Nidderdale AONB

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There are a huge range of places within the AONB to enjoy a great day out - many of which offer facilities such as disabled toilets, ramp access and appropriate car parking facilities.  To get you started here are a few of our favourites.

 

Masham is a wonderful market town, steeped in history with a fantastic setting next to the River Ure.  The town is famous for its sheep fairs.  The large open market square has held markets with over 80,000 sheep in the past, and the tradition of holding a sheep fair continues today, with the annual fair being held every September.  There are a wide range of art and craft galleries as well as two working breweries -  the Black Sheep brewery and Theakston's brewery.  There are two weekly markets held on Wednesday and Saturday which are well worth a visit.

 

Other information: There is disabled parking in the middle of the market square and a public disabled toilet.

 

 

Otley is a traditional Yorkshire town that is situated on the southern border of the AONB.  It boasts the oldest agricultural show in the country and has a thriving market.  The River Wharfe runs through the town, offering wonderful places to sit and enjoy the views. There are weekly markets held on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday and cattle markets on Monday and Friday.  The new Otley Courthouse Arts and Resource Centre is worth visiting with exhibitions, workshops and café.  The centre has disabled facilities and is fully accessible to wheelchair users.

 

 

The Black Sheep Brewery was established in 1992 by Paul Theakston.  Paul set up the brewery after Theakston's was taken over by Scottish and Newcastle.  He bought one of the old buildings that once housed part of Lightfoot's brewery.  Since then Black Sheep beers have made a name for themselves and the brewery is now, alongside Theakston's an important part of Masham's history.   The brewery offers a wonderful tour of the facilities although there are some stairs.  Wheelchair access to the main centre is very good taking in the shop and bistro. 

 

Other Information: Wheelchair access to and within the brewery. Diabled toilets in Brewery.

 

 

Brimham Rocks is situated near the village of Summerbridge, in the heart of the AONB and is owned and run by the National Trust.  The 50 acre site is scattered with huge unusual rock formations which are approximately 320 million years old formed by erosion during the last and previous ice ages.  The site also enjoys spectacular views over the surrounding countryside and is also an area rich in wildlife.   The site is open all year round and they have an annual events calendar. Over 700 yards of all-weather paths provide an enjoyable circular walk, which is suitable for almost anyone.

 

Other Information: There are diabled toilets on site and a braile guide is available on request.

 

 

Fountains Abbey is the largest monastic ruin in Britain and a World Heritage Site.  It is situated in the east of the AONB, near Ripon.  No other site offers some many historical monuments set in such a beautiful landscape.  The site boasts the most complete Cistercian abbey remains in Britain, a beautiful Victorian church, a medieval wild deer park with more than 500 deer and an elegant 18th century Water Garden with ornamental lakes. 

 

There is free-guided tour of the estate and all paths are fully accessible.  A wheelchair accessible minibus runs a ferry service from the Visitor centre to the valley floor.  Each October an Autumn Floodlit drive-in is held, giving free access for disabled people to the abbey.

 

Other Information: There are disabled toilets on site and the visitor centre and café is fully accessible. There are braile guides available on request.

 

 

The Nidderdale Museum is situated on King Street in Pateley Bridge, in the former workhouse.  It is a fascinating museum, which has a large and lively collection of artefacts that illustrate what life was like in the Dales.  The museum comprises of eleven exhibition rooms, which display different aspects of the lives of ordinary people in an imaginative and realistic setting.  These rooms include an original cobbler's shop, schoolroom and general store.

 

Other Information: There are disabled parking spaces directly outside the museum, stair lift and a disabled toilet.

 

 

Built in 1876 to provide water for Leeds and Bradford, Swinsty Reservoir is set in the beautiful Washburn Valley.  There is hard surfaced walk around the reservoir which is relatively flat and easy going.  There is also a reserved area for disabled anglers.  There are adapted toilets at Swinsty Moor Car Park (1 mile away) accessible with a RADAR key.