Stay at home

With serene valleys and geological drama, this quiet corner of the Yorkshire Dales is one of the region’s most beautiful secrets

Rocks and rambles in Nidderdale

Why go

On the doorstep of Harrogate, York and Leeds, the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) — full of rolling hills, pastureland, rivers and ravines — is an easy escape from the city. Standout sites include Fountains Abbey — the largest monastic ruins in the country — and Studley Royal Park, but attention here is rightly focused on the area’s natural splendour. Nidderdale’s allure lies in its ability to quietly impress, not with its landmarks but with its babbling brooks, drystone wall-edged fields and walking trails. nidderdale.co.uk nidderdaleaonb.org.uk

What to do

How Stean Gorge is the adventure heartland of Nidderdale. This limestone ravine on a tributary of the River Nidd is perfectly suited to adventurers, offering everything from caving and gorge walking to via ferrata. However, if you’d rather explore at a slower pace, don a hard hat and walk around the edge of the gorge. Alternatively, head out on the Crackpots Mosaic Trail, which winds for some seven miles through the area and takes in 22 mosaicked checkpoints that celebrate the flora and fauna of the region. howstean.co.uk

Where to eat

Tucked away in the valley outside Pateley Bridge, The Sportsman’s Arms has an inviting atmosphere. Go on a Sunday for roasts with to-die-for Yorkshire puddings. For lunch, head to Pateley Bridge for award-winning pork pies and pastries from Kendall’s

Farm Butchers. sportsmans-arms.co.uk kendallsfarmbutchers.co.uk

Don’t miss

Located in heather-filled moorland, Brimham Rocks is a curious sight. The sandstone formations have been shaped by millions of years of weathering and erosion, meaning the craggy precipices, outcrops and boulders have taken on some fantastical, bizarre shapes. Park up, take a picnic and bring a camera. nationaltrust.org.uk/brimham-rocks

Where to stay

Grantley Hall may look like a traditional country pile, with its long driveway and manicured gardens, but within the 17thcentury building you’ll find everything from a subterranean nightclub to three faultless restaurants. Gum boots are available to borrow for stomps around the local area. From £340, B&B. grantleyhall.co.uk JOSEPHINE PRICE

ABOVE: Natural rock formations at Brimham Rocks