Simply gorgeous

Mark Sutcliffe explores the rich wildlife of Nidd Gorge in North Yorkshire

The Nidd Gorge is an impressive fissure carved through a section of ancient gritstone a mile to the west of Knaresborough. The Club site lies in the village of Scotton, on the northern lip of the gorge, and this scenic 10km route can be adapted to take you into Knaresborough itself or shortened into a pleasant 4km amble.

Created as the glaciers of the last ice age retreated, the 40m-deep gorge has its own microclimate and is home to a wealth of wildlife among the mature mixed woodland.

Look out for goldcrests and nuthatches flitting among the trees and dippers and kingfishers beside the river. You may even catch a glimpse of the resident family of otters near the pedestrian bridge across the Nidd.

In spring, the woods come alive with birdsong and drifts of beautiful mauve bluebells carpet the floor of the woods, while in autumn, the native broadleaves put on a spectacular display. The Woodland Trust, which has owned the woodlands since 1995, is improving the access and footpaths, but there are still some eroded sections along with steep climbs and descents. The paths can get muddy during the winter months.

Directions

1. From the Club site main gate, turn right and head along the road for 50m then right again a farm track signposted Knaresborough Round. Continue for half a mile, taking the second footpath on the right when the track peters out. Continue past a pond on the left to a main road.

2. 1.2km – Cross the road with care and take the first right along Netheredge Drive. After 300m turn right along Fortune Hill then sharp left along Fortune Close, joining a footpath heading downhill and veering right through the woods towards the River Nidd. At a crossroads head left, descending into Nidd Gorge. At the bottom of the gorge head left to join a riverside path heading right (upstream).

3. 2.7km – Follow the path for 1/4 of a mile, meandering through woods before climbing steeply to a wide track, then descending equally steeply to a footpath signposted to a bridge. At the river, continue upstream on the footpath to cross the bridge, turning left to follow a footpath downstream signposted to Knaresborough. (To cut your walk short, remain on the north bank of the river and follow the zig-zag path up to the lip of the gorge, then follow the final paragraph in point 8).

4. 3.6km – Follow the path through woods on the south side of the gorge, climbing to the lip of the gorge. At the edge of the woods, head left on a footpath along the edge of the woods then over a stile on to a track.

5. 4.7km – At a metal gate, turn right on to Bilton Lane and continue into the village of Bilton. Continue downhill to a pub and take a footpath on the right, signposted Nidd Gorge.

6. 6km – Fork right on to a bridleway, following it along the field edge. On the left, the views open out to Ripley and the Nidderdale National Landscape. Look out for red kites soaring gracefully overhead. Continue along the hedge line to the woodland and descend into the gorge.

7. 6.9km – At the end of the wooden walkway, fork right on a footpath signposted Knaresborough. Follow the gravel path through the woods for just over a mile to the bridge crossed earlier. Look out for the resident otters working among the submerged roots on the riverbank in the deep poolv above the bridge.

8. 8.9km – Cross the bridge and climb the steps on the far side, zig-zagging left then right up through the trees to the lip of the gorge. Exit through the car park and turn left on to a pavement beside the main road. Continue for 400m then cross with care to take a road on the left, signposted Scotton, back to site.

Download this route and others to your smartphone or GPS device from the Club’s OutdoorActive page at: out.ac/IPp3bt

About the route

• Start/finish: Knaresborough Club Campsite, New Road, Scotton HG5 9HH.
• Distance: 6.3 miles/10.1km.
• Time: 2hr 45min.
• Level: Suitable for regular walkers with a reasonable level of fitness.
• Terrain: Woodland paths and tracks, quiet lanes and short stretches of slightly busier road.
• Landscape: Woodland, forest tracks, field paths
• Refreshments: The Gardeners Arms (below), Old Bilton
  

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  The Caravan and Motorhome Club make no warranties concerning the accuracy or completeness of the routes published, which to the best of our knowledge were correct at the time of publication. Your use of the routes is at your own risk and we accept no responsibility for the suitability or safety of any routes published. Routes may be out of date or affected by changes to the physical environment and, to the extent permitted by law, we accept no responsibility for personal injury or property damage caused by your use of the routes.