An easy 5.5 mile walk starting and ending in Pateley Bridge and taking in the beautiful countryside of Nidderdale, the ruins of a 14th century church, alpacas and the river Nidd itself.
THE WALK
This walks starts and ends in the long stay car park in Pateley Bridge (parking) - Good value at just £1.80 for the day and plenty of spaces midweek, although I imagine this will be busier at weekends and school holidays.
Once we had setup it was over the bridge and up the hill along the high street. At the top of the high street follow the road around until you see the sign on your left directing you to the "Panorama walk". After a short climb along the Panorama Walk a church can be seen in the distance, these are the ruins of St Mary's Church - a little further up and you come to a walled path on your left taking you directly to the ruins.
The church is in remarkably good condition given its age - the first mention of a Church here is in 1320. It closed in 1826 when it became too small for the congregation. Lots of nooks and crannies to explore here and definitely worth the diversion from the Panorama Walk. Once you have finished exploring the ruins follow the path around the back of the church, through a gate and onto open farm fields where you will heading to rejoin the Panorama Walk. The fields also enjoy great views of Pateley Bridge and the the wider Nidd valley towards Gouthwaite Reservoir. Definitely an opportunity for the camera.
Continue along the Panorama Walk, stopping briefly at the viewing point to enjoy the views across the valley including "The Two Stoops" a victorian folly. Leave the viewing point and head on past a small settlement at Knott and then onward to Blazefield.
At Blazefield itself the path passes a number of properties with stunning views across the dale brining you out on Sandy Lane. Just off the lane the path takes you across a number of farm fields. One of the highlights of this stretch of the walk is the large llama/alpaca farm. Keep following the path across the fields until you reach Kiln House and start your descent down off the hill and across the B6165 to rejoin the River Nidd.
Once you have crossed the road follow the short path down to the tree covered riverbank. There are a number of paths coming together at this point including a bridge. Stay on this side of the river and follow the path west back towards Pateley Bridge.
The path back to Pateley Bridge along the river is very easy to follow and passes through a number of points of interest on the way including the remains of a railway bridge that has since been reclaimed by the vegetation.
After a mile of walking along the river you enter the Glasshouses Mill complex (currently being restored). The old twine mill, on the banks of the Nidd, was constructed between 1812 and 1814. The mill was used to produce flax, then hemp and latterly, rope. Local rumour has it that the mill supplied rope to the White Star Line and most notably, Glasshouse rope was used on the Titanic. The complex also houses a large dam, fish farm and weir. It is at this point the path along the river becomes the Six Dales Trail.
On leaving Glasshouses you are on the home straight and soon back in Pateley Bridge after a mile or so of walking. All in all straight forward walk with something for everyone.
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