Things to do
Lovely breathtaking scenery, outdoor activities, wildlife watching, heritage and culture, fabulous food and shopping for something special, How Stean Gorge is the perfect base for exploring the Yorkshire Dales.
Family Activities.
John Muir Award
FREE
We have negotiated with the John Muir Trust to facilitate families engaging with this wonderful; environmental adventure. Staff on site will help you to progress through this family fun educational award.
Kids.
Recently opened, Studfold’s Explore, Discover and Learn Trail has been designed specifically for family days out aimed at primary and pre-school aged children who seek fresh air, fun and adventure in a truly unique setting. www.studfoldtrails.co.uk
Natural Wonders
The Yorkshire Dales are brimming with natural wonders such as the unusual shapes of Brimham Rocks, the underground caverns of Stump Cross Caverns and the limestone formation of Malham Cove and Malham Tarn.
Coldstone Cut.
Created by the artist Andrew Sabin, The Coldstones Cut www.thecoldstonescut.org is Yorkshire’s latest visitor attraction. A massive construction which visitors can freely walk through and explore, the sculpture overlooks the huge working Coldstones Quarry and offers spectacular views over the scenery of Nidderdale in the Yorkshire Dales.
Fabulous Food & Drink
Pateley Bridge and Masham are traditional Yorkshire market towns strewn with highly acclaimed shops selling award winning pork pies and sausages, groceries, ice cream and Yorkshire Country Wines. Pateley Bridge is also home to England’s Oldest Sweet Shop, where you can recapture childhood memories. Glass jars fill the shop selling every sweet you can imagine. Mackenzies and Bleikers Smokehouses are worth a visit if you love the flavour of smoked meat and fish. Taste real ale at Black Sheep or Theakston’s BreweryVisitor Centres in Masham. There’s more and more Farm Shop’s to see on your travels, as farmers sell their meats and produce direct to the customer! After dark, choose from a selection of award-winning restaurants, tasty tearooms or cosy, fire lit pubs.
Heritage & Culture
Real gems are only minutes away. Admire 600 years of Ingilby family history at Ripley Castle and marvel at the National Trust’s World Heritage Site Fountains Abbeyand Studley Royal Gardens. Take a train on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway or visit RHS Harlow Carr and see gardens through time. Visit the award winning Nidderdale Museum to see life in the Dales over the centuries and pop in to see glassblowers at work in the King Street Workshops. Take in the breath taking scenery of Coldstones Cut, Yorkshire’s biggest and highest public artwork http://www.thecoldstonescut.org/
Walking/Mountain Biking
Put on your walking boots and delve into the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or take your mountain bike and go off road! Dawdle, stroll or hike – go at your own pace. Follow old drover routes and green lanes across undulating moorland and lush green valleys. There’s miles of way marked footpaths and trails through some of the best scenery in Britain. How Stean Gorge lies next to the Nidderdale Way, a 53 mile circular route which leads you through the highlights of this spectacular landscape. Scar House, Angram and Gouthwaite Reservoirs as well as Great and Little Whernside are nearby landmarks and are a real test for ambitious walkers.
Wildlife Watching
Upper Nidderdale is home to red grouse, plovers, curlews, oyster catchers and lapwing. Raptors such as red kite may also be spotted soaring high. Gouthwaite Reservoir (SSSI) is a renowned bird sanctuary and recommended location to spot waders and wildfowl and has an excellent viewing area. The heather clad moorland is also a haven for redshank and snipe and good for spotting raptors.
Retail therapy
Typical Yorkshire market towns such as Pateley Bridge, Masham, Grassington and Skipton are full of art galleries, craft shops and antiques. The elegant spa town of Harrogate has a healthy mix of high street and individual boutique shops.
Horseriding
Local stables at Bewerley and Masham organise hacks for visitors. Bewerley Riding Centre Tel 01423 712249 Masham Riding & Trekking Centre Tel 01765 689636
Swimming
Nidderdale Leisure Centre has an indoor heated swimming pool. Open 7 days a week. See Nidderdale Pool for more information.
Excerpt
Lovely breathtaking scenery, outdoor activities, wildlife watching, heritage and culture, fabulous food and shopping for something special, How Stean Gorge is the perfect base for exploring the Yorkshire Dales.
