Cod Beck Reservoir, Osmotherley
More Articles in the Danby Wiske to Swainby subsection
Panorama of Cod Beck Reservoir looking along its length from the north shore
Cod Beck Reservoir, Scarth Moor, Coast to Coast
Cod Beck Reservoir is one mile north of Osmotherley. There is ample parking available and attractive circuitous walks, making it a haven for easy and scenic walking. North west of the Reservoir is Scarth Wood Moor which is an SSSI, with many of its own attractions, e.g. there is an orthostatic wall and many burial cairns.
Cod Beck Reservoir is no longer used as a reservoir, but was in use as such from completion of its building in 1953 until closure of its treatment works in 2006, following a deterioration in the quality of the water, and the presence of cryptosporidium (crypto) which is a parasite that can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal illness and diarrhoea.
Cod Beck Reservoir
The lake and its surrounds are of importance to common toads that hibernate in the moorland. Brown trout, grayling, bullhead, eel, stone loach, minnow and lamprey populate the lake, and otters have been seen there.
Cod Beck Toads
Common toads abound on Scarth Wood Moor, and in the Cod Beck woodlands that encircle the Reservoir. The Moor is separated from the Reservoir by Quarry Lane, a minor road between Osmotherley and Scarth Nick. When the Toads are ready to spawn they need access to a lake or river and many have to negotiate Quarry Lane, resulting in a large number of toad deaths. Volunteers have been organised to help them across.
Common Toad Overwintering
Common toads overwinter (as opposed to hibernate) and on warmer days are still active. For most of the year they reside in the rough grasses of Scarth Wood Moor and Pamperdale Moor and in the Cod Beck Woodlands.
Cod Beck Woodlands
The Cod Beck Woodlands consist mostly of coniferous trees managed and maintained by the Forestry Commission. There are broadleaves around some of the woodland margins.
Otters at Cod Beck Reservoir
Otters are now common at Cod Beck and Cod Beck Reservoir. They feed on the well stocked lake fish, preferring eels, trout and chub. Crayfish also thrive in the Reservoir and add to the otter's diet.
Mute Swans at Cod Beck
Mute Swans are also known by their latin name Cygnus Olor, and they have a constellation named after them - Cygnus the Swan. Mute Swans are one of the heaviest flying birds in the UK. The male swan is known as a cob, the female as a pen and young birds as cygnets.
Coast to Coast Trail Guide
Hiking the Coast to Coast
"Hiking the Coast to Coast" is a digitally enhanced eBook available from Apple Books for all people who have either a Mac, an iPhone or an iPad, and is designed to accompany you on your walk of the Coast to Coast path. The trail guide contains Ordnance Survey maps and other advanced mapping features, step by step directions, hundreds of colour photographs, details of the route, its conditions in different weather and research snippets relating to places of interest along the way.
