Take the A59 out of Harrogate to Blubberhouses and turn right towards Thruscross. This is quite a long walk this one, difficult in places, but you get to see the reservoir, walk in woods and at one point across the moor (pooches on leads hers as there are lurking sheep!) Ive gone the opposite way to the site map picture at the the bottom of the page! You could take a picnic on a sunny day as there are ample places along the way to tuck in. More Pictures of Thruscross. More Info.
Click the map to go to Google maps.
From the car park, head down the steps at the dam end of the car park and cross the dam.
After crossing the dam follow the road round to the left, after a few hundred yards there is an entrance to the Reservoir on the left. This takes you along the side of the Reservoir and slowly upwards until you meet the edge of woodland.
At the edge of the woodland the footpath goes steeply upwards towards a style, with a wall to your right and the woods to the left. At the top cross the style and head up the hill to moorland (this can be overgrown depending on the time of year). follow the footpath signs leading you left and across and eventually to stone formations and then steeply down.
At the bottom of this decline there is another style cross it and you soon come to a little bridge, once over the bridge there are steps upwards, to your left is another style back into the forest.
Follow the path through the forest until it reaches a road.
At the road you can turn back into the forest on your left and walk across a small causeway which leads through the woodland with the Reservoir to your left back to the car park.
Now back to the car park and if you have taken any snake you can have a little light refreshment.