Updated on March 12, 2023
The charming market town of Pateley Bridge in North Yorkshire is an ideal place to stay when visiting Nidderdale AONB. But don’t be deceived by its size, there are lots of things to do in Pateley Bridge! Here are 10 that you don’t want to miss!
This guide shares the top 10 things to do in Pateley Bridge. It also includes where to eat in Pateley Bridge, where to stay and other attractions to visit in the local area.
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Where is Pateley Bridge?
Pateley Bridge is a small market town in Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in North Yorkshire. It is 14 miles northwest of Harrogate and 13 miles west of Ripon. Pateley Bridge is just a stone’s throw from the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

How to get to Pateley Bridge
By car: Pateley Bridge and the surrounding attractions are easiest accessed by car. It is the ideal stop on a Yorkshire Dales road trip or a charming weekend getaway, and a car will make it easy to visit the surrounding sights.
By public transport: The nearest train station to Pateley Bridge is Harrogate. There are direct trains to Harrogate from both York and Leeds stations. There are regular bus services from Harrogate to Pateley Bridge.
Where to park in Pateley Bridge
There are plenty of pay and display car parks in Pateley Bridge, however, they are all small. You will want to arrive in Pateley Bridge early to avoid disappointment.
Here is a list of car parks in Pateley Bridge:
- Southlands (HG3 5JX)
- Southlands short stay (HG3 5JX)
- Showground (HG3 5HW)
- Nidd Walk (HG3 5NA)
- Park Road (HG3 5JS)
10 things to do in Pateley Bridge
Here are the top 10 things to do in Pateley Bridge that you don’t want to miss on your visit. The list include all of the things to see, as well as the best places to eat in Pateley Bridge.
Walk up High Street
High Street is the main road through the town of Pateley Bridge. It starts shortly after you cross the River Nidd and climbs uphill.
A walk up High Street is a wonderful way to get to know Pateley Bridge. The street is lined with local shops including bakeries, delicatessens, gift and souvenir shops and more. You can do a bit of shopping or just chat to the store owners to get a real feel for Pateley Bridge.
Visit the Oldest Sweet Shop in the World
While you’re taking a stroll along High Street, make sure you visit the world’s oldest sweet shop. The shop has been continuously selling sweets since 1827, which earned it the title and a Guinness World Record to match!
Inside the shop you will find a traditional sweet shop with jars of retro sweets. They are weighed using a vintage scale and packaged in those traditional striped paper bags. Not only are the sweets delicious, but the experience is like stepping back in time!

Discover the King Street Workshops
Tucked behind High Street on King Street you will find the King Street Workshops. These small workshop spaces are used by local artisans as a space to make and sell their crafts.
From traditional hand-chiseled sculptures to glass blowing and mosaics, you can watch these craftspeople at work and learn more about the process. The shop owners often put on displays, answer questions and in some workshops, you can even have a go yourself. You’re sure to come away with a unique souvenir or two from your visit!

Relax in the Recreational Ground
Pateley Bridge Recreational Ground is a large public park. It is a popular spot with locals and tourists alike! This sprawling park has a dedicated space to play boules, a playground, basketball court, football goals, bandstand and more.
On sunny days, the park is a lively place where you can wander around and see the community come together to play sports or find a spot to sit on the grass and unwind. It is a picturesque and relaxing place that you don’t want to miss.

Stroll along the River Nidd
If you want to enjoy a riverside stroll, you can continue your walk through the park and follow the path alongside the River Nidd.
As you follow the path you will pass by Riverside Caravan Park on your left, and a weir in the river on your right. Further along the route, the path splits at a junction, so avid walkers can continue to explore the pretty Nidderdale countryside on foot, or you can retrace your steps back into the village.

Visit the Nidderdale Show
Nidderdale Show is one of the county’s foremost agricultural shows. It takes place in late September and traditionally marks the end of the agricultural show season. Annually, it attracts over 15,000 visitors!
The show includes classes where local farmers showcase their livestock, crops, horses and dogs. There are also classes where entrants can submit their best horticulture, handicrafts and home produce to be judge too. You will also discover marquees dedicated to crafts, heritage, trade stands and more.
Places to eat in Pateley Bridge
Some of the best things to do in Pateley Bridge are sampling the offerings of the local eateries! Here are the best places to eat in Pateley Bridge that you want to include on your list.
Get lunch at The Willow
The Willow has been a firm favourite of tourists and locals alike for many years now. This traditional English Cottage restaurant serves everything from romantic meals using locally sourced produce, to homemade cakes and afternoon tea. The Willow is the ideal place to enjoy a delicious meal while in Pateley Bridge!

Drink Chocolate at Cocoa Joe’s
Cocoa Joe’s are chocolate specialists. Seriously, they know their chocolate! They stock a selection of luxury chocolate from around the world, which they use to make delicious hot and cold chocolate drinks.
The Cocoa Joe’s team hand selects their chocolates to ensure they are only selecting the best possible tastes. All their cocoa is ethically sourced from suppliers who are dedicated to proper farming practices. Pop in and taste one of their many chocolate drinks for yourself and pick up some of their delicious chocolate produce to bring home too!

Eat Pancakes at The Pancake House
If you fancy wrapping up your visit with a spot of dessert, make sure you visit The Pancake House. The Pancake House serves a delicious selection of pancakes, waffles and ice cream for you to eat in or take away.
The Pancake House is also a great spot to get a hot or cold drink including a selection of coffees, teas, milkshakes, and smoothies. They also offer a savoury breakfast and brunch menu for you to enjoy. Just remember to leave space for your pancakes afterwards!

Where to stay in Pateley Bridge
Pateley Bridge is the perfect weekend for a romantic getaway or quiet retreat. Here are some of the best places to stay in Pateley Bridge for your trip.
The Willow
If you have fallen in love with the warm welcome and delicious food of The Willow, you can stay at their B&B. Their rooms are light and modern without losing the cottage charm. Your stay includes free parking, free Wi-Fi, all the modern amenities you would expect, plus a hearty cooked breakfast in the morning!
Talbot House
Talbot House B&B and Tearoom is conveniently located right in the middle of High Street. This stunning building is a Georgian Grade II listed former coaching inn. You will receive a warm and friendly welcome, a comfortable stay in one of the six bedrooms, and a full English breakfast in the morning. Their onsite tearoom is also rather tempting!

Harefield Hall
Just a short distance from the centre of Pateley Bridge, you will find the exquisite Harefield Hall. This adults-only 4-star country guest house is dripping with elegance. It is just a pleasant 10-minute stroll from Pateley Bridge, nestled in its own 28 acres of woodland. This is the ideal place if you want to enjoy a little taste of luxury, with a surprisingly affordable price tag!
Things to do near Pateley Bridge
If you plan to stay in Pateley Bridge and want to see more of the surrounding area, here are some things to do near Pateley Bridge to include on your visit.
Brimham Rocks
Brimham Rocks is Nidderdale’s best known attraction. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) that is maintained by the National Trust and is just four miles from Pateley Bridge.
The site is a collection of natural rock formations that were formed over 325 million years ago. Brimham Rocks is a popular attraction for people who want to admire the rock formations on a stroll through the grounds. Visitors can also scramble up the rocks and admire some of the incredible views. It is also a popular sport for climbers to practice their skills.

The Coldstones Cut
By comparison, The Coldstones Cut is one of Nidderdale’s best hidden gems. The Coldstones Cut is a huge piece of public art attached to the neighbouring quarry. It was designed to replace a simple viewing platform. Artist Andrew Sabin was tasked to provide a piece of public art which would appeal to the aesthetic and educational benefits of the site.
After a design process that took three years, The Coldstones Cut opened to the public in September 2010. It is a beautiful spot to go walking and admire the beautiful Nidderdale countryside. You can also learn about the quarry from the dramatic viewing platform.

Malham
If you want to venture into the Yorkshire Dales National Park on your visit, Malham is a wonderful day trip from Pateley Bridge. The small village of Malham boasts many incredible natural sights, which gives you a real taste for the Yorkshire Dales countryside.
If you want to see all the Malham sights in one day, check out this 9.5 mile circular walk. Along this walk you will see the charming Janet’s Foss waterfall, the dramatic Gordale Scar, the inspiring Malham Cove and the peaceful Malham Tarn.

Other things to do near Pateley Bridge
That’s not the end of the things to do near Pateley Bridge though! If you’re planning an extended visit, here are some other sights you’ll want to see nearby:
- Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden – a World Heritage Site including deer park, formal gardens, and Abbey ruins.
- Stump Cross Caverns – an opportunity to head beneath the Yorkshire Dales and explore these impressive caverns.
- Hackfall Woods – A romantic fairytale woodland full of follies and waterfalls.
- The Forbidden Corner – A unique experience exploring these quirky follies, grottos and tunnels.
- Rocking Hall – A beautiful moorland circular walk to a stone shooting house.
Before You Go
So, if you’re planning a visit, you won’t be short of things to do in Pateley Bridge! Whether you’re planning a week stay or a weekend getaway, there are plenty of things to see in Pateley Bridge and the surrounding area. Which ones are you most excited about visiting?
And if you love Yorkshire as much as I do, sign up for my weekly newsletter for even more Yorkshire adventures and tips!
Until our next adventure,

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Hello, I’m Hannah! I’m a writer and photographer who loves experiencing the wonders of Yorkshire. My guides will help you escape from your daily routine by showing you that you don’t have to go far to find an adventure.
Pateley Bridge is full of amazing things to do and to eat. I definitely need to pay a visit. Who knew that the oldest sweet shop in the world is located in North Yorkshire? Thanks for the guide.
The world’s oldest sweetshop is a crazy fact, isn’t it? Pateley Bridge is such a charming town packed with so many things to do. I hope you get a chance to visit and explore!
This place looks so traditionally charming! Thank you for sharing!
Pateley Bridge is a lovely place! Thanks for reading!
I hadn’t heard of Pateley Bridge before! It looks so picturesque – I would love to take a walk through the cute little streets.
Pateley Bridge is such a lovely place. It is perfect for a day trip to explore the town, or a great place to stay for a Yorkshire Dales escape! I love just roaming the streets and seeing what I discover. It is full of charming little hidden nooks!
What a cute little town! I’ll be adding it to the bucketlist. Thank you for all the great info.
Pateley Bridge is such a pretty place! I hope you get a chance to visit soon!
I’m pretty sure 2022 is going to be the year I truly explore the UK. And I’ve added Pateley Bridge to my list of places I’ve got to visit. Fantastic post and recommendations. Can’t wait to go now!
Ah yay! I’ve had so much fun exploring the UK while we’ve not been able to trave aboard. There are so many amazing places to discover! Pateley Bridge and the Yorkshire Dales in general is definitely one of them! I hope you love your visit!
What a gorgeous place. I’d love to visit one day! Wow!
Pateley Bridge is such a beautiful place. It is a great place to stay and explore the surrounding Yorkshire Dales. I hope you get an opportunity to visit soon!
What a charming place! I’d love to do the hike in Malham. Sounds amazing. It is definitely now on my bucket list!
Pateley Bridge is such a lovely place to stay for an escape to the Yorkshire Dales. The Malham hike is spectacular! I hope you get a chance to try it out!
Adding this to my must-see list! Pateley Bridge looks like such a sweet area! I’d love to explore around High Street and follow your recs. Thanks!
Pateley Bridge is such a beautiful place. It is the ideal escape for a quiet break! Thanks for reading!
How charming is Pateley Bridge?!! Love this guide of the top 10 things to do…and first up is Cocoa Joe’s!
Pateley Bridge is such a pretty place! You can’t go wrong if your first stop is Cocoa Joe’s!
Great place to explore when you are passing through Yorkshire for a day. I love that weir in the river, looks so nice! Malham circular walk sounds interesting. Thanks for the tips. 🙂
I love taking a stroll along the river at Pateley Bridge and spotting the weir. It’s such a lovely spot along the river! The circular walk around Malham is fantastic!
I don’t think my camera would be idle for long with all of these amazing photo opportunities. I would love visiting the artisan workshops too.
Ah! Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale in general are such beautiful places to photograph! Make sure you pack a spare battery and SD card! The artisan workshops are lovely. It was nice strolling around, admiring the artwork and chatting to the creators!
I completely understand why it was named an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty!! Pateley Bridge is gorgeous. I’d definitely have to go to the National Park too while I was there.
Nidderdale is such a stunning area, the landscapes are incredible! And Pateley Bridge is a great place to stay and explore the Yorkshire Dales National Park!
I love when small towns like Pateley Bridge have so much to discover. It would certainly take me back to visit the oldest sweet shop in the world and get candy in paper bags. A walk along the River Nidd would help to burn off some of those sugar calories!
It is incredible that there are so many things to do in Pateley Bridge given its small size! The oldest sweet shop in the world is a fun spot! I’m sure the sugar can be justified; they’ll be a lot of walking during a stay in Nidderdale so it can fuel the hikes! You’d definitely burn off the calories with so much beautiful scenery to explore!
Wow charming is an understatement! So beautiful would love to visit this quaint area one day!
It is easy to see why Nidderdale is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, isn’t it? It is such a lovely are to explore and Pateley Bridge is the ideal place to stay in Nidderdale. There are so many things to do in Pateley Bridge!
Coco Joe’s sounds delightful. Such a quaint place. Thanks for all the information.
Cocoa Joe’s is a stop not to be missed! We thoroughly enjoyed strolling High Street with a delicious hot chocolate in hand. And they had so many flavours to choose from! Thanks for reading!
What a beautiful area. I would LOVE to visit here.
Pateley Bridge and the Nidderdale area in general are so beautiful. There is so much interesting history and fascinating places to discover. It is well worth a visit!
The oldest sweet shop in the world??? That sounds so cool! And it looks like it has a charming landscape to surround it as well! Thanks for sharing.
The oldest sweet shop in the world is a fun place to visit. It feels like taking a step back in time! The landscapes around Nidderdale are stunning, it is a beautiful place to explore!
Thanks for this great Pateley Bridge guide. I would love to do the circular walk around Malham. Pinning for next time I visit the UK!
Pateley Bridge is a lovely place. You can spend a relaxing day exploring here or it is the ideal place to stay in Nidderdale to explore the surrounding area. The circular walk around Malham is a must when you are in the Yorkshire Dales. The landscapes are unbelievable!
I’ve never heard of Pateley Bridge, but with so many fabulous things to do, I’m adding it to my list for when I visit North Yorkshire! And of course, chocolate helps too!
I have been known to visit places JUST for their connection to chocolate! But Pateley Bridge has lots more going for it! I didn’t actually know Cocoa Joe’s was there when we visited but I’m so happy we stumbled across it. Their chocolate drinks are delicious!
Yorkshire is so beautiful! I second the trip to Malham Cove and Malham Tarn, such a diverse beautiful walk
It is stunning, isn’t it? It is surprising just how many things you can find to do in a small Yorkshire town! I love the short trip from Pateley Bridge to Malham. The landscapes are unbelievable!
You keep finding sooo many gorgeous places in Yorkshire! Pateley Bridge looks like such a perfect place for a holiday!
Brimham Rocks is such a cool spot isn’t it.
Haha I’m definitely spoiled having so many amazing places nearby! Pateley Bridge is one of my favourite places to visit when we’re in Nidderdale. It is the ideal place to pick up supplies such as fresh bread, meat, cakes etc from the local stores. Brimham Rocks is awesome! It blows my mind every time we visit!
Though the ag show sounds fun, that village is simply adorable! I would visit just to stroll the streets and see the beautiful old buildings. What a charming place!
Pateley Bridge is a beautiful town! I love just wandering up and down High Street and exploring the shops. Thanks for reading!