Tips for Harrogate and nearby Yorkshire Dales walks

Hi Valjean -

If you are staying at Ripley Castle, there are some good walks out into the grounds of the Castle - they have Sequoias in the woodlands! - and there’s a nice cafe on site. I understand that the pub in Ripley is good too.

You are on the No.36 bus route (Leeds - Ripon, the red and black liveried buses) which run frequently and you could walk from Ripon out to Fountains Abbey (lots of good strolls in the water gardens and grounds). You could go via the Valley of the Seven Bridges, or by Studley Roger. There may be buses out to the Abbey site but if I’m honest I’ve never used them, so that needs a bit of research. *UPDATE: There are - not terribly frequent - buses to Fountains Abbey. See the National Trust’s Fountains Abbey website, the ‘Getting there’ section. See also DalesBus website. The Minster in Ripon is also worth a visit.

Staying in Ripley means you are handy for Harrogate itself - take the 36 in the opposite direction, towards Leeds. There are any number of good pubs in Harrogate - for instance check out Hales Bar near the Pump Room, reputedly the oldest pub in Harrogate - and out of town are the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens at Harlow Carr Gardens, which can be walked to through woodlands. Not sure what will be in bloom at the time you’re there (if I’m honest probably not much) but the walks in the grounds are good and there’s a branch of Betty’s tea rooms on site.

Even though I’m a local, the other day, just for the hell of it, we took the ‘free’ (tip what you like at the end) Harrogate Centre walking tour (with Henry unless my memory fails me) that meets by the war memorial at the top of Parliament Street opposite the main branch of Betty’s, which was fun and entertaining.

If you want to get out into the wilds you may need a car, but if the weather is kind, try the walk at the head of Nidderdale that follows the top of the Nidderdale Way from Lofthouse up to and across Scar House Reservoir and back over the top via moorland and Middlesmoor (The Crown at Middlesmoor is another excellent pub, but confusingly the pub a mile down the road at Lofthouse is also called the Crown, so don’t mix them up. Like I did!).

If driving (no realistic public transport options) check out Malham in the Dales and the classic Janet’s Foss - Gordale Scar - Malham Cove walk (three pubs in Malham all good) or the Trollers Gill walk from Burnsall (I can give you exact details of this if interested). Again, you’ll need the weather to behave for these as they can be exposed.

Or, you could catch the bus to Harrogate and the train to Leeds or stay on the bus into Leeds and take the train from Leeds to Ilkley where you can walk - steeply uphill I’m afraid! - onto Ilkley Moor - lots of routes up there and I may see you wandering about if you choose that as a destination!

There’s a ton to go at, so if anything I’ve mentioned tickles your fancy, please feel free to contact me for more expansive details. Similarly if there’s anything you’ve heard about that I’ve not covered, again please feel free to ask

Have a great trip!

Ian

Oh yes, go to Betty’s for tea and prepare to feel like a python 🐍 who swallowed a goat 🐐 !!

I did the walking tour Ian refers to and it was excellent. The day I was there in May the Royal Hall was open for tours and that was enjoyable. If the small spa museum across from the gardens is open pop in there. Interesting, very local. I did the gardens across the street but agree, not sure how good they’ll be in October.

Are you All Creatures fans? In the new series the house they use for Helen’s home is in Yockenthwaite. If you do rent a car, you can park in a layby in front of the house, walk across the bridge and head for the public foot path. Walk upstream (opposite direction of the house) as far as you’d like. You’ll pass some standing stones near the path which are actually the base of iron age huts.

Ian mentioned Fountains Abbey which I really enjoyed.

I also liked the village of Haworth and the Bronte Parsonage but you might need a car for that.

This is such a cool area!! I hope you enjoy it!

Haworth is very easy to get to by regular bus from Keighley, or even better on the Keighley and Worth Valley steam train from Keighley- but check as they don't run daily at this time of the year

I see that I've been beaten to Fountains Abbey - my choice too.

And the description of Betty's is right on.

Thank you so much to Ian, Pam, isn31c, and Nigel. We can't wait to start looking up all these places on our gigantic map! We chose Ripley Castle because of the ancient oak trees and the pub. We're a botanist and horticulturist so the tips on gardens, even in October, are much appreciated. Thank you!

I'm at my laptop this morning so easier to link a map in case you are All Creatures fans and also want to see this stone circle. The house they used for Helen's is labeled Mudd DL on this map. Googlemaps will not route you on the walking path but you can see it going thru sheep fields!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/CRTNLoTLh5mpTcRj9

Hi again -

I am reminded that the 36 bus in the direction of Leeds passes through Harewood and that it’s a short walk from the village to the stately pile of Harewood House which is open seven days a week, grounds from 10.00 am, house from 11.00 am (last entry to house 3.00 pm). There are very extensive grounds to wander around (can fill a day easily) and if the weather isn’t up to much the house is worth a look round. I’m sure you could Google it to see what you think!

Ian