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Brimham Rocks Walk

2.8 miles (4.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Brimham Rocks is a National Trust owned site with a collection of fascinating rock formations. You can explore the labyrinth of paths while enjoying fabulous views over Nidderdale.
This circular walk starts from the on site car park where you can pick up trails heading around Brimham Moor where there's pretty heather to see. The trails will take you around the ancient rocks which are hundreds of millions of years old. It's also great for wildlife with a number of bird boxes attracting Blue Tits and Redstarts to nest in the area.
The site is located near Pateley Bridge and on the Nidderdale Way walking route so there is scope for continuing your walk through the Nidderdale AONB.

Postcode

HG3 4DW - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Please click here for more information

Brimham Rocks OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Brimham Rocks Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

There's an on site cafe where you can pick up some refreshments after your exercise.

Dog Walking

The site is dog friendly and there are usually plenty of dog owners with their pets. You may need to keep them on leads depending on the time of year and the nesting wildlife.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head west from the site along the waymarked Nidderdale Way and you could pick up the Pateley Bridge Circular Walk. This will take you north to the expansive Gouthwaite Reservoir where there is a lovely waterside trail to pick up.
For cyclists the epic Way of the Roses and National Cycle Network Route 688 pass through the site. You could follow the signed route from Pateley Bridge to the rocks.
Just to the south there's the worthy villages of Summerbridge and Dacre Banks. There's some nice river walks along the River Nidd and a fine 18th century pub to visit in this area.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Nidderdale Walks page.

Photos

Brimham Rocks, Nidderdale. - geograph.org.uk - 410484

Climbers on the rocks. The National Trust site says there is "Rock climbing for the more experienced" - these climbers look very relaxed.

'The Dancing Bear' Brimham Rocks - geograph.org.uk - 652589

'The Dancing Bear', Brimham Rocks, in the snow. Several of the rocks at Brimham have fanciful names. Some [like the Idol] are easily spotted, whilst some imagination is required to find the less obvious ones. The names largely date from Victorian times when the rocks became a popular excursion from Harrogate.

Brimham Rocks turtle and eagle

The rocks known as the turtle and eagle

Sleeping dinosaur - Brimham Rocks - geograph.org.uk - 1900802

Sleeping dinosaur

Brimham Rocks - geograph.org.uk - 954757

Brimham Rocks

Brimham House - geograph.org.uk - 1137245

Brimham House. Now the visitor centre.

Tracks around Brimham Rocks - geograph.org.uk - 1465773

Benches and footpath with a view over Nidderdale from the site.

Trig Point, Brimham Rocks - geograph.org.uk - 2040501

Trig Point

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Brimham Rocks.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Brimham Rocks.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)