Cod Beck ~ Easy Walk

Distance Covered: 2 miles Time to Complete Walk 1.5 hours

Suitable for dog walking: Yes

Outside Osmotherley, Cod Beck Resorvoir is a very popular destination for a short walk. Skirting the boundary of the resorvoir, this walk also takes you through the forest surrounding it and is an ideal base to start walking or for a dog walk. 

General Safety Tips: Watch out for ice in the winter. The forest area has fallen trees towards the end of the walk which you can either traverse or walk around. 

                                             The Cod Beck Walk

Getting There

From Middlesbrough head onto the A19 southbound. Turn left onto the Osmotherley turn off and left again into Osmotherley. At the main junction in the village head left and this will take you to Cod Beck. Two car parks are available after the resorvoir, a small one and a bigger one soon after. Both are free of charge and this walk starts from the smaller one.

Maps of the Cod Beck Walk 

The Walk

From the car park head up the path to the left.

Follow the path to a green gate and head through it and over a wooden bridge.

Head onto a track as it enters the forest and next to the reservoir.

Follow the reservoir until you come to a fork in the track. Head right to the wall next to the reservoir for a full view of the reservoir.

Head back to the track and into the forest through a large gate.

Head along the track and climb up to the top as it winds upwards.

At the top turn left and follow the path.

At a junction turn right up a long path.

At the end of the track head past an interesting statue and through a gap in the gate.

Turn left and follow the track

Look for a path to your left which heads down to the forest again.

Head over a brook on some stepping stones and the go over or past the step ladder.

Head onto the grassy track and soon head right downwards to the path below.

Negotiate your way over fallen trees by either hopping over them or ducking underneath them. This will take you back to the initial path near the reservoir. Turn right and head back to the car park.

Cod Beck Reservoir

Cod Beck Reservoir is a man-made lake situated within the North York Moors National Park and near the village of Osmotherley in the English county of North Yorkshire. The reservoir is named after Cod Beck, which is the small river that fills it.

The building of the reservoir was started in 1948 with final completion in 1953. The dam head height is listed as being 24.4 m (80 ft) and an old pit at Crathorne was re-opened in 1950 to supply clay to line the dam head.

The treatment works was closed down in 2006 after the deterioration of the quality of the water from the moorland and the presence of Cryptosporidium; water is now supplied to Northallerton and Thirsk, and to Osmotherley village, from Thornton Steward Reservoir. Cod Beck Reservoir now operates as a compensation reservoir to maintain flow into the downstream reaches of Cod Beck and as such, it is still operated and maintained by the local water company.

The reservoir is surrounded by woodland and just upstream is the local beauty spot called Sheepwash. Because of its position at the north of the North York Moors, the site attracts many visitors from Darlington and Teesside.

Cod Beck Reservoir is open to the public for walking and enjoyment of the countryside but campfires, camping, illegal raves, fishing and swimming are prohibited for public safety.

Cod Beck Reservoir is recognised as being important to toads. Common Toads hibernate on the moorland and have been subject to death on the road that runs alongside the reservoir. Volunteers go out on mild wet nights in February for a two to four-week period to rescue the toads. Yorkshire Water have similarly said that they will only release water in drought conditions if it is of benefit to the environment downstream to alleviate the plight of the toads.

Cod Beck also supports Brown Trout, Grayling, Bullhead, Eel, Stone loach, Minnow and Lamphrey. Evidence of Otters has also been noted.

York Nutcracker Trail ~Easy Walk

Distance Covered: 2.5 miles Time to Complete Walk 2 hours

Suitable for dog walking: Yes

York comes alive at Christmas with its xmas markets and its overall Christmassy feel with shops adorned with xmas decorations. This walk follows the festive Nutcracker trail in which you have to find 10 Nutcracker statues dotted around the historic city. This years theme is countries of the world. Great for kids who will love finding each Nutcracker!

General Safety Tips: York does get manic at Christmas take care crossing roads. 

The York Nutcracker Trail walk

Getting There

The walk starts from the train station and during Christmas this is the best way to travel to York and is £22 for a return journey from Middlesbrough.

Maps of the York Nutcracker Trail walk

The Walk

From the railway station turn left on Station Road and head over Lindal Bridge.

Once over the bridge head left into the museum gardens and the start of the Nutcracker trail and the first Nutcracker is in this area.

Exit the museum and gardens and cross over the road to Lendal which soon becomes Coney Street. Look toa side alley on your right for Nutcracker number 2.

From here head back to the Christmas tree on Stonegate and head up and then right onto Swinegate for Nutcracker number 3.

From here head to York Minster which you cant miss. Head to the right of the minster and up the street and Nutcracker 4 is on your left.

Nutcracker 5 can be found by heading up and under the York castle walls. Cross over the junction and the nutcracker can be found on your left on the pavement.

Retrace your steps to the castle wall and head left along Aldwick which is the first left turning you come to. Keep ahead and cross over the road for Nutcracker Number 6.

Follow the road to your left down The Stonebow and turn left onto Picadilly. Cross over the road to the pavement and Nutcracker number 7 can be found here.

Turn around and head along Piccadilly until you come to a path next to the river on your left. Emerging into a car park, head out of the car park towards Clifford Tower.

Head down to the right along Tower Street and down cross over the bridge. Once over the bridge head right onto Skeldergate. Nutcracker number 8 can be found on the street.

Keep ahead on Skeldergate and then turn left onto Micklegate. Follow the road you will find Nutcracker number 9 on the other side of the road.

Keep on Micklegate until you come to a junction and head left onto Queens Road. Follow the path back to the railway station and search for Nutcracker number 10 around the railway station.

York Nutcracker Trail

This year's theme, Christmas Around the World, celebrates the unique and diverse communities that make up York.

Find all 10 countries and use the clues painted on each one to work out which country is represented. Pick up a map from the Visitor Information Centre on Parliament Street to write your answers on, then submit your entry at the Visitor Information Centre or post it into Santa’s Post Box in Museum Gardens for your chance to win a £250 York Gift Card!

About the designs

To create the designs, York BID and MarcoLooks have worked alongside a local community group at Our City Hub. The Hub works with newly arrived migrants and refugees to access the resources they need to thrive in York and feel connected to their community. Inspired by their suggestions, each Nutcracker design is painted in the colour of its country’s flag and celebrates some of its most well-known landmarks.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Bianca Vartic (Cultural Integration and Partnerships Manager) and the Our City Hub project team, volunteers, and community groups for their involvement. To find out more about their activities in the York area, please visit Our City Hub on Facebook or Instagram.