Nidderdale Way

N Yorkshire

A long-established route in the Yorkshire Dales from the lowland pastures to the open fells near the source of the River Nidd.

From Pateley Bridge the route follows the Nidd north, keeping to the east of Gouthwaithe Reservoir, to Lofthouse. Here the Way loops round the head of the valley to Scar House Reservoir. The route returns along the south side of the dale and retraces the outward route on the east side of Gouthwaithe Reservoir before looping away from the Nidd to visit Merryfield Mines and Heyshaw Moor. After Dacre Banks the Nidd is again followed to the village of Hampsthwaite where the route heads to Ripley with its castle. The Way now follows the northern side of the dale, passing the gritstone outcrops of Brimham Rocks high above the dale and the old lead mill at Smelthouses, on its way back to Pateley Bridge. Most of the route is in the Nidderdale AONB.

The downloadable guide from the Upper Nidderdale Landscape Partnership describes the old route using the road on the west of Gouthwaite Reservoir with the safer eastern route described as an alternative.

Rucksack Readers have a comprehensive new guide to the Nidderdale Way published in Spring 2019. Working with North Yorkshire County Council the author, Beth Rimmer, has agreed some route changes with NYCC to eliminate some dangerous road walking and taking practical diversions which have long been obstructed. The path across Heyshaw Moor has been improved with a heather cut.

The route outlined below reflects these changes which are not marked on current (2019) OS mapping.

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Details:

Path Type:	Paths Marked on OS mapping
Waymark:	Curlew motif on named signposts
Attributes:	Challenging National Landscape Lake/Reservoir/Loch Moorland River
Start and Finish:	SE157656 - Pateley Bridge, N Yorkshire
Web Sites:	Nidderdale Way Walking Guide Clare Balding completes the Nidderdale Way [YouTube video] THE NIDDERDALE WAY (YouTube Video)

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook	Nidderdale Way  (Rucksack Readers  - 2023 )
Route Description - PDF	Nidderdale Way - Walking Guide Complete  (Upper Nidderdale Landscape Partnership  - 2018 )

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