Child leaning over a wooden fence to look down into water of a river with blue skies and surrounded by trees

Pateley Bridge Riverside Walk

Pateley Bridge is a perfect place to spend a day!

And this super short pushchair and toddler friendly circular walk will be a super addition to your adventures!

Have you ever visited Pateley Bridge?

Located in the beautiful Nidderdale (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), Pateley Bridge is a picturesque market town with a great kid friendly vibe! Oh and did I mention that this town is the home of the Oldest Sweet Shop in the WORLD?! Well I HAVE NOW!

This walk starts and ends at the park and is the perfect little wander for the very young explorers who are just learning to find their feet. It’s short, sweet, has ice cream and is buggy friendly, so ideal for a hop in-hop out kinda day! It’s definitely a great addition to a family day out in Pateley Bridge. Check out what else the area has to offer at the bottom of the page!

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Thank you for taking the time to have a look at my website and for reading this now!

I set up the Reluctant Explorers and maintain the website and attached social media accounts in my spare time, around mum-life and two jobs. It was designed to provide access for parents to free resources to help get more families outside and exploring in nature. These walks have all been created by myself and the kids and we have walked each one ourselves (and re-walk them regularly to keep the information as up to date as we can).

If you would like to support us and can afford a few pennies, you can make a donation to our ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ page. Simply tap the button below to head there!

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The beautiful riverside in Spring.

What are the walk details for Pateley Bridge Riverside?

Distance: less than 1km, suitable for the littlest of legs!

Terrain: Pushchair friendly paths (Do note there are some narrow parts, so single buggies only - there is one large and wide kissing gate to navigate). Easy underfoot. Little to no ascent.

Parking: Pateley Bridge has several car parks, we used the one directly opposite the park on Street Lane, next to the bridge.

Public Transport: Pateley Bridge is serviced by regular bus services. Check out the Dales Bus website for timetable details.

Dog Friendly? Yes - on leads. Dogs are not allowed in the park.

Nearest Train Station: N/A

Location: Pateley Bridge, Nidderdale, Harrogate.

Map: Nidderdale 298 Explorer OS Map

What 3 Words: inflamed.rudder.rejects

Toilets/ Baby Change: Public Toilets are located at the park in Pateley Bridge

Nearest Cafe/ Amenities: Pateley Bridge

Balancing on the wall alongside the river

How to walk the Pateley Bridge Riverside circular…

Directions

  1. Beginning at the Pateley Bridge play park, take the path the runs directly alongside the River Nidd. It will take you alongside the river, passing the weir and towards the Riverside Caravan Park. There, you will reach a wide gate which leads out onto the path over the footbridge. You will be walking with the river on your right and your back to the park.

  2. The gate is wide but is a kissing gate - so it may be a struggle with anything other than a single buggy (pictured). Head through this, and turn right. Cross the footbridge.

  3. On the other side, turn right and then return along the other side of the river, keeping the river to your right again. There is a point where you can choose either to walk through a group of houses (which offers a wider path back) or the narrower option, which follows the river more closely.

  4. Both paths will return you to Pateley Bridge, you need to head right back across the bridge and back to the play area!

  5. Easy! And maybe, if you’re lucky, the ice cream van might be there! And why not take the opportunity to explore more of Nidderdale by checking out our Visit with Kids guide?

Last walked May 2023.

Child walking through a metal kissing gate with ice cream

The large kissing gate. A big buggy may struggle through this, but a single should be fine.

Child standing next to a weird with trees behind and river next to him

The weir

Child walking on wooden slatted bridge with metal railings either side

Crossing the bridge

Two children climbing a triangular climbing frame under blue skies and sun

What’s cool for kids on this walk?

🍦 Ice Cream! And a PARK! Who doesn’t love a walk that starts and ends in the park with ice cream! There’s usually an ice cream van at the park, but for a real treat, head to the Pancake House on the high street. Their ice cream (and pancakes for that matter) are great! And they also have dog friendly ice cream too!

✨ We wholeheartedly recommend Studfold Fairy Trail (which is up the road in Lofthouse - running from Easter to the end of the Summer Season), How Stean Gorge (which is right next to Studfold Fairy Trail) and Birchfield Ice Cream Farm (which is down the road in Summerbridge). Or maybe take a little trip up to Brimham Rocks, which is just outside Summerbridge too! Lots to do in this neck of the woods and we LOVE it!

🥾 Not content with just one walk?! Check out all of our Nidderdale Walks here!

🌳 This is a super short walk, but why not make your own duck food and see if you can spot some ducks to feed as well!

Helpful Information!

For all of our safety advice and helpful information head to the dedicated page.

⭐ We hope you enjoy our walks, but please exercise common sense as routes can change with the weather conditions and seasons! The routes have been walked by our own two feet, but you know your own limits. Always take a back-up map, don’t rely on GPS alone, wear appropriate clothing for the weather and take adequate snacks and refreshments with you (although as a parent, I know you already know that bit!)

⭐ Leave no trace! Take nothing away and leave nothing behind, take all rubbish home with you.

Hand holding ice cream with a waffle cone and chocolate flake in the top over a bridge with sunshine
three children in front of a fairy house in a field

Staying in the Pateley Bridge area?

We have a Visit with Kids guide to provide you with all the family friendly inspiration you need! Think family friendly walks, local attractions and importantly, where to find the ice cream (and the play park!)

There is a dedicated guide covering this area and so why not check out our…

Visit Pateley Bridge with Kids guide

Tap here to head to our visit with kids guides
Ordnance survey map of pateley bridge

Want to grab the route?

Head to the Ordnance Survey Navigation App where you can download the route!

(Always carry a back up map and know how to use it)

Image is Copyright of Ordnance Survey

Tap here to head to the Ordnance Survey Route

Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks

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We live and BREATHE the Yorkshire Dales outdoors life!

BEEN INSPIRED? Tag us @reluctantexplorers

Come follow our journey over on Instagram and Facebook where you’ll find up to date walk info, breaking news on Yorkshire Events, new Yorkshire Dales wild swim spots, climbing, caves and more!

Follow us on Social Media for all the up to date info: @thereluctantexplorers

Leave No Trace

The Yorkshire Dales is our home, and the home of so many others who care deeply about this beautiful space.

Should you visit, make sure to:

Take home anything you bring, leave no rubbish behind.

Make the world a better place by picking up any rubbish you see, even if it isn’t yours.

Leave everything else as you found it.

Help us to protect our wild spaces.