Nidderdale Way

Nidderdale Way

A circular single-centre walk around Nidderdale on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

5 nights
55 miles
Moderate / Demanding

From £595 per person

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About this route

5 nights
55 miles
Moderate / Demanding
2nd January to 24th December

From £595 per person

Nidderdale Way

Book a walking holiday along the Nidderdale Way and delve into beautiful and underrated Nidderdale, just outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Quiet and undisturbed, this enchanting valley contains the wind-weathered gritstone sculptures of Brimham Rocks alongside How Stean Gorge, a spectacular limestone ravine. Ripley Castle lies here, too, with its fabulous deer park and gardens laid out by Capability Brown.

Lush woodland and rustling meadows line the walk between Ramsgill, a cluster of stone cottages, and Ripley, a 19th century estate built to resemble a French village. The Nidderdale Way is a low-level route on the whole, although it does climb the flanks of the valley to follow gritstone edges and moorland fringes for rewarding views over the dale.

The Nidderdale Way is a single-centre tour. Throughout the walk, you will stay in the same accommodation in Bewerley or Pateley Bridge. Pre-paid taxi transfers will take you to and from the trail each day, allowing you to pick up where you left off while saving you the bother of repacking your luggage every day.

Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays Nidderdale Way map
Circular trail beginning at Pateley Bridge
55 miles (87 km)
2nd January to 24th December

Holiday highlights

Admiring the varied scenery through the Yorkshire Dales, from high level moorland, lush woodlands and flowing meadows.

Visiting the sleepy Dales villages of Ramsgill and Ripley.

Discovering the best of The Dales’ attractions, including Brimham Rocks and How Stean Gorge.

Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
NIDDW A circular trail beginning at Pateley Bridge 5 nights, 4 days walking Moderate / Demanding £595
Prosperous Lead Mine - Prosperous Lead Mine
Prosperous Lead Mine Prosperous Lead Mine
Ripley Castle - Ripley Castle
Ripley Castle Ripley Castle
Looking back at Gouthwaite Reservoir - Looking back at Gouthwaite Reservoir
Looking back at Gouthwaite Reservoir Looking back at Gouthwaite Reservoir
Pony at Colville House Farm - Pony at Colville House Farm
Pony at Colville House Farm Pony at Colville House Farm
Prosperous Lead Mine - Prosperous Lead Mine
Prosperous Lead Mine Prosperous Lead Mine
Looking toward Wath Village - Looking toward Wath Village
Looking toward Wath Village Looking toward Wath Village
Prosperous Lead Mine - Prosperous Lead Mine
Prosperous Lead Mine Prosperous Lead Mine
Ripley Castle - Ripley Castle
Ripley Castle Ripley Castle
Pony at Colville House Farm - Pony at Colville House Farm
Pony at Colville House Farm Pony at Colville House Farm
Path Along Gouthwaite Reservoir - Path Along Gouthwaite Reservoir
Path Along Gouthwaite Reservoir Path Along Gouthwaite Reservoir
Path Along Gouthwaite Reservoir - Path Along Gouthwaite Reservoir
Path Along Gouthwaite Reservoir Path Along Gouthwaite Reservoir
Nought Moor - Nought Moor
Nought Moor Nought Moor
Passing Bouthwaite - Passing Bouthwaite
Passing Bouthwaite Passing Bouthwaite
Looking toward Wath Village - Looking toward Wath Village
Looking toward Wath Village Looking toward Wath Village
Nidderdale Way Signage - Nidderdale Way Signage
Nidderdale Way Signage Nidderdale Way Signage
Pateley Bridge Near - Pateley Bridge Near
Pateley Bridge Near Pateley Bridge Near
Pateley Bridge NIdderdale Start Sign - Pateley Bridge NIdderdale Start Sign
Pateley Bridge NIdderdale Start Sign Pateley Bridge NIdderdale Start Sign
North End of Gouthwaite Reservoir - North End of Gouthwaite Reservoir
North End of Gouthwaite Reservoir North End of Gouthwaite Reservoir
Walkers Leaving Pateley Bridge - Walkers Leaving Pateley Bridge
Walkers Leaving Pateley Bridge Walkers Leaving Pateley Bridge
Ripley Castle - Ripley Castle
Ripley Castle Ripley Castle
Looking toward Wath Village - Looking toward Wath Village
Looking toward Wath Village Looking toward Wath Village
Toward Pateley Bridge - Toward Pateley Bridge
Toward Pateley Bridge Toward Pateley Bridge
Toward Lofthouse - Toward Lofthouse
Toward Lofthouse Toward Lofthouse
Nidderdale Way Sign - Nidderdale Way Sign
Nidderdale Way Sign Nidderdale Way Sign
Walking toward Gouthwaite Reservoir - Walking toward Gouthwaite Reservoir
Walking toward Gouthwaite Reservoir Walking toward Gouthwaite Reservoir
Walking toward Prosperous Lead Mine - Walking toward Prosperous Lead Mine
Walking toward Prosperous Lead Mine Walking toward Prosperous Lead Mine
St.Chad's church - Middlesmoor - St.Chad's church - Middlesmoor
St.Chad's church - Middlesmoor St.Chad's church - Middlesmoor
Walking around Brimham Rocks - Walking around Brimham Rocks
Walking around Brimham Rocks Walking around Brimham Rocks
Toward Bewerley - Toward Bewerley
Toward Bewerley Toward Bewerley
View over Lofthouse - View over Lofthouse
View over Lofthouse View over Lofthouse
Walking on Nought Moor - Walking on Nought Moor
Walking on Nought Moor Walking on Nought Moor
Woodlands near Gouthwaite Reservoir - Woodlands near Gouthwaite Reservoir
Woodlands near Gouthwaite Reservoir Woodlands near Gouthwaite Reservoir
Walking toward Lofthouse - Walking toward Lofthouse
Walking toward Lofthouse Walking toward Lofthouse
Misty Morning toward Heathfield - Misty Morning toward Heathfield
Misty Morning toward Heathfield Misty Morning toward Heathfield
Signpost near Lofthouse - Signpost near Lofthouse
Signpost near Lofthouse Signpost near Lofthouse
View from Nought Moor toward Patteley Bridge - View from Nought Moor toward Patteley Bridge
View from Nought Moor toward Patteley Bridge View from Nought Moor toward Patteley Bridge
Through Woodlands toward Lofthouse - Through Woodlands toward Lofthouse
Through Woodlands toward Lofthouse Through Woodlands toward Lofthouse
River Nidd - River Nidd
River Nidd River Nidd
St Mary the Virgin - St Mary the Virgin
St Mary the Virgin St Mary the Virgin
View of Gouthwaite Reservoir - View of Gouthwaite Reservoir
View of Gouthwaite Reservoir View of Gouthwaite Reservoir
Brimham Rocks Cliff - Brimham Rocks Cliff
Brimham Rocks Cliff Brimham Rocks Cliff
Signage near Pateley Bridge - Signage near Pateley Bridge
Signage near Pateley Bridge Signage near Pateley Bridge
Along Nought Moor - Along Nought Moor
Along Nought Moor Along Nought Moor
Crossing Foster Beck - Crossing Foster Beck
Crossing Foster Beck Crossing Foster Beck
Farm Landscape - Farm Landscape
Farm Landscape Farm Landscape
Farm Landscape - Farm Landscape
Farm Landscape Farm Landscape
Farm Animal Next to Gouthwaite Reservoir 2 - Farm Animal Next to Gouthwaite Reservoir 2
Farm Animal Next to Gouthwaite Reservoir 2 Farm Animal Next to Gouthwaite Reservoir 2
Couple walking toward Prosperous Lead Mine - Couple walking toward Prosperous Lead Mine
Couple walking toward Prosperous Lead Mine Couple walking toward Prosperous Lead Mine
St.Chad's church - St.Chad's church
St.Chad's church St.Chad's church
Brimham Rocks - Brimham Rocks
Brimham Rocks Brimham Rocks
Brimham Rocks Cliff - Brimham Rocks Cliff
Brimham Rocks Cliff Brimham Rocks Cliff
Brimham Rocks Cliff - Brimham Rocks Cliff
Brimham Rocks Cliff Brimham Rocks Cliff
Farm Animal Next to Gouthwaite Reservoir - Farm Animal Next to Gouthwaite Reservoir
Farm Animal Next to Gouthwaite Reservoir Farm Animal Next to Gouthwaite Reservoir
Brimham Rocks - Brimham Rocks
Brimham Rocks Brimham Rocks
Gouthwaite Reservoir Bridleway Sign - Gouthwaite Reservoir Bridleway Sign
Gouthwaite Reservoir Bridleway Sign Gouthwaite Reservoir Bridleway Sign
Entering Nidderdale National Landscape - Entering Nidderdale National Landscape
Entering Nidderdale National Landscape Entering Nidderdale National Landscape
Looking back at Gouthwaite Reservoir - Looking back at Gouthwaite Reservoir
Looking back at Gouthwaite Reservoir Looking back at Gouthwaite Reservoir
Brimham Rocks View - Brimham Rocks View
Brimham Rocks View Brimham Rocks View
Gouthwaite Reservoir Spillway - Gouthwaite Reservoir Spillway
Gouthwaite Reservoir Spillway Gouthwaite Reservoir Spillway
Goose Family - Goose Family
Goose Family Goose Family
Leaving Prosperous Lead Mine - Leaving Prosperous Lead Mine
Leaving Prosperous Lead Mine Leaving Prosperous Lead Mine
Couple Walking toward Prosperous Lead Mine - Couple Walking toward Prosperous Lead Mine
Couple Walking toward Prosperous Lead Mine Couple Walking toward Prosperous Lead Mine
Looking back at Gouthwaite Reservoir 2 - Looking back at Gouthwaite Reservoir 2
Looking back at Gouthwaite Reservoir 2 Looking back at Gouthwaite Reservoir 2
Heading toward Middlesmoor - Heading toward Middlesmoor
Heading toward Middlesmoor Heading toward Middlesmoor
Leaving Heathfield - Leaving Heathfield
Leaving Heathfield Leaving Heathfield
Heading back to Pateley Bridge - Heading back to Pateley Bridge
Heading back to Pateley Bridge Heading back to Pateley Bridge
Leaving Prosperous Lead Mine 2 - Leaving Prosperous Lead Mine 2
Leaving Prosperous Lead Mine 2 Leaving Prosperous Lead Mine 2
Farm near Harrogate - Farm near Harrogate
Farm near Harrogate Farm near Harrogate
Leaving Pateley Bridge - Leaving Pateley Bridge
Leaving Pateley Bridge Leaving Pateley Bridge
Gouthwaite Reservoir Bridleway Sign - Gouthwaite Reservoir Bridleway Sign
Gouthwaite Reservoir Bridleway Sign Gouthwaite Reservoir Bridleway Sign
Leaving Middlesmoor - Leaving Middlesmoor
Leaving Middlesmoor Leaving Middlesmoor
Gouthwaite Reservoir - Gouthwaite Reservoir
Gouthwaite Reservoir Gouthwaite Reservoir
Gouthwaite Reservoir North Area - Gouthwaite Reservoir North Area
Gouthwaite Reservoir North Area Gouthwaite Reservoir North Area
Goose Family - Goose Family
Goose Family Goose Family
Gouthwaite Reservoir Morning - Gouthwaite Reservoir Morning
Gouthwaite Reservoir Morning Gouthwaite Reservoir Morning

Customer reviews from the Nidderdale Way

“Interesting and varied environments with plenty of wildlife. It is such a pretty & varied route that there is much to be appreciated on each day - moorland, woodland, river, vast scenery, wildlife - all fabulous.”
Mr Anderson, UK
“The Nidderdale way is a wonderful scenic walk in the Yorkshire Dales. Added to that it was very quiet and we encountered very few walkers or bikers on the route. It is easy to find and very well way marked. Contours communication and info including guide book and OS map perfect. It was all beautiful.”
Ms Jackaman, UK
“Great shorter walk in a beautiful area. Nice having the same accommodation in this case in central Pateley Bridge. And our taxi driver was THE BEST, great character and very flexible with helpful info of a local who cares. Would recommend this holiday to those after a shorter walk with manageable ascents and distances. Will always book another holiday with you when I return to the UK during Spring-Autumn, but that's only every few years when there isn't a pandemic on.”
Mr Bayley, UK
“Beautiful Scenery well described within valuable guide. Most places well waymarked - fairly difficult to get lost. Nidderdale is fairly quiet compared to other dales (a good thing) marked with changing scenery from upland moors to low lush pastures. Even though we weren't blessed with good weather still a lovely experience. Accommodation at the Crown Hotel, Middlesmoor was very good with a great views over Nidderdale. A lovely Yorkshire welcome. Parking available throughout stay with no charge. Staff were very friendly nothing was too much trouble even bacon for the dog! A great easy to Moderate walking experience in early autumn. Lovely scenic views throughout the walk. Interesting places to visit - Stean Gorge, Fountains Abbey and Bringham Rocks.”
Mr Robinson, UK
“Scenery, weather and accommodation all came together perfectly. Thoroughly enjoyable and possibly better staying at two locations rather than in this instance. Would recommend the holiday to others, particularly as an introductory walk to long distance paths. Have already booked another holiday in September.”
Mr Twigg, UK
“The places we stayed were all excellent and the taking on of our luggage worked well. We wish there were more circular walks like the Nidderdale Way.”
Mr Box, UK
“My accommodation, taxi transfers, weather and walk were outstanding. It was a fabulous break. Although I was moved to a different accommodation days before the holiday, it worked out very well. I’ve been a customer since 2004.”
Mr Frankham, UK
“This holiday worked out well for us. We had a brilliant time, the weather was perfect too! It worked out well being in one accommodation for the week, being transported to each part of the walk by the taxi driver (who was very helpful).”
Mrs Woods, UK
“We thoroughly enjoyed the route which was varied.”
Mr Balme, UK
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