Patley Bridge – Birding and hiking just don’t mix!!

Following B.S recent comments about Gouthwaite we decided on a tough hike from Patley Bridge to Gouthwaite and back.

We left Patley Bridge going north on the path to the West of the river Nidd, soon leaving it to join the road. Here we turned right and followed the road past, Wath Bridge turn off, and kept to the road along the west side of Gouthwaite Reservoir.

The reservoir was far from full with a huge sandbank at the top (Ramsgill) end.

We turned right just beyond the Yorke Arms Restaurant (least said about the Yorke Arms, easiest mended – ask Sue, Bri next time you see her!).

The reservoir was packed with birds. However the road is too far away from it, for any decent pics and with the walk being a long one, I only carried some lightweight bins so apologies in advance for any I.D. cock-ups/ or missed birds.

It’s a real shame that the viewing areas along the roadside provided by the water company are so poor, with some of the bushes overgrown obscuring the view.

This place could be a real tourist attraction for wildlife lovers, if they could just get a tad closer to the birds (without disturbing them obviously).

I dawdled along the road for a good 2 hours taking pics and scanning the water. I did not realise the length of the reservoir and by the time we had got to the top of it at Ramsgill we were both pooped. This was a bit of a problem, seeing we were only half way through the walk.

The sun shone, warm & brightly as we took the turn to Bouthwaite and followed the track down the East side of the reservoir – we were now quite far away from the water.

Bizarrely we were very aware of the passing traffic on the busy road on our outward journey never expecting to be nearly written off on the track at Bouthwaite.

A big Range Rover came quickly along the track behind us, when we noticed it we duly moved well into the side. The driver came within an inch of knocking Sue over. Then after picking up a large trailer, said farmer, Ranger Rover and trailer returned to try and write us off a second time.

We have 40 years of hiking experience and we have never encountered a D.H. like this one!

Anyway, we continued along this absolute gem of a track all the way to the Bridge pub (was the waterwheel pub I believe).

A long day with at least two lessons learnt.

I have not had time to digest all the photos (or my tea for that matter) 'cause it's Pool/snooker now, so I'll publish and be dammed .

Birds:-

20 Pheasant, 26 Moorhen, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Buzzard, Greylag Goose, 5 Red Legged Partridge, 6 Long Tailed Tit, 3 Kestrel, 2 Wren, Teal – many, c40 Coot, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck possible Scaup, 11 Cormorant, 3 Jay, > 100 Canada Goose, possible Redshank, Many Oystercatcher, 2 Heron, Mallard,  > 100 Lapwing, 2 Goosander at least, Pochard?, 3 Green Woodpecker calling, GSW calling, Common Gull, BHG, Poss. Pink Footed Goose, Weasel, Chaffinch,   poss Golden Plover - many, singing Chiffchaff, Robin, Raven calling overhead and others no doubt!!

Weasel - Honest!