Knaresborough & The Nidd Gorge

Friday, 12th November

20 Km (12.9 miles) -4 hours

OS Explorer 297 - Lower Wharfedale & Washburn Valley

A walk that, in some respects, got out of order ! I had planned to do the Nidd Gorge Walk (which came from Paul Hannon's "Harrogate and the Wharfe Valley" and to then wander around Knaresborough. Instead I combined two walks from the book and ended up with a 20 Km walk. Incidentally, this walk means I've now walked 270 miles since February this year - the plan was to walk 300 before the end of the year - looks as though I'm on track to achieve !)

Parking is available opposite "Mother Shipton's Cave" and, after the 1st November is a very reasonable £1.80 for 10 hours !! The first stage follows the "Harrogate Ringway" - a 20 mile circular walk that takes you right round the outskirts of Harrogate. This climbs out of Knaresborough amd eventually joins Bilton Lane, before turning off and heading towards Spring Wood - owned by the Woodland Trust.


The route through the woods is easily followed and well maintained, although after the past few days of torrential rain it was pretty muddy ! Eventually the path slopes down and joins the banks of the River Nidd.  This was is full flow and provided the perfect backdrop to the trees which, this year, are a particulalry beautiful blend of russets and browns. 

The route hugs the river bank with a few ups and downs until it leaves the river and cuts up, through a field to the Nidd Viaduct (GR SE307583). At this point you turn your back on the river and follow the old railway line until you meet Bilton Lane again.


Getting back to Kanresborough is just a case of following the Lane, eventually re-joining the outward stretch and back to "Mother Shipton's Cave" (closed !).


At this point I decided to continue and do the second of the Knaresborough walk in Mr. Hannon's book.  This goes downstream through the "tourist area" before climbing steeply to Crag Top - a narrow path that runs between houses and the edge of the precipice!

The route follows the road, past some pretty impressive houses before meeting the road at Grimbald Bridge.  The final section of the walk re-traces your steps, but on the opposite side of the river until you arrive back at Low Bridge, where you cross over and walk back to the car park.


The idea of combining the walks provided a good day out.  Perhaps, I should have taken a bit of break in between the walks as the last mile or so was real case of dragging feet ! However, a couple of hours and I've soaked in a hot bath and recovered ! 


Usual collection of photographs here