Distance: 5 miles Time to complete walk: 2.5 hours
Safety Tips: Be extremely careful when on the banks of the River Wharfe on the return journey of the walk. The Strid part of the river is one of the most dangerous parts of a river anywhere in the UK. This stretch of the river has a 100% fatality record due to the underwater caverns and strong currents. Stay clear from the edge of the river - it may seem calm on the surface, however the powerful force of the river lies well beneath the surface.
A magical walk to complete on a fine Autumn day, or in fact all year round. Starting from the Cavendish Pavillon near the magnificent Bolton Abbey, you will discover amazing views of the river valley along the way. Woodland paths take you through the Strid Wood and towards the mysterious Barden Tower and back on a return journey where you get to hear and see the River Wharfe up close and personal. A walk that you will want to come back and complete again and again.
The Strid Wood to Barden Tower walk
Getting There
From Middlesbrough follow the A66 to Darlington and then follow it to the A1 Scotch Corner. Keep on the A1 south bound and look for Junction 47 which is signposted to Harrogate. Follow the A59 road through Harrogate and follow it out of Harrogate until you come to a roundabout for Bolton Abbey on a right hand turn. Drive past the Bolton Abbey car park and look for the Cavendish Monument on the right. Follow the road down to a toll booth- the price of admission is the same as Bolton Abbey and is £8.00. Park in the car park just outside the café and near the bridge.
Map of the Strid Wood to Barden Tower walk
The Walk
From the car park walk over the bridge which is opposite the Cavendish Pavilion and turn immediately to the left to commence the walk on the path ahead.
Turn left over the bridge
The path follows the river upstream. Go through a gate and then take the stepped path which is to the left.
Take the path to the left
Follow the path until you come to Posforth bridge. Cross over the bridge.
Posforth Bridge
Cross over the footbridge
After crossing over the footbridge keep on the path which rises gradually. You will soon come to a stone shelter and you will have an excellent view of the river below.
Shelter
Follow the path which continues high above the river below. As well as excellent views there are plenty of seats if you need to stop for a break or to take in the amazing view.
View of the river
The path will soon fall and then leave the wood into a clearing and then will head towards a bridge.
Head out of the wood
Bridge
Don't cross the bridge and follow the path ahead into an open meadow until you come to another bridge.
Follow the path into the meadow
Go over the bridge
Go over the bridge and follow the road ahead which climbs steeply. Look for a stile to the left which leads to Barden Tower. There is a café near the tower and is an interesting diversion on the walk. There is a history of the tower on a plaque on the furthest side of the tower.
Barden Tower
Retrace your steps down the road and before you come to the bridge, look for a small gate to the right to join the path back to the riverside.
Gate to the right
Follow the path past the bridge and over a footbridge over the stream and back into Strid Wood.
Footbridge into Strid Wood
Ignore a track to the right and after rising to a view point at a fork take the lower path which will take you down closer to the river.
Take the lower path to the left
At another split take the lower path to the left again which will take you to near the river at a point called The Strid. This is a dangerous spot, you will see danger signs, however if you keep away from the river edge you will see the river in all its glory.
Take the lower path
Views of the Strid
Downstream ignore the path to the Ludstream Islands and take the path ahead and you will then emerge back at the Pavilion Café- time for a Cappuccino and some cake maybe?
Take the path to the right
Cavendish Pavilion
The Strid
The Strid (Grid Reference: SE064565) is a series of waterfalls and rapids associated with a deep underwater channel caused by the dramatic narrowing of the River Wharfe from approximately 30 ft (9 m) wide just to the north of the start of the Strid, to the width of a long stride less than 100 yd (91 m) later. It is especially dangerous as both banks are undercut, and it has been the scene of a number of fatalities including those of a honeymoon couple. The Strid walk is very popular and is accessed from the car park at Bolton Abbey.
Barden Tower
Barden Tower is a fine ruined hunting lodge on the edge of the road leading up Lower Wharfedale between Bolton Abbey and Burnsall in the Yorkshire Dales.
Nearby attractions include Barden Bridge (where a road forks over the River Wharfe to Appletreewick) and the treacherous channel of river known as "The Strid" (actually part of the Bolton Abbey estate). [N.B. Barden lends its name to the so called "Barden Triangle" an area of supposed supernatural activity which includes the magical Elbolton Hill near Thorpe and the nightmarish ravine that is Trollers Gill near Appletreewick.] Above Barden, and to the west is Barden Moor and Barden Fell.
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