Haverah Park & Beaver Dyke Reservoir

Mixed farmland and the small Beaver Dyke Reservoir (also called John o' Gaunt's Reservoir due to the proximity of John o' Gaunt's Castle ). There is a path around the reservoir taking in the pathway over the dam. Two benches on the north side offer a good vantage point over the water (there is no access to the water's edge). The larger lower reservoir was drained in 2015.

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Parking

Limited roadside parking

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Access

Public Rights of Way. Access from:1. opposite cricket club at Beckwithshaw, a few lay-by spots on LHS opposite caravan park;2. Penny Pot Lane (SE 210550) small car park on left at start of path;3. SE229560 via Long Liberty Farm;4. Sun Inn (SE 207537)

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Terrain

Footpaths can be uneven and marshy in places.

Habitat:

Grassland, Lake, Stream, Woodland

About the location

On the north side of the water there are two seats. Useful for a lunchbreak with a good view of most of the reservoir and the castle ruins on the far side. Good hard standing here for a telescope! The main reservoir, also known as Lower Beaver Dyke Reservoir, was constructed in 1890 and had a surface area of 9 ha. In 2008 the reservoir's owner, Yorkshire Water, decided that it was not economic to maintain its ageing structures. It was decommissioned between 2013 and 2015 by breaching its dam and channelling a stream in the bed of the former reservoir. A residual lake of 0.5 ha was retained. The water of the reservoir was relatively nutrient rich, but it was known to suffer from potentially toxic blooms of blue green algae.