Upper Nidderdale with Allan Benson
13 or 14 miles (21 or 22.5km) with less than 1000ft (305m) Total Ascent.
Today's walk is relatively flat for an "A" walk. Having previously walked around Brimham Rocks and the Yorke's Folly area today we will be walking 13 or 14 miles, mostly on the Nidderdale Way.
We start from Pateley Bridge and pick up the Nidderdale Way to follow Ashfold Side Beck through the now disused Merryfield Mines. We continue along the Nidderdale Way to Ramsgill at the northern end of the Gouthwaite Reservoir. There we cross over to the eastern side of the reservoir to Bouthwaite and make our way back to Pateley Bridge via the now disused railway line and Silverhill, hopefully in time for a nice cup of tea or something.
Greenhow Lead Mines with Colin Hunt
9¼ miles (14.9km) with 1150ft (351m) Ascent.
This is a varied walk with some walking on tracks and minor roads, some through old lead mine workings and a finish by the river Nidd.
Leaving Pateley Bridge we go along a bridleway past Eagle Hall to join the Nidderdale Way. From here we go past Coldstonefield Farm and out onto the B6265 at Greenhow. From the Miners' Arms we head to Brandstone Beck and the lead workings. Now we continue on to rejoin the Nidderdale Way. After more lead mining spoil we follow Ashfold Side Beck before turning to Heathfield, Spring Hill and Watch Bridge with a final stretch along the river back to Pateley Bridge.
Brimham Rocks with Dorothy Shackleton
8½ miles (13.7km) with 985ft (300m) Ascent.
We begin our walk today at the car park in Pateley Bridge. From here, crossing the bridge, we go uphill on the main street to take the Panorama Walk which is fairly steep at the beginning. We are now on the Nidderdale Way which we follow for much of the way to Brimham Rocks going through Blazefield, a very small hamlet.
After passing White Houses we leave the Nidderdale Way to walk near High North Pasture Farm. We follow a good track to the National Trust Boundary Notice and turn right to begin our walk through the weirdly shaped rocks which have been eroded by glaciation and weathering. We go downhill, on a path by the Visitor Centre, passing more rocks which have been given names such as "Frog" and "Sphinx". From Brimham Rocks we walk down to the River Nidd, cross to the other side at Harewell Hall, and follow a concrete path to enjoy the views back across the valley to where we were walking earlier in the day. Then field paths take us to Bayliss Gap (farm) and a lane where we rejoin the Nidderdale Way for the last stretch to Pateley Bridge.
The Nidderdale Way with Roy Smith
6 miles (9.7km) with 400ft (122m) Ascent.
Our walk today starts from Pateley Bridge. Leaving the coach park we make our way uphill through the town to the Panorama Walk where we are able to visit the old church ruins, now under restoration by English Heritage.
We join the Nidderdale Way to take in the panoramic views of the town and surrounding area. From the viewpoint we continue following the Nidderdale Way, past Blazefield and White Houses, to enter and pass through Low Wood alongside Fell Beck. We emerge from the wood and leave the Nidderdale Way at Smelthouses where we drop down to the River Nidd. We are now able to follow the river through the village of Glasshouses back to Pateley Bridge and some well earned refreshment.