Keighley to Skipton (Aire Valley)

Aire Valley between Keighley and Skipton


A    Addingham Moorside

B    Chelker Reservoir

C    Cononley Ings

D    East Riddlesden Hall

E    Embsay Reservoir and moorland

F    Low Wood, Riddlesden

G    Redcar Tarn

H    Silsden Floods

J    Silsden Reservoir

K    Snaygill

L    Skipton Moor

M    Stockbridge Nature Reserve, Keighley






Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported with additions by Bradford Ornithological Group (2018).
A    Addingham Moorside
B    Chelker Reservoir    see Upper Wharfedale page
C    Cononley Ings is an area of water-meadow to the west of the main Keighley-Skipton road beyond the Kildwick round-a-bout. It is enclosed by the River Aire and the Leeds to Skipton railway line. Access is via paths from the Skipton to Cononley road. The ground becomes flooded following heavy rain and from November to March it is home to flocks of wintering ducks, geese and waders. A good range of species have been recorded here and a visit is recommended, a telescope is an advantage.Visitors should be aware of the need to cross a busy railway line if the approach is from the hillside on the Cononley road. Specialities include Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Lapwing and Curlew.
Summary of 2017 records
D    East Riddlesden Hall   
E    Embsay Reservoir and Moor     
F    Low Wood, Riddlesden   
G    Redcar Tarn is a small area of water high above Keighley with a paved walk of about 1 mile round it.   It can hold a surprisingly large number of ducks and geese.  Waders on passage including Godwits, Little Ringed Plover and Redshank have been recorded here.  Gulls also make regular visits, these have included Little Gull and Mediterranean Gull and the nearby fields hold Lapwing,  The damp areas below the Tarn have attracted Jack Snipe and Golden Plover.
Summary of 2017 records
H    Silsden Floods   An area of low lying ground, alongside the A629 trunk road, between Silsden Bridge and Low Holden, is susceptible to flooding during the wettest part of each year. The River Aire encroaches across the fields at this point and floods the ground to one or two feet. These temporary conditions have been excellent for attracting waders, geese and swans.  Shelduck, Pintail, Greenshank, Whooper Swans, Teal, Wigeon and good numbers of Lapwing have all been recorded. There is possibly an interchange of birds with Cononley Ings, a further four miles to the west.
Summary of 2017 records
J    Silsden Reservoir
K   Snaygill   
L   Skipton Moor
M    Stockbridge Nature Reserve, Keighley was the first area acquired by the group. This is a wetland site in the valley bottom adjacent to the river Aire and has a scrape and small shallow lake. Good views are obtainable from our large hide over-looking the site. Warblers breed in the vicinity, Kingfishers use the site daily and Water Rail are regular winter visitors. Keys to the hide are provided for all members and a daily log is kept on-site.
Conservation work is carried out on Thursday and Sunday mornings - Contact Shaun Radcliffe 01274 770960 for more details
Summary of 2017 records
Share by: