Linear walk to Pately Bridge via Brimham Rocks

We were dropped off just after Ripley Lakes . At the road junction we left the B6165 to join the Nidderdale Way at SE 277 619.

Heading north-west, the path took us to the picturesque village of Shaw Mills passing High and Low Kettle springs before reaching Brimham Moor with Brimham rocks ahead in the distance. At the edge of the moor the Nidderdale Way turned left onto a lane. Instead we walked to the right heading towards Brimham Rocks, a National Trust property.

Trig point at Brimham Rocks

Brimham Rocks are a series of fantastically shaped Millstone Grit outcrops, sculptured by erosion during the last ice age, most of which have achieved amazing shapes. These rocks are apparently world famous although most of us had never heard of them before. This is hard to believe because they really are impressive. Many of the gritty monstrosities suggest all manner of things, including elephants, hippos, bears and mushrooms.

We didn't have time to explore the area but we took the opportunity to have lunch. By now it was getting hot so after some of us gave in to the temptation of ice creams we headed north across North Pasture down to the main B6265 road.

We turned left, the Half Moon Inn coming into view up ahead. Here, of course, we had to stop for refreshments, before continuing on the main road for a while to join a footpath on our left. At Knoll Top we bore to the right heading for Fellbeck House. Up ahead we could hear singing. As we approached the house we were met by a bizarre sight of a group of singers, some of the women wearing smocks, led by a man in a white wig. It turned out they were celebrating the 300th anniversary of Charles Wesley's birth.

Soon we rejoined the Nidderdale Way for a while before turning off onto a lane to Raikes. Here we joined a path then a lane into Glasshouses where a path followed the River Nidd into Pateley Bridge . As usual some of us went to a coffee shop while others found a pub to meet up with the other walkers.