Pateley Bridge and Smelthouses

Jim Grindle

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The walk is not as extensive as that to Brimham Rocks, but with a steep start on the lane out of the town it goes high enough to give good views on the outward leg, followed by a woodland and then a riverside walk. The first objective is the mediaeval church high above the town; having climbed to it you can understand why a replacement was built when the money became available. After this steep start the walk becomes much easier.

England - North England - Yorkshire - Yorkshire Dales

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Church, Flowers, Food Shop, Gift Shop, Great Views, Industrial Archaeology, Museum, Nature Trail, Play Area, Pub, Public Transport, Restaurant, River, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

3/1/2011 - Graham Hindmarsh

WPT003. Gate is in the middle of the wall at the back of the church. Not on the right as the directions suggest. WPT016 The last sentence 'Before you get to the road you come to a row of houses on the right at which point you take the signpost 'Public Footpath Brimham Rocks'which leads down the side of the houses. WPT017 The directions as written were very confusing and it is easy to go wrong here. It would be better written as follows: The path is enclosed as it passes the houses and goes into a field. Go straight on and straight on through the next field to a squeeze style at the bottom left. Follow the path down to a gravelled track. WPT019 There was no sign to Smelthouses as you cross the bridge. Rewrite as follows; Cross the bridge and turn immediately Right. The path follows a stream on your right and then drifts away to the left. Look out for and take the 'Smelthouses' sign on your right (about 30 metres from bridge) that is easy to walk past. Walk through dense woodland, mainly holly and leave the wood at a step style.

1/17/2011 - Jim Chapman

Did this walk on 16/01/2011. Wonderful to visit the church near the start (and a good excuse to get one's breath back after the steep pull out of Pateley Bridge). The people of Nidderdale seem to house collections of animals in their fields - geese, donkeys, Shetland Ponies and Jacobs Sheep all spotted. Wonderful descent through the woods to Smelthouses - must do it again in the summer months BTW - it rained for the whole three hours we took to do the walk !!