Stage 3 Bewerley - Birstwith (12 miles)

Thursday 31st August 2017

I parked the car at Pateley Bridge and walked the mile or so to the starting point at Bewerley. Soon took a wrong turn and ended up going up through Guisecliff Wood and backtracking to Yorke's Folly past Guise Cliff, adding 2 miles to the walk. From Yorke's Folly it was a steep descent to the River Nidd. Then followed two and a half miles of walking on the banks of the River Nidd, through Dacre Banks to my finishing point at Birstwith. I then got the bus back to Pateley Bridge. Lovely walk on a lovely day.

Hold up at Bewerley.

Yorke's Folly, known locally as "Two Stoops", is a pair of stone pillars styled as if to appear as if part of a ruined arch, though in truth they remain almost fully intact from their original construction, though originally there were three stoops, the third having collapsed during a storm in 1893.
The folly was built during a time of hardship and low employment, as was common to the Victorian era the building of the folly allowed the wealthy Yorke family to provide paid work and food to needy workers.

Crocodile Rock on Guise Cliff.

The "golf balls" at Menwith Hill in the distance.

Apparently, you can can hire a llama to carry your bags along The Nidderdale Way.

Stopped for a pint of Jennings' Cumberland Ale at The Royal Oak in Dacre Banks.

Signpost at Summerbridge.

  I think Pippa enjoyed her drink in The Nidd as much as I enjoyed mine in The Royal Oak.

Unfortunately, Himalayan Balsam, an invasive species, has completely taken over on the banks of The Nidd.

The Pateley Bridge to Harrogate railway line, opened in 1862 was closed to passenger services in 1950 and goods services in 1964.

 The River Nidd.

The Nidd at Birstwith.

How convenient that there was a pub where I could enjoy a pint of Bradfield Brewery's Farmer's Brown Cow whilst I waited for the bus.