Lofthouse, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3

Pateley Bridge Area Guide

PICTURE PERFECT PATELEY BRIDGE

In a nutshell

If you’re looking for a picture-perfect town, then Pateley Bridge really takes some beating. Located in the heart of Nidderdale, deservingly recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and bordering the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the town is centred around its beautiful High Street, which has won a vast range of prestigious accolades over the years.

The town, known locally as Pateley, is surrounded by majestic countryside in every direction, but still within easy reach of Harrogate and Ripon.

Housing stock

For a rural town, Pateley offers a surprisingly wide range of property types. There are chocolate box cottages, town centre terraces and apartments, stylish barn conversions, farms and even guesthouses.

Some local developers and boutique housebuilders have also successfully put their stamp on the area and created a sought-after selection of small-scale new homes developments that appeal to buyers seeking a contemporary and modern home.

Surrounding towns and villages

Pateley is the only town in Nidderdale, but there are plenty of smaller villages and hamlets nearby. Summerbridge, Glasshouses, Bewerley, Wath, Ramsgill and Lofthouse are just a few of the options that all have their own charms and characteristics, as well as being popular with homebuyers looking for something more remote.

Schools

Pateley is home to St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School and Nidderdale High School and Community College. Both are very popular and integral parts of the local Nidderdale community.

Transport links

It’s less than 15 miles from Harrogate, with its national rail links and approximately 12 miles to Ripon, and both are well served by the local bus service. The A1(M) is approximately a 30-minute drive away.

Shopping

The town’s renowned High Street is home to a fabulous range of independent shops including two superb butchers, a fishmonger, a renowned traditional sweet shop, a number of bakeries and delis, as well as a selection of galleries and boutiques. For everything else, there’s the well-stocked Dales Market Corner and The Spar.

Eating and drinking

There’s a huge range of traditional tearooms, cosy cafes and pubs to enjoy. The Crown stands at the heart of the High Street and serves a delicious range of homecooked food and refreshing ales and other favourites include The Pancake House, The Old Granary Tea Shop, The Royal Oak, Olley’s and Cocoa Joe’s, to name but a few!

Leisure time

With countryside and moorland this good, it’s all about the great outdoors! There is amazing walking, cycling and climbing on the doorstep, along with all types of other outdoor pursuits and sailing at The Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club at Grimwith Reservoir or Ripon Sailing Club.

In addition, there is a packed calendar of annual events from art trails and car festivals to the Nidderdale Agricultural Show, which attracts thousands of visitors every September.

The town is home to a magnificent park, flanked by the River Nidd, that offers a large and well-equipped children’s play area, a bowling green and traditional bandstand that hosts regular musical performances in late spring and summer.  

Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society (PBDS) present three or four of their own productions each year in The Playhouse, which are always worth a visit.

Finally, Nidderdale Museum is a must-see attraction, with a large collection of exhibits, illustrating different aspects of life and work in Nidderdale through the ages.

Pateley’s claim to fame

Pateley has won several prestigious accolades in recent years, which include being listed in The Sunday Times' Best Places to Live in the UK league table and winning a Great British High Street award.

The town is also home to The Oldest Sweet Shop in the World, which has been trading continuously since 1827. It was awarded an official World Guinness record in 2014 and it sells every type of sweet imaginable, weighed out of traditional glass jars.

Pateley’s best kept secret:

High above Pateley lies Coldstones Cut, which is a supersized public artwork space. The sculpture functions as a series of platforms, where visitors can look down into the spectacular limestone quarry hole. At 1,375 feet above sea level, you can freely explore the spiralling and winding paths and take in the spectacular, panoramic views across Nidderdale and beyond.