The Washburn Valley

More views of the Washburn Valley

Fitting unobtrusively between the valleys of Lower Wharfedale and Lower Nidderdale, the Washburn Valley is probably one of the least famous of all of the Yorkshire Dales - despite its close proximity to the popular towns of Harrogate, Otley and the city of Leeds.

With its several reservoirs and fir plantations the Washburn valley differs in character to the wilder beauty of some of the surrounding dales, though it is still well worth a visit. Of particular interest is the quaintly named village of Blubberhouses, and near the head of the valley the reservoir at West End, where the village of the same name was submerged when the valley was flooded on completion of the dam. Local fokelore maintains that when the level of water is low the old church bell tower can still be seen, its ghostly bell ringing out as a sinister lament for the lost village...

Existing villages in the dale include Leathley, Lindley and Timble (near Otley), and of course Blubberhouses itself.

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