From Britain with Love

Pateley Bridge is in the main Yorkshire Dales town of Nidderdale, one of the lower Dales and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It sits by the River Nidd and is surrounded by the stunning hills and countryside of North Yorkshire.

There are so many reasons to visit the Yorkshire Dales, but the scenery alone is a very good one! If you're a fan of the great outdoors, then look no further... there is fantastic walking available all around you, and for the keen walker the 53 mile Nidderdale Way runs through the town of Pateley Bridge. It's also great for mountain biking, cycling or even horse riding, and just a few miles further up the Dale you'll find How Stean Gorge where you can experience gorge walking, rock scrambling, abseiling and pot-holing.

Or for something a bit more relaxing, visit nearby Fountains Abbey (pictured), a World Heritage site which is well worth exploring, and you afterwards you can enjoy tea and cake in their tearooms. Or pay a visit to the Spa town of Harrogate where you can partake in a bit of retail therapy, a walk around the Valley Gardens, a visit to the famous Betty’s Tea Rooms or even a dip in the Turkish Baths.

We are so lucky in Nidderdale, as well as great places to visit, we also seem to attract lots of creative people too. In Pateley Bridge you'll find interesting and quirky artwork by Teresa Boast who has become very well known for her unique take on sheep! Or why not visit The Old Workhouse, home to independent artists including jewellery from Moxon & Simm, ceramic sculpture from Dodie Hallas and glass from Sanders & Wallace.

Pateley Bridge has become a bit of a foodie mecca, and there are some fabulous local businesses offering fresh, locally sourced food. The places we love to shop at include Weatherhead Butchers at the bottom of the hill for their pork pies, Kendall’s Farm Butchers at the top of the hill for their beef wellingtons, Elliot’s Deli (pictured) for picnic treats, and to finish a Sticky Toffee Pudding from The Old Bakehouse.

If you fancy eating out then there is Olley's Italian Restaurant or the Sportsman’s Arms at Wath, or for something really special then try dinner at The Yorke Arms, a Michelin starred restaurant up the Dale in nearby Ramsgill. For traditional, good pub food we like to visit the Royal Oak, The Crown or The Birch Tree at Glasshouses, the next village along.

For a cosy traditional Yorkshire stone cottage, just perfect for two people, try our Bewerley Hall Cottage (pictured below). Featured in Alastair Sawdays Special Escapes, it overlooks the pretty village green of Bewerley which is just five minutes stroll from Pateley Bridge. Here you can choose to do as much or as little as you like. You’ll find crisp white cotton bedlinen, fluffy Egyptian bath towels and complimentary local goodies in the fridge to welcome you. Short breaks are offered all year round from just £295 for a 3 night break.

Our other self-catering property is Ashknott Cottage (pictured below), a stylish stone-built beamed cottage in Nidderdale. Featuring a cosy beamed lounge with wood burning stove, as well as modern conveniences including flat screen TV, iPod connector and Wi-Fi this cottage is a real 'home from home'. Midweek and weekend breaks are available from just £250.

We love to get out and enjoy the fantastic scenery which is all around us. Our favourite walks include a hike up to Yorkes Folly, or Two Stoops as it's locally known, for the fabulous view at the top. Or for reservoir walks it’s got to be a bracing stroll around Scar House at the top of the Dale, or Grimwith just to the west of Pateley Bridge. After working up an appetite it’s time to pop into one of the many excellent local pubs for a bit of good Yorkshire hospitality!

Any time of the year is a great time to visit Nidderdale as it doesn’t get too busy, even in the height of Summer. A particularly good time to visit though is in September when the annual Nidderdale Show takes place in Bewerley Park, just by the River Nidd. It’s the last agricultural show of the year so its always a good excuse to meet up and to celebrate this fantastic area that we are so lucky to live and work in.