THe Toft Gate Lime kiln in the sun

The Coldstones Cut and Toft Gate Lime Kiln

Would you believe that a massive piece of modern art and a ruin of a lime kiln that offers you spectacular views across Nidderdale is pushchair accessible?

The Coldstones Cut and Toft Gate Lime Kiln are!

Ever heard of the Coldstones Cut?

Located in Greenhow, Nidderdale, alongside the working Hansons Quarry, the Coldstones Cut is a piece of public modern art and is great to explore for little ones who love a good digger!

The paths are pushchair accessible with a sturdy pushchair (although the ramps up the ‘ram’s horns’ are relatively narrow and the hill up to the sculpture is steep, so be warned!). The ram’s horns form 2 little ‘turrets’ from which you can take in the quite frankly breath-taking views across Nidderdale, and then there is a main central viewing platform, which looks across the quarry.

But that’s not all! Right next door is the Toft Gate Lime Kiln, which is the remains of a Victorian lime kiln, fantastic for exploring.

There is a ‘there and back again’ accessible path alongside the lime kiln, which would be suitable for pushchair access (it is also wheelchair accessible). There is also a circular path that takes you all the way around, but not all that is pushchair friendly.

Climbing on the rocks at the Coldstones Cut
Walking down the middle of the Coldstones Cut
The sun glinting on the Toft Gate Lime Kiln

Walk details for the Coldstones Cut and Toft Gate Lime Kiln

Distance: Less than 2 miles

Terrain: Easy underfoot, pushchair friendly (although steep, sturdy pushchairs only). Toft Gate Lime Kiln will be muddy underfoot after periods of wet weather. The path up to the Coldstones Cut is a fairly steep incline, but is only a short distance.

Parking: Small Car Park on the B6265 at Toft Gate Lime Kiln.

Public Transport: It is not easily accessible by public transport.

Dog Friendly: Dogs on leads. There have on occasion been horses grazing in the land around the Toft Gate Lime Kiln.

Location: Nidderdale, Greenhow near Pateley Bridge.

Map: Explorer 298 Nidderdale

What 3 Words: fire.magically.camera (car park)

Toilets/ Baby Change: No.

Nearest Cafe/ Amenities: Toft Gate Cafe is just down the road towards Pateley Bridge, and there is a park and more facilities in Pately Bridge itself.

Looking over the Hansons Quarry

Directions to the Coldstones Cut and Toft Gate Lime Kiln

  1. This is an easy one and it’s well signposted so you really need very little input from me! (Hoorah, I hear you say!) Starting at the car park at Toft Gate Lime Kiln, you need to cross the minor road running between the quarry and the lime kiln. (Not the B6265, which is the main road).

  2. Once across, you will see a gate and a signpost, which clearly points towards Coldstones Cut. Head up there, towards the installation at the top! Once there, you can explore the little pathways (which will encourage frantic racing around…. best keep up!) and the central viewing platform which looks across the working quarry. From one who is a bit non-plussed in general about quarrying…. it’s a pretty spectacular sight! You will also find lots of plaques to read, and information about the quarry itself.

  3. Return to the car park from the quarry, and you will seen the remains of the lime kiln chimney. Head through the gate into the area surrounding the lime kiln. The wheelchair and pushchair friendly path is indicated on the information in the car park, but if you decide to ditch the pushchair, there is a bit more of the ruins that you can explore on foot!

Last walked April 2022

⭐ 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.

Walking in the Toft Gate Lime Kiln

What’s cool for kids on this walk?

✨ Built at some point in the 1860’s Toft Gate Lime Kiln was built to produce lime. Obviously, it being a lime kiln! But Lime was a pretty big deal for the Victorians, and so it was a pretty busy kiln. The working conditions were tough, and hazardous, but the kiln produced lime for over 50 years! Ok, your kids might not really be all that interested in the lime production process, but what you will find is a pretty well preserved ruin of the kiln itself, which you have to admit is pretty cool to look at and explore! In contrast, Coldstones Cut is a piece of public art created by Andrew Sabin in 2010 and is perched at 418m above sea level. It is a bit of a celebration of quarrying, stone and concrete!

🧒 There is a teeny tiny play area down the road in Greenhow, or a larger park at Pateley Bridge.

🌳 Need some more help with the walking whinges? Why not try one of our walking games? Or you can download a free scavenger sheet!

Scar House Reservoir in Nidderdale kids walking

Want more walks in Nidderdale?

All of our walks are arranged into sections, so if you want waterfall walks, woodland walks or pushchair friendly walks, you’ll know where tio find them.

We also have loads of family friendly walks in the Nidderdale area, all on their own page!

Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks

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