Walking with the Wanderer: Harrogate’s Northern Fringes

Distance: 6 Miles | Time: 23/4 Hours

Starting by the Nidd, this easy walk follows the river upstream for a short distance before taking tracks and field paths to reach the hamlet of Knox on the edge of Harrogate. It then follows the Harrogate Ringway footpath to reach the recently opened Nidderdale Greenway cycle route for a flat and straightforward return to the start. Very suitable for winter conditions, most of the route is on good surfaces with only a few sections likely to be muddy. 

Getting here

The recommended starting point is the old bridge over the Nidd north of Killinghall off the A61 where roadside parking is available. This is 23 miles from York travelling through Knaresborough via the A59 and B6165. Where the latter road meets the A61 turn left at the roundabout to find the parking area on the left (signed Killinghall Business Park) after a few hundred metres. The best public transport option is by train to Harrogate then the frequent no.36 bus from the adjacent bus station. Start the walk from Direction Point 5 alighting on the A61 just south of Knox Mill Lane.

Refreshments

There are no refreshment facilities directly on the route. The nearest options are in Ripley village north of the starting point, The Knox pub accessed by continuing along Knox Lane (Direction Point 6), or the Gardener’s Arms pub at Bilton 15 minutes from the Nidderdale Greenway at Direction Point 7 (turn right on Greenway then left onto Bilton Lane).

What to see

The River Nidd provides the backdrop to the start and end of the walk. Wildlife seen included several herons and a dipper. The track after Crag Hill Farm affords good views up Nidderdale. Knox Mill Lane is lined by a number of old cottages. The narrow packhorse bridge (Spruisty Bridge) at the end of the lane dates from the 16th century. The Harrogate Ringway joined for part of the walk, provides a 21-mile route around the town. The Nidd viaduct, giving spectacular views of the river’s wooded gorge more than 30 metres below, was built in 1848 and remained in use by trains until 1967.

Directions

1. Go ahead over the old bridge across the Nidd. About 20 metres beyond, turn right down a signed footpath and go under the new road bridge over the river. Stay alongside Nidd for about 500 metres until field corner, then head left uphill away from the river with the hedge to right. At the top join the tarmac lane and turn right.

2. Walk along the lane passing Crag Hill Farm and continue through the gate. Beyond this, the track curves left and becomes stony. Keep with the track through a further gate to the house on the right.

3. Here turn left over a stile into the grass field. Walk halfway up the field with a hedge left to a stile by the gate. Cross and continue in the same direction in the next field with hedge right. The route now continues with the hedge right through several more fields each accessed by stiles next to gates. Approaching Killinghall’s houses watch out for a further stile next to a gate on the right. Cross and veer half right over grass field to stone step stile leading to lane with houses opposite. Turn right on the lane following it round the bend to a larger road by the school.

4. Cross the road and turn right. After about 300 metres go left into Grainbeck Lane. Continue on this lane (there’s no pavement but it carries little traffic) as it leaves the houses and heads downhill to reach the main (A61) road. Cross with care and turn right downhill on the pavement for 100 metres to Knox Mill Lane on the left.

5. The route now follows the mainly signed Harrogate Ringway footpath. Walk down Knox Mill Lane passing houses until it ends at a grassy area and old stone bridge crossing the beck. Over the bridge, take a tarmac path that soon widens to a road (Knox Lane).

6. Entering the houses take the first turn left (Old Trough Way) following it through the right bend to turn left at a T junction (Old Barber). At the end of this road follow Ringway right on a stoned path over grass with the houses right. Pass a play area, then follow a path on an enclosed stretch between fences with allotments right. On reaching surfaced track cross straight over and continue through small grassy area passing map board left. Shortly after, at path crossroads, turn left through a wooden barrier and swing right upslope. 

In a short distance, at another path crossroads, go right (yellow sign on footpath post) under the line of pylons. Reaching a large open grassy area, take the left of three paths keeping the open area to right. Keep going on the sometimes indistinct path to reach the tarmacked Nidderdale Greenway cycleway just before the Nidd viaduct.

7. Turn left and cross the viaduct. Continue on Greenway ignoring all ways off. After about one kilometre the tarmacked way swings left. In about a further kilometre it dips and turns left, again following the river for a short stretch, before leading back up a slope to the parking area by the old bridge.

DISCLAIMER: Walks are undertaken at your own risk. Due care must be taken in following the walk, particularly after poor weather. Whilst every care is taken in compiling the description changes may have occurred since publication. Neither the walk author nor Your Local Link
can accept any responsibility for errors or omissions.