Pateley Bridge Essentials

A truly beautiful place

Pateley Bridge is full of tranquil charm as it nestles in the heart of Nidderdale, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The peace of this beautiful area has provided inspiration for writers and artists alike, and kept many a visitor returning year after year to enjoy the serenity. Coldstones Cut is a haven for tranquility. A man made land sculpture cut in to the side of Coldstone limestone quarry, the views are spectacular and on a clear day, you can see all the way to the coast!

It’s worth highlighting that Pateley Bridge would make an excellent base for lovers of the great outdoors as there is a wealth of walks and bike rides to explore when in this little patch of the world.

Life back in the day

To experience early Dales life, visit Pateley Bridge’s Nidderdale Museum, housed in the original Victorian workhouse, where a cobbler’s shops, school room and artefacts tell the story of years gone by. For all of you with a sweet tooth, be sure to pop into England’s oldest sweet shop and treat yourself – a handful of Yorkshire mixture and a few Pontefract cakes will be certain to put a smile on anyone’s face!

Yummy Food and Drink

To revive you after all your Nidderdale excursions, Pateley Bridge has some wonderful tea rooms, pubs and restaurants to suit every taste – whilst the internationally acclaimed Yorke Arms Restaurant is located just a short drive from Pateley Bridge in Upper Nidderdale – well worth the visit!

Natural beauty at its best

Brimham Rocks is a fascinating spectacle of natural rock formations in weird and wonderful shapes surrounded by breathtaking views across the Yorkshire Dales. Yorkshire’s ‘Little Switzerland’, or How Stean Gorge as it’s more commonly know, is a dramatic limestone cleft that plummets over 80 feet in some places…luckily it is crossed by several narrow bridges allowing you some truly remarkable views. Tom Taylor’s Cave is another wonderful family day out whether you hire a bike and get to grips with nature or relax in the cafe while the children enjoy the playground. The fantastic geological formations of Stump Cross Caverns are well worth exploring, where you’ll end up 20m below the surface and burrowing through the fascinating limestone formations that have been in the making for the last few million years.

Finally, no visit to the Yorkshire Dales would be complete without a visit to the Oldest Sweet Shop in England at Pateley Bridge for a truly magical and memorable experience. Row upon row of glass jars filled with handmade traditional sweets weighed out by the quarter of a pound into old fashioned scales. Smell the aroma of sweets as you marvel at the old building dating back to the 1600’s with its original features, fixtures and fittings.

Browse: more on the Yorkshire Dales & North Yorkshire.