Distance Covered: 4.5 miles Time to complete walk: 3 hours
Suitable for dog walking: Yes
Total Steps: approx. 10,000
Safety Tips: If it has been raining the rocks can be slippy - be extra careful. Take a walking stick as this comes in handy if the route is muddy. Wear sturdy walking boots.
A fascinating walk at Brimham Rocks a National Trust area which is a collection of balancing rocks showing how natural forces of nature have shaped them. Start from the car park which is £6.00 for 4 hours. This leaves you ample time to explore the rocks either at the beginning of the walk or at the end.
The Brimham Rocks Walk
From Middlesbrough follow the A19 until you reach the North bound exit onto the M1. Then leave at junction 50 which is the Ripon turn off. Follow the A61 through Ripon, leaving Ripon on the road called the Studley Road which changes into the B6265. Follow this road and keep your eyes peeled for a road to your left signposted to Brimham Rocks. Parking is ample and don't forget to pick up a map of the Brimham Rocks when you pay for your parking.
Map of the Brimham Rocks walk
The Walk
From the carpark head back out the way you came in and look for a right turn signposted to Druids Cave Farm.
Leave the Brimham Rocks car park
Head out of the carpark
Turn right at the Druids Cave Farm sign
When the path splits take the path on the left towards the farm buildings.
Take the left fork in the path
Head towards the farm building through a stone entrance with a green microwave as a postbox!
Stone entrance to farm
Turn left as the path swerves and through the farm gate
Head left as the path swerves
Go through the gate
Follow this path to a stile and climb the path which passes through a wooded area and then head through a gate onto a field.
Head over the stile
Follow the path as it climbs
Head onto the field
Head over the field until you come to a stile and a track which is the Nidderdale Way. Turn right and keep on the track ahead.
Go over the stile and turn right onto the Nidderdale Way
Keep on the Nidderdale Walk
Eventually you arrive at a gate. Go through the gate and turn left onto a road.
Go through the gate
Turn left onto the road
Follow this road until you come to a junction. Turn left onto this road.
Turn left at the junction
Follow the road as it climbs
After a short climb up the road look for a right turn onto a path with trees lining the route.
Turn onto the path to the right
Keep on this path
Keep your eyes peeled for a gap in the stone wall to your right and head through this wooded area
Go through the gap in the stone wall to your right
You then end up on a road. Follow this road as it bends to the right passing Knox Hall.
Keep on the road
Sign for Knox Hall
Follow the road to the right keeping beside Fell Beck
Follow the path beside the beck
The path passes by some buildings and then climbs to a lane and then turn left.
Follow the road past some buildings
Turn left onto the lane
Shortly after cross the lane and head right onto the Nidderdale Way which is signposted to Pateley Bridge.
Turn right onto the Nidderdale Way
Go through a gap in a gate and head alongside the path near the beck. This path meanders, however take care and go under fallen branches until you eventually come to a footbridge.
Fallen branches
Go over the footbridge
Immediately over the bridge turn right and follow the path up to some deserted buildings.
Turn right and follow the path upwards
Deserted Buildings
Now double back following a path to the left. Leave this path on a narrower path to the right.
Double back and follow the path
Turn right onto a narrower path
This path soon comes to a farmhouse. Keep on the path and go over a gap in the stone wall. Then turn left back onto a path which heads down to the beck and a footbridge.
Keep on the path which passes a farm
Go through the gap in the wall
Follow the path to the left
Head down to the footbridge
Turn right at the footbridge and instead of crossing go through a gate instead
Go through the gate
Follow the path ahead upwards arriving at a gate
Follow the track as it climbs
Go through the gate
The path goes over a field and arrives at a small gate
Follow the track
Go through the small gate
Head over the next field to a ladder stile
Head to the ladder stile
Go over the ladder stile
Head over the next field towards High North Pasture Farm to a gate.
Head towards the farm
Go over the stile
Follow the path ahead and look out for a stile to your right near a farm building.
Go over the stile to your right
Look for another stile ahead and then turn left to follow the farm track again
Go through the stile
Head back on the track
Soon you leave the farm but look out for a small waymarked stile to your right
Go over the stile to your right
Keep to the track near the stone wall and you will end up back at the extensive area that the Brimham Rocks covers. Using the map you took of Brimham Rocks you are now able to explore the rocks. There are toilets and refreshments. When finished head back to the car park
Brimham Rocks
The site is open all year round; typically from 8 a.m. until dusk. Entry is free but car parking is charged for visitors who are not members of the National Trust.
There are many variations of rock formations, caused by Millstone Grit being eroded by water, glaciation and wind, some of which have formed amazing shapes. Many formations have been named, though imagination is required and the correct viewing angle is helpful. Examples include the Sphinx, the Watchdog, the Camel, the Turtle and the Dancing Bear. The area was recognized as being a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1958.
The children's television programme Roger and the Rottentrolls was filmed at Brimham Rocks and the site also features in the Bee Gees' video 'You Win Again'. A scene of series six of Knightmare, another children's programme and adventure game show, saw Brimham Rocks used as a location although only used once.
In June 2018 an act of vandalism caused a rock to fall from the top of one of the crags and damage the crag face.
