WALK 05 · NIDDERDALE
Coldstones Cut
The best view in the dale, with the shortest walk
Coldstones Cut rewards the least effort of anything on this list and gives back one of the best views. Perched on the summit of Greenhow Hill above a working quarry, this striking piece of land art was built from traditional dry stone walling, twisted into sweeping curves and two circular spirals that frame the view in different directions as you walk through them. The walk from the car park takes minutes. The view stays with you considerably longer.
Key facts
- Start point
- Roadside car park, B6265, Greenhow Hill
- Parking
- A free roadside car park directly on the B6265, about 10 minutes by car from Pateley Bridge towards Grassington.
- Terrain
- A short, well-made path from the car park up to the earthwork itself. Some gentle gradient and uneven ground at the top among the stonework, but manageable for most visitors.
- Dogs
- Dogs are welcome on leads. It's a short, open-air walk with no livestock concerns on the path itself, though sheep do graze the surrounding fields.
Highlights
- +A large-scale land art earthwork built from local dry stone walling
- +Sweeping curves and two circular viewing spirals built into the structure
- +One of the most complete panoramic views across Nidderdale anywhere in the dale
- +A genuinely short walk, ideal as a quick stop or combined with a longer day
The route
From the roadside car park on the B6265, a clear path leads up onto Greenhow Hill towards the earthwork, visible ahead almost as soon as you set off. The climb is short and gentle.
Coldstones Cut itself is best explored slowly rather than walked through quickly. The dry stone walls curve and double back on themselves, opening up new framed views of the dale at each turn, with the two spiral viewpoints offering the most complete 360-degree panoramas.
On a clear day you can see down the length of Nidderdale towards Pateley Bridge and beyond, across to the moors of Upper Nidderdale, and out towards Wharfedale in the other direction. Few viewpoints in Yorkshire give this much landscape for this little effort.
Return to the car park the same way. The whole visit, walked at a relaxed pace with time to take in the view, takes well under an hour.
Good to know
- Entry
- Free, no booking needed. Just park and walk up.
- Refreshments
- Nothing on site - this is a roadside stop on the way to or from somewhere else. Pateley Bridge has the nearest cafes.
- Combine with
- A drive further along the B6265 towards Grassington and Wharfedale, or back into Pateley Bridge for lunch.
- Footwear
- The stonework underfoot at the top can be uneven, so flat shoes are advisable rather than anything with a heel.
MAKE A DAY OF IT
Plan the rest of your day around this walk.
