WALK 02 · NIDDERDALE
Yorke's Folly & Crocodile Rock
The view that stops everyone in their tracks
Of all the short walks from Pateley Bridge, this is the one people talk about afterwards. The climb out of Bewerley is steady rather than brutal, but it earns its moderate rating, and the reward at the top is one of the finest views in the whole of Nidderdale: a clear sweep down the dale towards Gouthwaite Reservoir, with the twin towers of Yorke's Folly framing the scene like something built for the purpose. Because it more or less was.
Key facts
- Start point
- Bewerley village, near Pateley Bridge
- Parking
- Limited roadside parking in Bewerley village. Alternatively, park at the Showground Car Park in Pateley Bridge and add 20 minutes each way to walk through Bewerley to the start of the climb.
- Terrain
- A steady, sometimes steep climb through bracken and woodland to start, levelling out on the open moorland of Guisecliff. Paths can be loose underfoot in places. Sturdy footwear recommended.
- Dogs
- Dogs are welcome but should be kept on leads once you reach the open moorland above Bewerley, both for ground-nesting birds and for livestock that graze the area.
Highlights
- +Yorke's Folly itself - two dramatic stone pillars built as a Georgian landscape feature
- +Crocodile Rock, a long gritstone outcrop that genuinely resembles its name from the right angle
- +One of the best panoramic views over Nidderdale, taking in Gouthwaite Reservoir and the moors beyond
- +A real sense of achievement for a route that is over and done with inside two hours
The route
From Bewerley, follow the lane and then the bridleway as it climbs steadily through bracken and scattered woodland onto the lower slopes of Guisecliff. The gradient is the steepest part of the whole walk, but it is short, and the path is clear throughout.
As the ground levels out, the heather and gritstone outcrops of the open moor take over. Yorke's Folly comes into view well before you reach it: two roofless stone towers built in the early 1700s by the Yorke family of Bewerley Hall, reputedly to provide work for unemployed estate workers, or simply to improve the view from the hall below, depending on which version of the story you prefer.
A short detour along the ridge brings you to Crocodile Rock, a long, low gritstone outcrop that really does look like a crocodile basking on the moor when seen from the south. It is a popular spot for photographs and a good place to stop for lunch with the whole dale spread out below.
From the Folly, the path continues along the edge of Guisecliff Wood, a nationally important site for nesting birds, before dropping back down through the trees to rejoin the lane into Bewerley. Keep dogs on leads through the wood in spring, when ground-nesting birds are most vulnerable.
Good to know
- Refreshments
- Nothing on the route itself - bring water and snacks. The Royal Oak and other High Street options are a short drive back into Pateley Bridge.
- Weather
- The moorland top is exposed. Even on a calm day in town, expect more wind at the top, and bring a layer.
- Best for
- Confident walkers wanting a big view for a relatively short walk. Not ideal for pushchairs or unsuitable footwear.
- Wildlife
- Guisecliff Wood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its breeding birds, including pied flycatchers and wood warblers in spring.
