Barden is a civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England.

[4] Barden is derived from the Old English berdene, and means the valley where the barley is grown.

The Upper reservoir also is connected to the Nidd Aqueduct, which sends water from Nidderdale and Wharfedale to the Chellow Heights treatment plant in Bradford.

[10] Barden Moor itself covers an area of 25 square miles (65 km2) and stretches from Embsay in the west and Bolton Abbey in the south, to Burnsall in the north and the River Wharfe in the east.

[11] The moor is used for shooting grouse between August and December each year, which can lead to paths across it being closed for public safety.