The market town of Pateley Bridge stretches up the hillside making it an ideal and popular place for walkers, cyclists and explorers. Indeed, the famous Nidderdale Way and Six Dales Trail both pass through the town. The town lies on the river Nidd and is the main commercial centre in the Nidderdale National Landscape (formerly Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) which in turn, is often called ‘Little Switzerland’ due to the area’s lovely scenery. A walk up Pateley Bridge high street is the best way to get a real feel for what the town is all about with independent shops, delis, and bakeries, complemented by galleries, souvenir shops, glassmakers and chocolate shops. Lying just 14 miles northwest of Harrogate and 13 miles west of Ripon, Pateley (as it is known by the locals) is perfectly located as a base to enjoy the whole of what the area has to offer.
Don’t Miss
Long Course Weekend – an international multi-sporting event will take place in Pateley Bridge 6-8 September 2024. 5,000 Swimmers, cyclists, runners and triathletes of all abilities will descend on the area along with an estimated 20,000 spectators so plan ahead!
Nidderdale Show - the Nidderdale Show or Pateley Show as it is affectionately called, is a traditional Dales agricultural show held in the beautiful surrounds of Bewerley Park, Pateley Bridge with 15,000 visitors annually. The 2024 Show will be held on Sunday 22 September and it is traditionally the last Dales agricultural show each year.
Recreational Ground Park – a lovely place to walk off a hearty breakfast, the park has a traditional bandstand and plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained.
Did You Know?
Brimham Rocks (4 miles east of Pateley Bridge) – once known as Brimham Crags, these are maintained by The National Trust and open to the public all year round. They are an amazing collection of rocks sculpted by weather and 320 million years of entire continents moving.
Gouthwaite and Scar House reservoirs are within a short distance of Pateley Bridge and attract around 100,000 visitors and walkers a year.
Pateley Bridge is famous for having the oldest and longest continuously trading sweet shop in England dating back to 1827.
Pateley Bridge was only granted town status in 1986 and was once a major centre for lead mining and quarrying, with many of the town’s buildings constructed from locally sourced stone.
