Plan a walk in the Yorkshire Dales
Time for a trudge! Discover some of the best Yorkshire walks around Stump Cross Caverns.
Explore one of Britain's most beautiful National Parks
A visit to Stump Cross is more than a family day out. It's a voyage back in time – a portal to a long-forgotten age before humans or dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
Join us for a day of discovery and explore some of the best-preserved prehistoric caves in the UK. You'll navigate twisting passageways, uncover incredible rock formations and learn of ancient mysteries hidden deep underground.
Whatever your age, whatever the weather – Stump Cross Caverns is always an adventure.
Walks in the Yorkshire Dales
Grimwith Reservoir and Appletreewick Pastures circular
Best for a bit of everything.
Want to see a little of everything the Dales can offer? This route takes you over pretty pastures, down gently rolling hills and past the sparkling waters of Grimwith Reservoir. That's a lot of sightseeing to pack into a six-mile stomp!
While you're walking, look out for the traditional drystone walls that line our local fields, as well as an unusual thatched barn close to the water's edge. You might spot a few bobbing boats too, courtesy of the Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club.
The best bit? This walk starts just minutes from Stump Cross, so you can find a place to park, pull on your boots and get started straight away. It's a moderately challenging route that takes about three hours.
Nidderdale Way and The Coldstones Cut
Best for sightseeing.
Great news for sightseers – we're only a short hop from one of Yorkshire's most impressive pieces of public art.
The Coldstones Cut is a sculpture, a stone maze and a viewing platform rolled into one. Perched on a hill overlooking a limestone quarry, it gives you a front-row seat to gaze at the horizon or watch the machinery at work.
It's possible to park nearby and hike up a footpath to the sculpture. But if you'd rather take the scenic route, try this circular walk instead. It starts and ends at the nearby village of Pately Bridge, trailing past lead mining ruins and through farmland before reaching the sculpture itself.
The route is about 10 miles long, so allow about three hours – plus time to enjoy the sculpture.
Conistone circular
Best for beginners.
Save for a few rocky slopes, this route is a fairly easy trot. It's ideal if you're out of practice, but still want a little challenge to get the blood pumping.
The walk takes you up a fairly gentle slope overlooking the village of Conistone. When you reach the top, you'll be rewarded with panoramic views of the local landscape. Breathtaking.
We recommend going anticlockwise to avoid potentially slippy descents near Conistone. The route takes about an hour and a half if you stroll.
Prosperous lead mine from Pateley Bridge
Best for history fans.
Lead mining plays an important role in the history of Stump Cross. After all, our caverns were discovered by a couple of intrepid lead miners way back in 1860!
Want to relive the glory days of mining in the Dales? This is the route for you. As you trail over rolling fields, you'll visit the remains of several lead mines and catch some stunning scenery on the way.
This walk is rated as moderately difficult, as it has a few rough sections. However, much of the route follows paved roads, so it shouldn't be too tough for seasoned walkers. It takes about two-and-a-half hours.
Grassington and Grass Wood circular
Best for families.
This non-taxing, relatively short route is great for introducing children to the joys of nature.
You'll start in the picturesque village of Grassington, before following the River Wharfe towards Conistone. Keep an eye out for birdlife – if you're lucky, you might spot a kingfisher or two!
The route then veers east, trailing through the Grass Wood nature reserve before heading back to the starting point in Grassington.
The whole thing takes about two hours to complete, though you should allow a little more time if you have children in tow.
Planning a walking holiday in the Yorkshire Dales?
We welcome camper vans and motorhomes.
Why not go the extra mile (literally) and turn your visit into a full-fledged Yorkshire walking holiday?
Stump Cross Caverns is only a short hop from Harrogate, where you'll find lots of hotels, BnBs and other comfortable places to stay.
Have a motorhome? Great – you can stay right here at Stump Cross! For a nominal fee, you'll enjoy incredible views across the Yorkshire Dales and access to our amenities during opening hours.
Make us your base and you'll have some of the UK's most beautiful scenery at your fingertips. (Not to mention endless cups of tea. Mmm.)
Stump Cross Caverns
Greenhow Hill
Pateley Bridge
Yorkshire
HG3 5JL
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