WALK 06 · NIDDERDALE
How Stean Gorge
Yorkshire's Little Switzerland, on foot
This is not a free, open-access walk like most of the others on this page, but it earns its place as one of the most memorable short walks near Pateley Bridge. How Stean Gorge is an 80ft limestone ravine, cut by the beck over thousands of years and fitted with metal walkways that let you walk its full length without ropes or a guide. Add a cave to explore and a rope bridge to cross, and you have a route that feels far more like an adventure than its modest length suggests.
Key facts
- Start point
- How Stean Gorge car park, Lofthouse, HG3 5SF
- Parking
- On-site car park as part of your visit.
- Terrain
- Metal walkways and bridges bolted into the limestone walls of the gorge, well maintained and safe underfoot, though damp rock and steps mean grippy footwear is worth bringing.
- Dogs
- Dogs are welcome on leads on the gorge walkways.
Highlights
- +An 80ft-deep limestone gorge carved by How Stean Beck over thousands of years
- +Tom Taylor's Cave, a natural cave system reached from the gorge floor
- +A wobbly rope bridge strung across the ravine
- +A genuine half-day adventure that does not require a long drive
The route
From the entrance and cafe, the walkways lead you down into the gorge itself, with the limestone walls rising steeply on either side and How Stean Beck rushing below. The first views down into the ravine are genuinely dramatic, especially after rain when the beck is running high.
A short detour from the gorge floor leads to Tom Taylor's Cave, a natural cave system named after a local character said to have used it as a hideout. The entrance chamber is straightforward to reach; bring a torch if you want to explore further into the network of passages beyond.
The rope bridge crosses the gorge at one of its narrowest points and is, by general agreement among visitors, the most fun part of the whole circuit. It takes seconds to cross but is wobbly enough to feel like an achievement on the other side.
The walkways loop back towards the entrance, where the on-site cafe makes a welcome stop, particularly if the gorge has left you wetter than expected. Allow at least two hours for the full circuit at an unhurried pace.
Good to know
- Entry
- Paid admission covers the gorge walkways, the cave and the rope bridge. Check howstean.co.uk for current prices and seasonal opening hours.
- Refreshments
- On-site cafe and gift shop at the entrance.
- Best for
- Families and anyone who wants a short, exciting walk rather than a long, quiet one.
- Combine with
- Scar House Reservoir, a few miles further up the dale, for a full day exploring the head of Nidderdale.
MAKE A DAY OF IT
Read our full visitor guide for opening times, facilities and more detail.
