 Although the woods can be crossed along desire pathways, there are no official public rights of way.Fed by the Grimes Dike from the north of York Road, the Cock Beck runs in a southerly direction past Swarcliffe and Stanks' eastern borders, and joins the River Wharfe to the south of Tadcaster.Although the climate in Swarcliffe is generally relatively moderate, in  2011 it was reported that extreme winds had damaged the roofs of several flats in the Lombardy House block on Southwood Close.