Nidderdale
STROLL AND SCRAMBLE
1
SE191637 From the pub car park head up the bridleway opposite. After 100m turn left on a tiny path, confirmed by a stag’s head badge on a tree to follow the edge of the woodland round. Pass a swinging sign that reads Knox Hall and follow the track right for 0.5km, alongside Fell Beck.
2
SE192642 At the lane turn left for 50m before turning off right on the Nidderdale Way (marked with a Curlew), signed to Pateley Bridge, soon passing a massive, mossy old stone wall on the left (curlew signs). Cross the footbridge when you come to it, then turn right uphill on a path which switches back left past a gate marked private (clearer on the ground than on the map). In 100 yards leave the grassy path on a narrower path breaking right, which heads through woods of birch and rowan. Ignore a cross path when you reach the grounds of a farmhouse.
3
SE197654 At the footbridge, instead of going left over it, turn right over a stile. Soon the sky is open overhead again as you head from gate to gate across fields towards High North Pasture Farm, views over Nidderdale opening up behind.
4
SE205653 The last wall and gate mark the start of Brimham Rocks/National Trust land. Once through the gate turn left on a narrow grass path alongside a wall, until it turns sharp right uphill towards higher ground. Wherever you get an option, take the most uphill path to get to summit, viewpoint and visitor centre. Explore freely and scramble around the rocks, testing your skills, or visit the highlights of the 65 named rocks on the National Trust’s 1.8km Circular Walk, which you can print from bit.ly/ brimhamcircular.
5
SE208648 When finished, leave via car park exit track, turning right before the road at Druid’s Cave Farm sign. Follow the track as it goes down and right, then at the fork turn left and downhill, through a farmyard (exiting on its left). Note the microwave as letterbox!
6
SE204641 Cross a stile to rejoin the Nidderdale Way going right. At Low Wood House turn left down the lane to Smelthouses (not into the garden as the sign suggests). At the lane, turn briefly left uphill then right into the largely tree-tunnelled bridleway. The walk finishes opposite Ye Olde Oak.