Since I can't find any mention of it on the internet I presume it is now out of print.

The walk starts from a large layby just below Stump Cross Caverns. (GR SE 084635). Walking back up the hill towards the caves a very obvious sign on the left hand side points the way towards Grimwith Reservoir and it is not long before you pass over the shoulder of Nursery Knot and see the reservoir way ahead across the fell. Surprisingly, or perhaps not considering the amount of rain we have had recently, the ground was quite wet and needed a certain amount of care when navigating the path down to the banks of the reservoir.

Grimwith Reservoir was certainly busy on this particular Saturday with both sailors and windsurfers enjoying the blustery conditions. After skirting the reservoir (apparently the largest in Yorkshire), the route takes a wonderful green path with views across Wharfedale before crossing the Grassington to Pateley Bridge Road and resuming on yet another green track.

A little further on I deviated from the route in the book to cut back on myself and then dropped down into Trollers Gill.  Described as a "sinister little ravine" there are numerous myths and legends about trolls and spectral hounds that are said to inhabit this delightful gill. Walking (or scrambling) down it on a bright summer's day it seemed very un-sinsiter

The bottom of the gill leads past Parceval Hall - the gardens are open to the public and the Hall itself is owned by a religious order and used as a place of retreat.  Eventually you drop onto Skyreholme Bank and the start of a long drag uphill back to the start of the walk.

After last week's fairly level walk this was a bit more strenuous (especially the last pull from Skyreholme). However, the weather was fair with a breeze and some glimpses of sunshine. The scenery around this part of Wharfedale is absolutely spectacular with long range views right up the valley, whilst the area around Skyreholme is dominated by the brooding presence of Simon's Seat.

Some photographs available from this link