Visit Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale with Kids
Pateley Bridge is a small market town located at the heart of the Nidderdale National Landscape.
Not only is it a great hub to visit with the kids, but it has so much going on around it too!
I’m serious guys. SO much to do!
Have you visited Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale with the Kids?
This stunning part of the Yorkshire Dales allegedly only missed out on being included in the National Park because of it having so many reservoirs. They were concerned about people being around the drinking water (or so the rumour goes..) Now? Don’t worry, the reservoirs are still there and BEAUTIFUL to walk around!
Along with the rest of the kid friendly stuff going on if you’re here for a trip, or just fancy a visit to Pateley Bridge for the day, we can tell you about a whole LOAD of family friendly attractions and walks. Right on the doorstep!
Oh and OF COURSE you’ll find out where the play park is and where you can get ice cream too!
Get ready to plan your family trip!
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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!
Wading in the river Nidd at Lofthouse
Our best Pateley Bridge Walks
Pateley Bridge is an absolute hub for family friendly walks! We have loads of walks in the Nidderdale area but here are a few of our favourites!
Do you want to find a waterfall? Located Just down the road from Pateley Bridge in Lofthouse are the waterfalls on the River Nidd!
Fancy a walk around the ruins of a medieval church? You can head up to these from the centre of Pateley Bridge on our Ruins of St Mary’s Church circular walk.
Looking for a woodland walk? Try walking to Fishponds Wood in Bewerley. A walk that starts and ends in Pateley Bridge.
Want to walk around a reservoir? Scar House Reservoir is STUNNING and is located in Lofthouse in Upper Nidderdale!
Pushchair friendly? Hit the riverside at Pateley Bridge, or for some epic modern art next door to historic ruins, try the Coldstones Cut!
For all of our Nidderdale Walks, head to their dedicated page!
Fishpond Woods
Pateley Bridge pushchair walk
St Mary’s Church ruins
How Stean Gorge
Outdoor Activities for Kids near Pateley Bridge
You will NOT be surprised to hear that there is a whole LOAD of outdoorsy activities around Pateley Bridge that are great for the kids!
Would you like to go walking with a Llama or Alpaca? Nidderdale Llamas and Alpacas is located in Wilsil, 5 minutes outside Pateley Bridge. They have a whole series of experiences available where you can meet the fabulous llamas and alpacas who live there. Bookings are required and the lower age limit is 7.
Feeling super adventurous? How Stean Gorge is open for visitors to the gorge and cave, or you can book a super adventurous experience, such as the Via Ferrata, gorge scrambling or caving!
Are you looking for a kid friendly trail? Then head to Studfold Adventure Trail, where you’ll find fabulously intricate fairy and pixie houses as well as mini-golf! This is a seasonal trail and operates roughly between Easter and September - for more seasonal events information head to our Yorkshire Dales events page.
Looking for a family friendly open farm? Then Birchfield Ice Cream Farm is located just down the road in Summerbridge. It has animals to pet, outdoor and indoor play areas and seasonal events including fruit and flower picking.
Fancy exploring crazy natural rock formations? At Brimham Rocks you can clamber and crawl around some mega rock formations. A National Trust owned area, exploring is free but parking charges apply to non-members.
Want to explore some epic modern art? Head up onto Greenhow Hill and you’ll find the Coldstones Cut and Toft Gate Lime kiln. This epic modern art installation is free to walk around and is located right next to the ruins of a lime kiln that’s hundreds of years old!
Happy to travel a little further? Try National Trust’s Fountains Abbey, Druids Temple, the Himalayan Gardens or even Hackfall Woods!
There is SO much going on in this part of Nidderdale!
The sunflower field at Birchfield Ice Cream Farm
The Druid’s Temple at the Swinton Estate
Brimham Rocks
Walking with Nidderdale Llamas
Rainy day stuff to do in Pateley Bridge
Come on guys… it’s Yorkshire. The likelihood is, you’ll be dealing with rain at some point! But NEVER FEAR! For we have some IDEAS (see what I did there? Poet and I don’t know it and all that….)
Where does it not rain (much!) in a CAVE! Stump Cross Caverns show cave is just down the road from Grassington, and it a great way to spend a rainy day. BECAUSE….
Fancy a trip to the cinema? Stump Cross Caverns has its own cinema too! You can hire it out for private hire with a selection of films to choose from (minimum prices do apply but don’t discount it, it’s more reasonable than you think to have your own private cinema!)
You CANNOT go to Pateley Bridge without visiting the Oldest Sweet Shop! It’s located right on the main street headed through the town.
Where’s the play park in Pateley Bridge?
The park at Pateley Bridge is located right next to the main bridge next to the river and on the main road.
You really can’t miss it!
It’s got some great play equipment, including a zipline and often has an ice cream van stationed there too. There is a fab little pushchair friendly walk suitable for very young explorers too!
Want to know where ALL the parks are? Head to our A-Z Guide of Yorkshire Dales Parks.
Tom Taylor’s Cave at How Stean Gorge
The legendary teeth in the bridge!
A Day Out in Pateley Bridge must do Itinerary
Ok. You only have a day in Pateley Bridge, what would we recommend you do?!
There is quite literally so much to do, I’ve split this into younger kids and older kids! You really will be spoiled for choice (an excuse to stay longer…)
Younger Children
Grab a coffee and order your luchtime picnic from the Nidderdale Way Cafe at Studfold.
Go to Studfold Adventure Trail and Mini Golf! This fairy hunt is one my kids have grown up with and in 2025 it had a mini-gold course added to it, making it the perfect way to start your day! You can have a picnic from the Nidderdale Way Cafe delivered to the adventure play area too, where you’ll find the picnic benches!
Head back to Pateley Bridge for the Oldest Sweet Shop (a must visit!)
Wander along the riverside and finish with an ice cream from the Pancake Shop (which also sells dog friendly ice cream!)
Then have a play on the play park!
If you want to grab some farm shop treats for back at home, head back to the Toft Gate Barn farm shop and maybe explore the Coldstones Cut and Toft Gate Lime Kiln whilst you’re there! They also have an excellent cafe too!
Older Children
Book yourself an adrenaline fuelled adventure at How Stean Gorge. Why not try Yorkshire’s only Via Ferrata? Or if you don’t fancy that, complete the orienteering trail around the gorge, and explore Tom Taylor’s cave (he was a murderous highwayman!)
Fill up those tummies at the How Stean Gorge Cafe
Head back to Pateley Bridge and if you have the energy, take a short walk to Fishpond Woods where you’ll find the creepy teeth in the bridge and the old ice house!
Head back to Pateley Bridge, grab an ice cream from the Pancake Shop (dog friendly too!) head up to the Oldest Sweet Shop too!
Here in the Summer? In Early Summer why not go pick your own strawberries at Birchfield Ice Cream Farm, or cut your own fresh sunflowers…
You could always get even MORE ice cream…
What else is nearby?
We get it! You’re in this for the long haul! If you’re visiting for a while or you’re just stuck for ideas as to what to do with the kids, here’s what’s nearby…
Ilkley and Skipton
These two towns are on the edge of the National Park and have LOADS to do with the Kids! Check out the visit with kids guides for more!
Grassington and Wharfedale
Just a short drive into the Yorkshire Dales National Park and you’ll find Grassington, so if you fancy checking out what’s great for the kids there, then head to the dedicated visit with kids page!
Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks
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![Swimming in Janet's Foss Yorkshire Dales]()
Waterfall Walks
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![Malham cove walk for kids]()
Pushchair Friendly
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![Pinhaw Beacon trig point walk near Skipton]()
Peak Bagging Walks
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![The Park at Greenhow Nidderdale]()
Walks with Play Parks
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![Gordale Scar in Malham Yorkshire Dales]()
Organised by Location
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![Walking in the woodland in Wensleydale]()
Woodland Walks
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![Playing on the shore of Embsay Reservoir Yorkshire Dales]()
Reservoir Walks
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![The ruins of Bolton Abbey]()
Bolton Abbey Estate Walks
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![Leaping over the stile at Almscliffe Crag]()
Walks Under 2 Miles
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![Child walking into a pub in Appletreewick]()
Walks with Pubs and Cafes
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