Blubberhouses Tree Trail, Blubberhouses Introduction Map This delightful 3 mile riverside walk is full of interest with a variety of tree species, an abundance of wildlife and OS Explorer 297: glimpses of an industrial heritage. The walk takes you up the beautiful valley of the River Washburn, returning via Lower Wharfedale Scaife Hall Farm to Blubberhouses. Yorkshire Water has created permissive paths linking the public rights of way so & Washburn Valley that walkers can enjoy a circular route. This is an enjoyable walk at any time of the year. Distance/Time Full route: 3 miles (5km) Shorter route: 2.5 miles (4km) 1-2 hours P 7 Walk route 14 13 Longer and Starting Point alternative routes Start from the Yorkshire Water car park P Parking next to the A59 at Blubberhouses. 15 Terrain 12 16 11 This is a moderate route on riverside paths and through farmland. The route is mainly on the level but some parts of 17 the path are uneven and can be muddy. 10 9 18 Useful Information 8 • This section of the river is used for 7 18b wild water canoeing events and 18a Yorkshire Water arrange increased outflow from Thruscross Dam for these. Water in the river can 6 therefore rise very rapidly and produce a strong current so you are strongly advised to keep away from 19 the river bed at all times. 5 • In the interests of the countryside, 4 wildlife and safety please keep dogs 3 under control and out of the ponds. 2 20 P 1 The Route 8. Shortly after these on the right river and bear right along a track that the track to the farm and the road. is some coppiced hazel: coppicing eventually arrives at a level surfaced 1. Taking great care, and when it is (meaning ‘to cut’) is an ancient area below Thruscross Dam. This is 18a. The permissive path: turn right safe to do so, cross the A59 road and technique to harvest small stems of a private parking area with a small down the hill following waymarks and turn right; walk along the grass verge hazel for weaving into basket ware stone utility building on the left. turn left onto the mill race. This mill behind the safety barrier. This section or fencing; the re-growth creates a race ran from Low Dam to the now of the road bridges the Washburn multi-stemmed tree. On the opposite 13. The construction of Thruscross demolished Westhouse Mill which River which is almost concealed by bank, the roots of the beech trees Reservoir was completed in 1966. The produced cotton, flax, linen and silk willow trees growing from the banks. extend up and downstream, a dam height is 39.2 metres and holds in the Victorian era. Follow the mill complex interwoven pattern providing back more than 1725 million gallons race to where a new permissive path 2. Just before the end of the safety cover and shelter for birds like grey of water. If you are feeling energetic takes you to the right downhill past barrier turn left down some steps to wagtails, dippers and wrens. you can continue up the very steep the cricket ground to the river, and descend the embankment. steps to the left, to the top of the retrace your steps downstream and 9. Go past a large mill pond on the dam from which you may view the back to the A59 road and car park, 3. Following the path upstream note right: known as Low Dam this would reservoir. taking great care as you cross the the lime trees on the left of the path. have served as a reservoir for a steady busy road. supply to the water-powered mill. 14. Turn immediately right as you 4. Continue along the path between Keep your eyes peeled for dragonflies enter the car park and cross the 18b. The bridleway route: continue the cricket field and the river. The in the summer months. surfaced area to a bridge, cross the through the field along a well-defined wall at the far side of the cricket field bridge and immediately bear right track. To your left on the skyline is the only visible remnant of the large 10. At the end of the mill pond on the along the riverside path back down behind the beech trees is the High Victorian textile mill complex that right you will notice an information stream. Alder trees predominate Apprentice House which used to once stood here. You will see evidence panel. This was created, along along the river. house the young mill workers. It of water control systems for the mill at with the wall and seat, as part of a is said that remote from the urban various places on the walk. restoration project of the wetland in 15. Continue downstream with the mill inspectors, these children were 2009. river on your right until you meet the worked very hard. A fine old ash tree 5. As you follow the path you will original path again at the first bridge. grows next to the track in the field. notice a number of tree species here 11. The valley broadens a little for Retrace your steps downstream to The three mounds planted with trees – broadleaf trees like alder along the a few hundred metres, and then where the path divides (location 11). seen to the right along the route are water’s edge, ash, beech, birch, elm, narrows where the wooded slope on spoil heaps from the excavation of a oak and sycamore, and conifers like the right converges on the river: at 16. A bridleway marker points you to culvert that ran from High dam to sitka spruce. this point the path meets a bridleway the left alongside the stone-lined mill power a turbine which is still standing coming in from the right. FOR THE race and up past a new plantation. in buildings occupied by the Cricket 6. A feature of this stretch of path SHORT WALK, turn sharp right here Take this path away from the river Club. Follow this track past Scaife is the odd-shaped beech trees, some and back down the valley following and gradually up into the woodland. Hall Farm and out onto the road. of which appear joined together. the bridleway that rises gently up past Note the crab-apple tree on the right This is most likely due to cutting a new plantation with the stone-lined of the path. 19. Bear right and continue downhill back the young trees many decades mill race running alongside (follow along the road, keeping close to the ago, possibly to create a hedge, and instructions from point 16). 17. At the end of the new plantation wall. Be alert for traffic and take subsequent neglect of the regrowth. a gate leads into a field. Continue care, but do pause to admire the Beech trees are not native to this area 12. FOR THE LONGER WALK, through the gate and along the track view down the Washburn Valley and and are likely to have been planted as continue upstream. The valley to the next gate with a stile next to it. Fewston Reservoir below. part of a landscaping scheme in the opens out with larch on the higher Victorian mill owner’s estate. slopes to the left, and the oak trees 18. From here there are two choices 20. The road meets the busy A59 of the ancient woodland at Hanging of return: a) Take a permissive path, at the bottom of the hill. Turn right 7. Beyond the little bridge over a side Wood on the far right. The dam of across the field to the right and return along the grass verge. Taking great stream are some mature lime trees Thruscross Reservoir forms the head along an old mill race and back past care, cross the road when it is safe to with their typical brush of growth of this section of the Washburn Valley. the cricket ground. b) Or continue do so and follow the path back to the round the lower trunk. Follow the path over a bridge over the straight ahead on this bridleway along car park..