Ripon to Knaresborough – 71 miles

You start from Ripon with its historic buildings, Cathedral and good selection of shops, cafes and pubs.  Leaving Ripon along the banks of the River Skell the walking trail soon heads through rolling farmland before reaching the Water Garden at Fountains Abbey and then the Abbey itsself.

Leaving the Abbey’s parkland the Nidderdale Way rejoins the River Skell for a short distance.  Soon the walking trail passes Markington Hall 14th century moated manor house.  The landscape is now dominated by rolling farmland and sleeply little villages with fine honey coloured stone houses.  Walking on toward Brimham Rocks the landscape changes from grasslands to open moorsland with upland sheep farms. The area around Brimham Moors is famous for Brimham Rocks, a large area of rocky outcrops eroded over time into weird and interesting shapes.

Leaving Brimham the path heads down the valley to the famous North Yorkshire town of Pateley Bridge on the banks of the River Nidd. The town offers an interesting selection of local shops and tearooms which offer a great selection of local Yorkshire produce as well as a fine Fish and Chip Shop for the hungry walker.

Walking on from Pateley Bridge the Nidderdale Way soon reaches the  Yorkshire hamlet of Wath with its lovely Inn The Sportsmans Arms. The walking route then follows the Gouthwaite Reservoir and onto the open dales of Upper Nidderdale. At the hamlet of Lofthouse the path follows the River Nidd on to open moorland and The Scar House Reservoir with its interesting history and cafe. The Nidderdale Way then follows the South West  side of Nidderdale offering great views of Masham Moor and Lofthouse Moor. St Chads Church at Middlesmoor is well worth a visit as is the local pub The Crown Inn. How Stean George is also well worth a visit.

The Nidderdale Way now follows the western banks on the River Nidd to Nidd Bridge before heading back to Gouthwaite Reservoir. The path passes Ashfold Side Beck Lead Mines before heading back to Pateley Bridge.

Walking on from Patley Bridge the path soon reaches Bewerley with its fine 15th Century church. The next landmark on the route is Yorke’s Folly built by unemployed miners in the 19th century. The path follows high ground to Summerbridge where it rejoins the River Nidd. The landscape is now dominated by rolling farm land and pleasent hamlets.  The village of Ripley is a gem with its castle, lake, a great selection of local shops offering some of the finest Yorkshire produce. From Ripley you take the Nidderdale Greenway trail along the River Nidd to Knaresborough. The town of KnaresBorough has much to offer the visitor with its Castle, viaduct, large selection of shops, resturants and the famous Mother Shipton’s Cave.