Fewston Reservoir

Fewston Reservoir is a reservoir near Harrogate built in 1879. Its neighbouring reservoir, Swinsty, is the smaller of the two, and is fed from the overflow from Fewston. 

We parked in the main carpark between the two reservoirs. You can also park at the far end of Fewston which is about half-way round the walk. Leaving the carpark, we took the path on the left through a gate and a field of tiny spring lambs. There was other wildlife too – geese and cormorants on the water and a red kite. 

The walk around Fewston is just over 3 ½ miles in total, so you could easily add Swinsty on too. 

Penshaw Monument

Penshaw Monument stands on Penshaw Hill, just outside of Sunderland. At 446ft tall, it is a half-scale replica of the Greek Temple of Hephaestus. It was built in 1844 and was gifted to the National Trust in 1939. It can be seen for miles and I’ve often driven past it and wanted to get a closer look.

The Lambton Worm was said to 'live coiled around Penshaw Hill, only stirring to terrorise the villagers of Penshaw below'. Apparently, if you look carefully you can see the marks where the giant worm once slept.

Hidden in one of the pillars of the monument is a staircase leading to the top. For many years visitors could climb to the top of Penshaw for spectacular views until in 1926, a boy fell to his death from the top of the Monument and the doors to the top were closed. They remained shut for 85 years until the National Trust reopened the stairs in 2011. You can now climb the monument during the summer months, but we had to make do with looking at the giant structure from the bottom. And I don’t think I’ll be brave enough to come back and climb it!