General Information Little-known Nidderdale, on the eastern edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park offers some of the most peaceful walking in the Dales. Starting at the attractive little town of Pately Bridge, the Nidderdale Way is a circular walk around this beautiful valley. Attractions along the way include the wind-weathered gritstone ‘sculptures’ of Brimham Rocks; How Stean Gorge, a spectacular limestone ravine; Yorke’s Folly, built to resemble a window arch from a ruined abbey, and Ripley Castle with its deer park and gardens laid out by Capability Brown.
The route visits several attractive villages such as Middlesmoor, clinging tenaciously to the hillside; Ramsgill, with a spacious green surrounded by stone cottages with flower-filled gardens and an imposing ivy-clad former hunting lodge; and Ripley, a beautiful 19th century estate village rebuilt to resemble a French village. It has a fine medieval market cross with stocks alongside and the churchyard contains a fascinating pre-Reformation ‘weeping cross’: sockets at the bottom cater for the knees of four ‘penitent’ souls.
Although the Nidderdale Way is a low-level route, it does climb the valley sides to follow gritstone edges and moorland fringes for rewarding views over the dale.
Travel Information Total distance: 53 miles (85km) Duration: 5 nights, 4 days walking Minimum/maximum daily distances: 10 ½ miles (17km)/14 ½ miles (23km) Starting point of holiday: Pately Bridge End of holiday: Pately Bridge Most convenient major city and International airport: Manchester Airport. Train to Harrogate (2 hours 30 minutes) then bus to Pately Bridge (50 minutes). Outward journey from London to Pately Bridge: Train from London Kings Cross to Harrogate (about 4 hours) then bus to Pately Bridge (50 minutes). Return journey to London at the end of the holiday: Bus from Pately Bridge to Harrogate (50 minutes), then train to London Kings Cross (approximately 3 hours).
Waymarking: The trail is very clearly waymarked and is easy to follow. Season: All year
Itinerary Day 1: Travel to Pately Bridge where your first night’s accommodation has been booked.
Day 2: Pately Bridge to Middlesmoor. 14 ½ miles (23km)
Day 3: Middlesmoor to Bewerley. 10 ½ miles (17km)
Day 4: Bewerley to Ripley. 14 miles (22.5km)
Day 5: Ripley to Pately Bridge. 14 miles (22.5km)
Day 6: A chance to explore Pately Bridge before departure.
Accommodation & Meals 5 nights accommodation in en-suite rooms with private bathrooms (where available) in selected hotels, inns, and guesthouses. Traditional English breakfast.
What’s Included Door to door luggage transfer. Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook describing the trail. An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night, town plans, information about facilities and places of interest along the trail and a kit list. Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.
Extra nights/rest days Pately Bridge is a lively little town with a handful of shops and a terrific little museum of dale life with a re-created village shop, office and house interior to look around. If you fancy somewhere peaceful, consider the pretty little village of Middlesmoor at the head of the dale. Ripley is a good choice if you would like to visit Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden. This remarkable World Heritage Site comprises a spectacular ruined abbey, a magnificent Elizabethan mansion and one of the finest Georgian water gardens in Europe.
