Upper Oakdale Reservoir Circular Walk

Upper Oakdale Reservoir Circular 5.8mi

Upper Oakdale Reservoir Circular Walk from Kepwick – 5.8 Moderate Miles in the North York Moors

Looking for a scenic walk in the North York Moors combining woodland, reservoir views and open countryside? Our 5.8-mile Upper Oakdale Reservoir Circular Walk from Kepwick is a lovely route through the quieter western side of the North York Moors National Park.

Lyn and I personally walked, photographed and GPS recorded this route for The White Shire.

We'd rate it as a moderate walk.

At 5.8 miles, it isn't particularly long, but the combination of gradients, woodland paths and varied terrain makes it more demanding than some of our easier Yorkshire walks.

The scenery makes the effort worthwhile.

This is a beautiful part of North Yorkshire, with wooded valleys, open countryside, the historic village of Kepwick and the peaceful landscape surrounding Upper Oakdale Reservoir.

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Upper Oakdale Reservoir Walk at a Glance

Distance: 5.8 miles

Route type: Circular

Difficulty: Moderate

Starting point: Kepwick

County: North Yorkshire

Area: North York Moors National Park

Nearby: Osmotherley, Nether Silton, Over Silton and Thimbleby

Terrain: Woodland paths, countryside tracks, field paths and sections with climbs and descents

Highlights: Upper Oakdale Reservoir, Kepwick, woodland, North York Moors scenery and peaceful countryside

Walked and photographed by: Michael and Lyn Palmer, The White Shire

About Our Upper Oakdale Reservoir Walk

Lyn and I found this a really enjoyable walk.

We've rated it moderate rather than easy because there's more variation in the terrain and some climbing involved.

But that's also part of what makes it interesting.

Rather than simply following level paths for 5.8 miles, you're moving through different landscapes.

Woodland gives way to more open countryside.

The reservoir appears amongst the hills.

And throughout much of the route you have that distinctive feeling of walking through the quieter western edge of the North York Moors.

Where is Kepwick?

Kepwick is a small village on the western edge of the North York Moors National Park in North Yorkshire.

It sits beneath the Hambleton Hills, not far from Osmotherley, Nether Silton and Over Silton.

This is an excellent part of Yorkshire for walking.

The dramatic western escarpment of the North York Moors rises above the Vale of Mowbray, creating a landscape of wooded valleys, hills, farmland and moorland.

Kepwick is considerably quieter than many of the better-known tourist destinations in the National Park.

For Lyn and me, that's part of its appeal.

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Kepwick: A Brief History

Kepwick is a small village, but the surrounding landscape has been occupied for centuries.

Agriculture played an important role in the development of the settlement, while the village later became closely associated with the Kepwick Hall estate.

Stone buildings and traditional cottages still help give Kepwick its distinctive North Yorkshire character.

Its position beneath the Hambleton Hills also placed the village close to historic routes crossing this part of Yorkshire.

Today, the same landscape that once supported farming and estates provides some excellent walking.

Kepwick Hall

One of the village's most significant historic buildings is Kepwick Hall.

The present country house dates from 1873, with additions made in 1888 and further alterations during the 20th century.

It was designed in a Neo-Jacobean style.

The Hall, service wing and coach house are Grade II listed.

Although this is a walking guide rather than an architectural tour, knowing a little about Kepwick Hall helps explain the development and appearance of the village.

The Kepwick Hall Estate

The influence of the Kepwick Hall estate can also be seen in some of the village's traditional buildings.

Blue Row is a good example.

This row of five cottages was built for the Kepwick Hall estate during the early to mid-19th century.

The cottages are Grade II listed and constructed from local stone.

Buildings like these provide a reminder that country estates weren't simply grand houses.

They often shaped entire villages, providing homes and employment for people working on the land and estate.

Howe Hill Monument

Another interesting historic feature in Kepwick is the Howe Hill Monument.

The monument was erected around 1891 in memory of John Henry Boyer Weaver, owner of the Kepwick Hall Estate.

It consists of a stone base supporting a broken fluted column.

The monument is Grade II listed.

It's another relatively small feature that tells us something about the people and estates that shaped this quiet North Yorkshire village.

Walking from Kepwick

Once you leave Kepwick behind, the surrounding landscape quickly becomes the main attraction.

This isn't a walk dominated by villages or visitor attractions.

It's about the countryside.

You have farmland, woodland, hills and valleys.

That's exactly what we wanted from this route.

There are places where Lyn and I enjoy stopping every few minutes to look at historic buildings.

This walk is different.

Here, it's the landscape that takes centre stage.

The North York Moors National Park

The North York Moors National Park contains one of Britain's largest expanses of heather moorland, but there's considerably more to the landscape than open moors.

The western side of the National Park is particularly varied.

Wooded valleys cut into the escarpment.

Farmland occupies lower ground.

Streams flow down from the hills.

Historic villages sit beneath the slopes.

Our Upper Oakdale Reservoir route gives you a good introduction to this quieter side of the National Park.

The Hambleton Hills

Kepwick sits beneath the Hambleton Hills.

These hills form part of the western edge of the North York Moors.

From higher ground, the landscape falls away towards the Vale of Mowbray.

The escarpment has been used as a route for centuries.

Ancient tracks and later drovers' roads crossed the hills, linking communities and allowing people and livestock to travel through the landscape.

Today, those old routes contribute to an excellent network of walking trails.

Upper Oakdale Reservoir

Upper Oakdale Reservoir is one of the main highlights of our route.

Surrounded by wooded slopes and North Yorkshire countryside, it occupies a wonderfully peaceful setting.

The reservoir is no longer used as part of the public water supply.

Water levels have been reduced and the remaining body of water has been retained as part of the landscape.

For walkers, it creates a lovely focal point.

After following paths through the surrounding countryside, arriving at the water gives the route another completely different atmosphere.

Why Were the Oakdale Reservoirs Built?

The Oakdale reservoirs formed part of the historic water-supply system serving the Northallerton area.

Before modern regional water networks, towns often depended on relatively local reservoirs and springs.

The valleys around the North York Moors provided suitable locations for storing water.

Oakdale's reservoirs therefore had a very practical purpose.

They supplied water to the Northallerton area until the construction of Cod Beck Reservoir in 1953.

After that, their importance to the public water supply declined.

From Reservoir to Wildlife Habitat

Upper Oakdale Reservoir has since taken on a different role.

Although no longer required for drinking-water supply, the remaining water and surrounding vegetation provide habitat for wildlife.

This is something we see repeatedly on our Yorkshire walks.

Landscapes change purpose.

Railway lines become walking trails.

Collieries become country parks.

Reservoirs built for Victorian and early 20th-century communities become wildlife habitats.

The landscape keeps evolving.

Walking Around Upper Oakdale Reservoir

The reservoir section is one of the most peaceful parts of the walk.

Water, woodland and the surrounding hills create a very different atmosphere from Kepwick village.

We'd recommend taking your time here.

At 5.8 miles, the route is long enough to feel like a proper walk but short enough that you don't need to rush.

For Lyn and me, that's a good combination.

Woodland Walking

Woodland plays an important part in the character of this route.

The western side of the North York Moors contains substantial areas of woodland within its valleys and along the escarpment.

Walking through trees creates a completely different experience from open moorland.

Views become more enclosed.

Light changes beneath the canopy.

Streams and gills cut through the slopes.

And depending on the season, conditions underfoot can change significantly.

Jenny Brewster's Gill

One of the evocatively named features in the wider Oakdale landscape is Jenny Brewster's Gill.

A gill is a narrow wooded valley or ravine, a word you'll encounter regularly in northern England.

The name Jenny Brewster has become connected with local folklore.

Stories have associated the area with illicit whisky distilling and an alleged local witch.

As with many old countryside stories, separating historical fact from folklore isn't always straightforward.

But the stories add another layer to the landscape.

Hidden Stills and Local Folklore

Remote moorland and wooded valleys were ideal places for activities people didn't particularly want the authorities to discover.

Local stories describe illicit stills hidden around this part of the North York Moors.

The isolated landscape would certainly have offered plenty of opportunities to hide from view.

We'd treat the more colourful tales as local folklore rather than proven history.

But that's part of the enjoyment of walking through old landscapes.

Not every story has to be completely verifiable to become part of local tradition.

The Cleveland Way

The Cleveland Way National Trail passes through the wider Oakdale and Osmotherley area.

The trail runs for more than 100 miles through some of North Yorkshire's finest scenery.

It combines inland moorland with the dramatic Yorkshire coast.

Around Osmotherley and the western North York Moors, walkers encounter historic tracks, wooded valleys and views from the Cleveland Hills.

Our 5.8-mile route is obviously much shorter.

But walking in this area gives you a taste of the same landscape.

Osmotherley

Osmotherley is one of the best-known walking villages on the western edge of the North York Moors.

It has been associated with travellers for centuries.

During the 19th century, Scottish cattle drovers used the village as an overnight stopping place while moving livestock south along the Hambleton Drove Road.

Today, walkers have replaced the cattle drovers.

Several major long-distance routes pass through or close to Osmotherley.

These include the Cleveland Way, Coast to Coast and Lyke Wake Walk.

Ancient Routes Across the Moors

The paths we use for recreation today often have much older origins.

People needed to cross the Hambleton Hills long before modern roads existed.

Farmers moved livestock.

Traders transported goods.

Pilgrims travelled between religious sites.

Communities needed routes between valleys and settlements.

Over generations, these journeys created tracks across the landscape.

Walking in the North York Moors therefore isn't only about scenery.

You're often following routes used by people for centuries.

Wildlife Around Oakdale

Woodland, open water, streams, grassland and moorland provide a mixture of habitats around Oakdale.

That gives wildlife plenty of opportunities.

Birds are naturally amongst the easiest things to notice.

The reservoir and surrounding vegetation can attract water-associated species, while woodland supports an entirely different range of birds and animals.

We aren't expert wildlife watchers.

But Lyn and I always keep our eyes open.

You never know what you'll see.

Seasonal Changes

This is a route we'd expect to feel very different depending on the season.

Spring brings fresh woodland growth.

Summer gives you fuller vegetation and long daylight hours.

Late summer can bring colour to the surrounding moorland.

Autumn transforms the woodland.

Winter opens up views through the trees but can bring more challenging conditions underfoot.

That's one of the joys of walking in Yorkshire.

The same landscape never looks exactly the same twice.

Is the Upper Oakdale Reservoir Walk Difficult?

We'd rate it as moderate.

Our route is 5.8 miles, so the distance itself isn't excessive for regular walkers.

However, there are climbs, descents and varied countryside terrain.

That makes it more demanding than the easy routes we feature on The White Shire.

You don't need to be an expert hiker.

But we'd recommend a reasonable level of fitness, proper walking footwear and taking your time.

Weather can also make a big difference.

Wet conditions may make woodland and countryside sections more challenging.

Why We've Rated It Moderate

Our difficulty ratings are based on Lyn's and my own experience of walking the routes.

We don't simply look at the mileage.

A flat five-mile canal walk can feel completely different from five miles involving hills, woodland and uneven paths.

That's why we've rated Upper Oakdale Reservoir moderate.

It's still a very enjoyable walk.

There's just a little more effort involved than on some of our easier White Shire routes.

How Long is the Upper Oakdale Reservoir Walk?

Our GPS-recorded route from Kepwick is approximately 5.8 miles.

How long you'll need depends on your walking pace, conditions and how often you stop.

We don't rush.

We're normally taking photographs, looking around and enjoying the landscape.

On a walk like this, we'd rather allow plenty of time.

The reservoir and surrounding North York Moors scenery deserve more than a quick glance.

Is Upper Oakdale Reservoir Worth Walking To?

We think so.

It's not a huge reservoir or a major tourist attraction.

That's actually part of the appeal.

The setting is peaceful.

Wooded slopes and countryside surround the water, creating a lovely focal point within the walk.

And the reservoir's history adds interest.

Knowing that this quiet body of water once formed part of Northallerton's water supply changes how you see it.

Is Kepwick Good for Walking?

Definitely.

Kepwick's position beneath the Hambleton Hills gives walkers access to some beautiful countryside.

You can explore woodland, farmland, valleys and higher ground within the North York Moors National Park.

It's also quieter than many of Yorkshire's famous walking centres.

If you enjoy discovering less obvious places, Kepwick is well worth considering.

Is the Walk Suitable for Beginners?

That depends on your fitness and walking experience.

We've rated it moderate rather than easy.

At 5.8 miles, the distance is manageable for many people, but there are gradients and varied terrain.

If you're completely new to countryside walking, we'd probably suggest trying one of our easier White Shire routes first.

If you're comfortable walking several miles over mixed terrain, this could be a good introduction to the North York Moors.

What Footwear Would We Recommend?

We'd wear proper walking footwear.

Woodland paths and countryside tracks can become muddy or slippery following rain.

Good grip makes a significant difference.

Weather conditions in upland areas can also change quickly.

Even on a relatively modest 5.8-mile route, we'd check the forecast before setting off.

What Else Can You Explore Near Kepwick?

Osmotherley is an obvious place to visit.

It's one of North Yorkshire's great walking villages and has an attractive historic centre.

Mount Grace Priory is another fascinating attraction in the wider area.

The ruins and reconstructed buildings provide an insight into the lives of the Carthusian monks who once lived there.

Cod Beck Reservoir is another popular walking area nearby.

Or you could simply choose another of our North Yorkshire walks and continue exploring the North York Moors.

See what's on in North Yorkshire for events, shows, festivals and ideas for another day out.

Explore More of North Yorkshire

If you've enjoyed discovering Upper Oakdale Reservoir, there are plenty more places to explore with us around North Yorkshire.

Discover more North Yorkshire walks and find another route personally walked, photographed and GPS recorded by Michael and Lyn.

Or explore our complete collection of Yorkshire walks, covering routes across North, West, South and East Yorkshire.

Looking for somewhere else to explore? Discover North Yorkshire attractions and interesting places to visit.

You can also see what's on in North Yorkshire for events, shows, festivals and ideas for another day out.

About Michael and Lyn

Michael and Lyn Palmer explore Yorkshire together on foot, personally walking, photographing and GPS recording the routes featured on The White Shire.

Our walking guides combine first-hand experience with practical route information, local history and the character of the towns, villages and countryside we discover along the way.

We're not professional hikers – we simply enjoy getting out together, finding somewhere interesting to walk and discovering more of Yorkshire as we go.

Upper Oakdale Reservoir is a good example – a beautiful 5.8-mile route through a quieter corner of the North York Moors, with woodland, hills, history and a peaceful reservoir to discover along the way.

Upper Oakdale Reservoir Circular Walk from Kepwick

View our GPS-recorded 5.8-mile Upper Oakdale Reservoir Circular Walk from Kepwick below and use it to help plan your own walk.

Based on our own experience, Lyn and I would rate this route as moderate.

It's a step up from our easier walks, with more varied terrain and some climbing, but we think the scenery makes the extra effort worthwhile.

Take your time through the woodland and around Oakdale.

And when you reach Upper Oakdale Reservoir, remember that this quiet corner of the North York Moors once helped provide water to the Northallerton area.

Today, its purpose may have changed, but it still makes a lovely destination for a Yorkshire walk.