Preparation is key

Nidderdale Moorland Group

If you are out beating on the moors during autumn, it is important to be prepared for the weather to change quickly.

Some great pictures were sent in from one of our moorland beaters this weekend showing storm clouds passing over the top of the dale and Angram and Scar House reservoirs. This is a welcome sight, as the reservoirs are still very low after the summer.

Water from these reservoirs is sent 37 miles via a pipeline to Chellow Heights water treatment works at Bradford.

Amazingly, no pumps are used as the water is gravity fed all the way with the pipeline passing through long tunnels in hillsides and over bridges.

Nidderdale was chosen by Bradford Corporation as the site of its new reservoirs in the late 18th century as the valley was steep sided and had a high level of rainfall which made it an ideal place to build the reservoirs to feed the growing population of the city of Bradford.

If you look closely, it is still possible to see the foundations of the village built to house the workers building Scar House reservoir which was completed in 1936.

Beating on the moors at this time of year can be challenging as the weather can change very quickly from sunshine to mist, mizzle and heavy rain, but we still get to see some fantastic views of the dale.