Visit NIDDERDALE

Upper Nidderdale
Upper Nidderdale
and dangerous
work site buzzing
with activity.
Huge amounts of
manpower had
to be drafted
in to build the
reservoir and
as a result a
whole village
was created.
You can still see
RAMSGILL
Sitting at the top of Gouthwaite Reservoir, Ramsgill
is a pretty village and was the principal grange of
Byland Abbey. It is thought that the name Ramsgill
may date from the 12 th century and probably means
a “gill or valley, grove, wood or hollow where wild
garlic grew.”
Things to do ...
Sca r Hous e
Reservoir
the remains of where the village once stood and
the landscape is scarred by the old quarries and
railway lines. With a bit of imagination you can
picture the thriving community that once lived
there. Work on Scar House Reservoir began on
5 October 1921 and took 15 years to complete.
There is a large free car park and toilets.
£ i £ i
© EM
Ramsgill Studio: a gallery and working studio
selling a selection of quality and interesting arts
and crafts, both traditional and contemporary.
Ramsgill Studio also runs a series of full day
workshops but these must be pre-booked. Open:
Thurs to Sun 11am-4pm. T: 01423 755098. www.
ramsgillstudio.co.uk
The Yorke Arms: a historic 18 th century coaching
house and shooting lodge - now home to a
Michelin starred restaurant with rooms.
Gouthwaite Reservoir: Although built to help with
the supply of water, Gouthwaite Reservoir is also
a nature reserve and a Site of Special Scientific
Interest due to the vast range of wildlife that it
supports. It is very popular with birdwatchers
and there is a small viewing platform on the
edge of the reservoir. A sandmartin wall has also
recently been built to provide a valuable nesting
habitat for these birds. Where: between Wath
and Ramsgill on the road from Pateley Bridge to
Middlesmoor. There is a small car park on the
roadside near to Ramsgill village.
WATH
A small, picturesque and unspoilt hamlet with
some interesting historic buildings. The name Wath
probably comes from the Scandinavian meaning
“ford”, referring to the crossing over the River Nidd
at the position of the present bridge.
GREENHOW
Located high above Pateley Bridge at around 1300ft
above sea level, Greenhow village sits on the shared
boundary of Nidderdale AONB and the Yorkshire
Dales National Park. It has extensive remains of the
lead mining, quarrying and lime burning industries
and is home to Coldstones Quarry which still
operates today.
Things to do ...
© PHP
£ i £ i
Toft Gat e Li m e
Ki l n
Toft Gate Lime Kiln:
the remains of this
Lime Kiln, which was
built in the 1860s,
can be explored via
a short trail with a
series of information
boards. Access is via
a small car park on
the outskirts of the
village. Prices: Free.
Open: 24/7.
Coldstones Cut: this
dramatic sculpture
was designed
to illustrate the
connection between
the landscape
and the quarry.
It also acts as a
viewing platform
offering superb
long distance
views over
the surrounding landscape and down into the
working quarry. Access: The Cut is signposted
from Toft Gate car park from where it is a 500
© PHP
£ i
Coldstones Cut
metre, fairly steep walk. Prices: Free. Open: 24/7.
www.thecoldstonescut.org
Stump Cross
Caverns: one of
Britain’s premier
show caves,
discovered in 1860
by miners who
were looking for
lead seams. The
extensive cave
system is filled
with complex
and colourful
© PHP
St u m p Cross
Ca v e rns
stalactite and stalagmite formations dating back
up to 200,000 years. There is also a lecture theatre
showing a 20 minute film about the cave and the
surrounding area, a tearoom serving a variety
of homemade cakes and meals, and a gift shop.
Open: February half term to 30 November – daily
10am-5.30pm (last admission 4.30pm). Please
check website for winter opening times. Prices:
Adults £7.50, child (4-14) £4.95, under 4’s free. T:
01756 752780. www.stumpcrosscaverns.co.uk
Provid ence Sm e l t
Mi l l
Greenhow Geology
Trail: this route will
take you on a journey
back in time from
the present day to
the Ice Age, then to
tropical conditions
300-350 million years
ago where you can
discover fossils from
the tropical seas
and forests. You can
look down 100m into the inside of the hill from
the Coldstones Cut and then drop right down
into the valley where you see the impact of man’s
search for lead and fluorspar. You can also look
for crystals of your own in the material the miners
threw away as waste, before climbing back up
the hill to the mining village of Greenhow where
again the geology has been greatly disturbed
by the miners. Start from Toft Gate Car Park.
A route booklet is available for 50p from the
Nidderdale Plus Office in Pateley Bridge.
5 things you should do
before you leave Upper
Nidderdale ...
1Go for a walk around Scar
House Reservoir - enjoy
the peace and solitude,
see the remains of the village
that once stood, explore the
ruined hamlet of Lodge and
keep your eyes and ears open
for wildlife.
2Find clues in secret boxes,
search the wildflower maze
and follow giant footprints
at the award winning ‘Studfold -
The Nidderdale Experience’.
3Explore Greenhow village
and its amazing industrial
heritage - the Geology
Trail, Toft Gate Lime Kiln and
Coldstones Cut are a must.
4Scramble along How Stean
Gorge, traverse narrow
bridges and pathways,
explore Tom Taylor’s Cave, and
brave the Via Ferrata.
5Admire the spectacular
view from Middlesmoor
churchyard.
© Leanne Fox
© PHP
© PHP
© JH
10 www.nidderdaleaonb.org.uk
Visit Nidderdale AONB 2016 11