I already posted a couple of digital pictures from this hike around Damflask reservoir back in August, but the ones shown today are all on film. It’s not the complete set of images from the day as I changed rolls of film partway through the walk and I’ve not yet scanned the others, but I expect they will appear at some point in the future.
We’ve had a long spell of very hot and dry weather through the summer here in the UK (indeed, as has much of Western Europe). Parts of the country were hit by wildfires more serious than would normally be seen in a dry period, and many parts of the nation were placed under drought conditions.
At the time these pictures were taken drought conditions had not yet been imposed by Yorkshire Water, but it’s quite clear by the reservoir levels that insufficient rain had fallen to keep then at a healthy volume (although, looking at an older image I took in 2017 which is very similar to the picture above, the reservoir has been similarly depleted before).
These water gauges give an indication of how the water level has fallen.
This is the spillway from the reservoir for when it overflows. It doesn’t look like much water has flowed over it for some time.
The reservoir would reach the treeline in normal conditions, and the triangular spit of land would be completely submerged.
It will be interesting to revisit in a few months to see if the water has returned to a more healthy level – particularly given we are forecast to have a wet and stormy autumn followed by a cold winter due to this year’s El Nino.
Nikon F80 & Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 ED VR on Fujifilm Acros II. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°
Taken 22 August 2026.
