The Nidderdale Way
Yorkshire
Difficulty: Medium
Length: 55.17 miles
Day 1 (14.6 miles)
Starting from the pretty village of Ripley with its castle, gardens and shops you head gently upwards along farmers tracks and lanes. These wind you gently through bluebell and wild garlic rich woodlands, low marshy meadows and the occasional pocket of gorse filled heathland. The paths have been generally good although some extra signage at times wouldn’t hurt. Climbing gradually higher you eventually come to the wide expanse of Brimham Moor. This is a complete change in landscape being filled with heather, gorse, bilberry and young trees. The area is especially well known for its unusual rock formations where you can walk, climb or crawl amongst these gigantic natural sculptures. Leaving the rocks you head sharply downwards before another climb through stunning woodland with its streams, waterfalls and rapids. This leads you onto the homewards straight (for today at least) gradually dropping down towards the little town of Pateley Bridge and its many shops, café and even ruined church to explore.
Campsite: Riverside Campsite
Day 2 (16 miles)
Starting from Pateley Bridge you make good progress along the mostly level meadows and small woods next to Gouthwaite Reservoir. Soon however this easy walking ends and the path climbs towards the upper reaches of Nidderdale, here the landscape dramatically changes to the sheep farmed open moorland you often associate with the Yorkshire Dales. After passing through a number of small hamlets and farmsteads the path gets steeper still with long hard climbs, sharply down then up again! This section although stunning turns into a real test of stamina and eventually drops you down to the Scarhouse reservoir and its dramatic dam. After yet another long climb you head over to the village of Middlesmoor and its much needed pub, a gentle downhill mile from here is Howstean gorge where I stopped for night 2.
Campsite: How Stean Campsite
Day 3 (10.9 miles)
A leisurely start today leaving plenty of time to explore Howstean gorge and its caves but first a slap up bacon cob in their café. Winding through the gorge you see little birds, wild garlic and even a lion living in this magical place, well worth the time to visit if you’re in the area. Eventually you have to start walking though and you first drop down back towards Gouthwaite reservoir repeating some of the easy path from yesterday in reverse. When you reach the hamlet of Wath you cross the road and head steeply up into the hills. My first plan was to pitch up here for the night but I had made such good progress fuelled by my bacon cob that I decided to push on with the trail. Moving up the valley you eventually come to the desolate ruins of Prosperous lead mine. Leaving the ruins you walk over unspoilt moorland and areas of sheep farming before dropping swiftly down to Pateley Bridge for the night.
Campsite: Riverside Campsite
Day 4 (13.6 miles)
Loosening tired limbs you first head steeply upwards through Strikes wood until you reach the moorland and the two towers of Yorke’s folly on the top. Crossing over the moor you eventually begin to drop down through more pasture land until you reach the village of Dacre Banks. From here there is a long section of walking next to the river Nidd along tree lined paths and open farmland reminding me very much of the Derwent valley closer to home. After a few villages and many miles you move away from the river and climb to a small drive through some pretty woods that takes you through the grounds of Ripley castle and back to the car (via the Ripley ice cream shop!) to end your walk.