THE reservoirs of Upper Nidderdale lie in a vast area of remote but beautiful countryside. However, from Middlesmoor the tracks and paths are good and the 12 miles of this walk pass quickly, giving plenty of time for a full winter day’s walk.

There is parking in the village of Middlesmoor at the road end. From here head north-west along a good track used by farmers and workers on the reservoirs. The track climbs steadily to Rain Stang (the trig point at nearly 1,500 feet is just off path to the right) before the views open up impressively to the north and back down the valley near How Stean Gorge to the left.

From the high point the track carries on for a few hundred metres before dropping steeply towards the first of the two man-made bodies of water in the Upper Nidd.

Scar House Reservoir was completed in 1936 and provides water for Bradford – plenty of it as the dam wall itself is nearly 200 feet high.

The reservoirs have excellent fishing, with brown trout the most common catch. For the walker it's also a fine location for bird watching.

On arrival at the reservoir head west (left) alongside the waters until you arrive at the second reservoir, Angram. Go no further west. Ahead is bleak country, peat hagged moorland. I once visited... never again!

Cross the dam of Angram Reservoir and head north-east (right) along a path which soon turns into a good track to the north of Scar House Reservoir. On reaching the track let your imagination take over as to what has become known as the Lost Village of Lodge.

Remains exist of a village that almost certainly dated back to the Middle Ages. During the summer of 2016 archaeologists discovered remains that confirmed its ancient beginnings. In the 19th Century lodge was a busy community, situated on a well-travelled pack horse route, with many nearby farms – even before the arrival of the reservoir builders. Now most, but not all, is buried under the reservoirs. Remains of the reservoir works – including a narrow gauge railway – are more visible. It's a truly fascinating bit of history.

From the lost village follow the excellent track east to the end of Scar House Reservoir then take the footpath which climbs for 100m, ignoring the main track which drops to the dam. The path (part of the Nidderdale Way) heads over the wonderfully named Woo Gill. It's near here that three tinkers' bodies were once discovered, headless, in a place known as Dead Man’s Hill.

Turn left and climb to the high path on the rim of the dale. I do prefer this high route purely for the views both behind you to the west and ahead to the south, but there are alternatives lower in the valley itself.

The path meets a shooters' track and carries on its southerly course, sticking close to the rim of the Nidd valley. After a further mile the track arrives at the spectacularly situated Shooters Lodge. From here take the bridleway steeply downhill into the valley at Thorpe Farm. Cross the River Nidd at the farm and walk for a quarter of a mile alongside the river before taking the footpath to your right. This sting in the tail climbs nearly 200 feet back into the village of Middlesmoor.

Jonathan Smith runs Where2walk, a walking company based in the Yorkshire Dales. He has published three books on walks in the Dales – The Yorkshire 3 Peaks, The Dales 30 Mountains and the new Walks without Stiles, all of which are available direct from the Where2walk website. On the site you can also book a navigation training day in Long Preston, near Settle (Beginners or Compass & Contours). Dates and further information are available on the website, where2walk.co.uk, which also features hundreds of walks across Yorkshire and beyond, from easy strolls to harder climbs.