Description - A 10km walk to Pateley Bridge via Brimham Rocks involving some climbing. The walk in the main goes across agricultural land with some very muddy sections near Brimham Rocks.
Grade - More suited to scout age upwards.
FROM: Summerbridge 200623
TO: New York 197629
From the sports field cross the river via the road bridge and turn immediately left along a bridleway that follows the river upstream. On the opposite bank you will see first the woodyard and second the weir. Ignore any tracks and paths that go off to the right and continue along the bridleway to New York Mills industrial estate, easily recognised by the old mill building still containing the mill clock which you can see straight in front of you. Turn right and walk past the fire station to the road.
FROM: New York 197629
TO: Junction Road and Bridleway 200638
Turn left along the road for 50 yards, cross the road and turn right up the bridleway to Braisty Woods. The track goes steeply uphill with splendid views over Nidderdale to Braisty Woods farm. At the T-junction immediately before the farm is reached turn right and then left and continue to the minor road.
FROM: Junction Road and Bridleway 200638
TO: Brimham Rocks 206649
Turn left along the minor road. The path you are looking for has been diverted at this point and now goes through the second field gateway on the right. The path hits the fence on the opposite side at approximately its midpoint. If you head slightly to the left of the green farm buildings ahead you can't go far wrong. Cross the stile and the paths follows the old field boundary to a stile where a bridleway is reached. Turn right and walk uphill along the bridleway. After about half a kilometre a path is reached turning right across a field. At this point you have two options:
1. Continue up the bridleway until the road is reached turn left and after half a kilometre Brimham Rocks are reached.
2. Turn left along the path which goes straight across the field to the left of the bend in the wall on the opposite side. The path goes through the gate and along a muddy path through the wood past 'Adams Ale'. A large rock with those words inscribed on it. Once the other side of the wood is reached do not go through the gate into the field, the path goes uphill to the right following the wall. You will soon come to another gate by a kink in the wall, go through the gate and around the right of the farm buildings before turning right up the track to Brimham Rocks.
FROM: Car Park Brimham Rocks 207645
TO: White Houses: 193652
From the car park walk back along the entrance road and take the track on the right signposted Druids Cave Farm Private Road. The track turns right and continues around the base of the rocks. The waymarked track goes around the right of the farm and after the barns continues between two walls and turns to the left continuing steadily downhill. The track passes through a small wood turns to the right and continues along the edge of a wood until a small farm is reached. Take the footpath to the right just before the farm entrance is reached sign posted 'Smelthouses and Ford'. After 50 metres take the left fork, after going downhill a T-junction of paths is reached. Turn right away from Smelthouses and continue until the stream is reached. Cross the footbridge and turn right up the track. Take the first track on the left along the waymarked path which soon turns right and continues up the hill. The path is waymarked all the way to the top until a house is reached. Turn left along the footpath and continue until the small collection of houses called White Houses is reached.
