Leighton Reservoir

Leighton Reservoir is a reservoir which drains via the River Burn to the River Ure in North Yorkshire, England. It neighbours Roundhill Reservoir and is about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Masham. It takes its name from the nearby village of Leighton. Work on the reservoir was started by the Leeds Corporation in 1908, and although the major parts of the building process were over by March 1926, the final cementation was not completed until 1941. The reservoir was allowed to fill with water over the winter of 1926–1927. A newspaper report from 1910, estimated that the final cost of the construction would be £437,000 (equivalent to £56,347,000 in 2023). Although the Leeds Corporation intended to build another reservoir in Colsterdale on the River Burn, this never came to pass, and Leighton Reservoir was constructed on two tributaries of the Burn; Pott Beck and Spruce Gell. Water from the reservoir is used to compensate for abstraction from the River Ure. Although not in Nidderdale, the reservoir is within the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Leighton is accessible for fishing and has a car park. The reservoir is on land owned by the Swinton Estate and they stock the waters with fish. Like its near neighbours in Upper Nidderdale, the construction of Leighton reservoir (and Roundhill) necessitated the building of an industrial railway to bring in materials for construction. A 2 ft (610 mm) 6-mile (9.7 km) railway was built from the north end of Masham railway station where a transhipment yard was located to transfer freight between the narrow and standard gauge lines. The line opened in 1905 and was closed by 1930. The reservoir has a mean depth of 36 feet (11.1 m), a surface area of 91 acres (37 hectares), a catchment area of 5,600 acres (2,260 hectares), and it lies at an elevation of 617 feet (188 m) above sea level.

Nearby Places View Menu

Leighton, North Yorkshire

Leighton is a hamlet in the civil parish of Healey in the county of North Yorkshire, England. It is near Leighton Reservoir that provides for Yorkshire Water. From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the Borough of Harrogate, it is now administered by the unitary North Yorkshire Council.

Roundhill Reservoir

Roundhill Reservoir is situated near Leighton Reservoir in North Yorkshire, England. It was constructed by Harrogate Corporation early in the 20th century. Water from the reservoir is fed into Yorkshire Water's grid. Roundhill reservoir is overlooked by a stone tower, Carlesmoor sighting tower, which was used to triangulate the end points of a water tunnel from the reservoir to Harrogate. It is one of several Colsterdale towers. Although not in Nidderdale, the reservoir is within the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Gollinglith Foot

Gollinglith Foot (GOWN-li FOOT), historically also spelt Gownley Foot, is a hamlet in the civil parish of Healey in the county of North Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Burn near the foot of Colsterdale. It takes its name from the moorland ridge known as Gollinglith 2 miles (3 km) west of the hamlet, between the valleys of the River Burn and Spruce Gill Beck. Gollinglith Foot was once a thriving mining community. Iron, lead and coal have all been mined from the area. It once had its own school, founded in 1787. From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the Borough of Harrogate, it is now administered by the unitary North Yorkshire Council. The Six Dales Trail passes through the hamlet.

East Nidderdale Moors

East Nidderdale Moors is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the Pennines, North Yorkshire, England. Part of East Nidderdale Moors is within Yorkshire Dales National Park and part of it is within the Nidderdale National Landscape. East Nidderdale Moors extend from the peak of High Ruddes in the south (above the town of Pateley Bridge) to the peak of Flamstone Pin in the north (above the hamlet of Caldbergh). This area is protected because of the important moorland and peatland habitats here and because of the diversity of bird species. The full name of this protected area is: East Nidderdale Moors (Flamstone Pin - High Ruckles) SSSI. One of the streams that flows through this protected area is called the River Burn. East Nidderdale Moors SSSI includes Colsterdale moor, Masham moor, Lofthouse moor, Dallowgill moor and Pateley moor.