Nidd Gorge

Is it right for my child?

• Two parts: the Woodland Trust’s Nidd Gorge wood (46 hectares) has its car park off the B6165. North Yorkshire Council owns 68 acres of woodland, reached from Bilton Lane in Harrogate.
• Ages: neither the council nor the Woodland Trust gives age guidance. The Woodland Trust’s walking map, printed in 2019, grades its 1.5 mile Woodland Walk as strenuous.
• What children can look for: the Woodland Trust says more than 80 species have been recorded, including kingfishers, herons, roe deer and tawny owls.
• A bit of history: the remains of a hill fort called Gates Hill Camp sit about 60 metres above the river. It probably dates back to the Iron Age.
• A story to tell: legend says a Civil War drummer hid in a cave in the gorge. A wooden seat carved with drumsticks marks the tale.
• Steep ground: the council says its own woodland drops steeply at its northerly point, by the disused viaduct, and some footpaths are steep.
• The river: the 2019 walking map warns of very narrow paths with loose, rocky surfaces, especially next to the river. Keep young children close by the water.
• Old coal pits: Coalpits Wood has over 20 hollows where bell-shaped coal pits once were, some as deep as six metres. Stay on the paths.

Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist

• Wear stout footwear. The council recommends it, and the Woodland Trust says the site can be slippery in wet weather.
• Arrive early if you are driving. The Woodland Trust car park off the B6165 has space for 10 cars, and it is free.
• Download the Woodland Trust walking map before you go. It shows the Woodland Walk and the paths around it.
• Plan your toilet stop in Knaresborough. Conyngham Hall car park toilets list hours of 8am to 6pm from 1 November to 31 March.
• Pack drinks and snacks. The official pages do not mention a café or kiosk in the woods.
• Check the weather. The Woodland Trust’s 2019 Castle to Castle leaflet says riverside paths can flood after prolonged heavy rain.
• Bring a lead. The Woodland Trust asks for dogs on a lead where signposted.

Prices and tickets

The Woodland Trust describes its woods as free to visit. Neither the Woodland Trust nor the council mentions an entry charge or tickets for Nidd Gorge.

• Parking: the Woodland Trust car park off the B6165 is free, with space for 10 cars.
• Booking: the official pages do not mention any booking.

Pushchairs, babies and toilets

• Main track: from the B6165 car park, a pedestrian gate leads to a well-surfaced forest track with some gentle inclines. It runs about 1.1km (0.7 miles) to the river. A pedestrian bridge crosses the river just off this track, about 300 metres from the car park.
• Elsewhere: the Woodland Trust says paths may include steps and boardwalks, and can be slippery in wet weather. Its 2019 walking map shows uphill and downhill sections of steps.
• Council woodland: the council calls most of its own site fairly level and easily accessible for walkers, though some footpaths are steep.
• Pushchairs: the official pages give no pushchair advice. Judge the steps and slopes for your own pushchair, or bring a baby carrier.
• Toilets: none are listed on site. The Woodland Trust points to several public toilets in Knaresborough, including one at the entrance to Conyngham Hall car park.
• Baby changing: the council lists baby changing and disabled facilities at Conyngham Hall car park toilets. The official pages mention none in the woods.
• Additional needs: the official pages mention no Changing Places toilet, equipment to borrow or sensory information for the gorge.

Food and drink

The council and Woodland Trust pages do not mention a café, kiosk or picnic area at Nidd Gorge. Bring a flask and snacks. The B6165 car park is about 2.4km (1.5 miles) along the road from Knaresborough High Street.

Getting there and parking

• Council address: the council lists Nidd Gorge at Ripley Road, Harrogate, HG5 9HE.
• Woodland Trust car park: from Knaresborough High Street, take the B6165 towards Ripley. After about 2.4km (1.5 miles), the free car park is just before Scotton Drive.
• Council woodland from Bilton: the council says you can reach its woodland directly off Bilton Lane, along the public right of way.
• Bilton Lane car park: the Woodland Trust lists a small car park for its Bilton Beck and Rudding Bottoms wood. It is about 1.6km (1 mile) along Bilton Lane from the A59, with space for around 15 cars.
• From that car park: a footpath opposite leads to the old railway line and the Nidd Viaduct, which is 30 metres tall. The way in has a kissing gate and a flat cinder track to the viaduct.
• Beyond the viaduct: a riverside public footpath links into the Trust’s Nidd Gorge wood. The Trust says it is rough in places, with steep slopes and steps, and can be slippery.
• By train or bus: for its Nidd Gorge wood, the Woodland Trust names Knaresborough as the nearest station and Scotton Drive as the nearest bus stop.

When to visit

• Opening: the official pages give no opening hours or closures for the woodland.
• Spring: the Woodland Trust says spring brings a carpet of bluebells across the woodland floor.
• Autumn: its 2019 walking map mentions fantastic spring and autumn colours on the Woodland Walk.
• Winter: the Woodland Trust says the site can be slippery in wet weather. Choose a dry spell, and expect wet ground after rain.
• Christmas and New Year: the official pages list no Christmas or New Year changes for the woods. The council toilet record does not mention Christmas or New Year arrangements either.

Frequently asked questions

Is Nidd Gorge free?

The Woodland Trust describes its woods as free to visit, and neither it nor the council mentions an entry charge. The Woodland Trust car park off the B6165 is free, with space for 10 cars.

Can you take a pushchair to Nidd Gorge?

The official pages give no pushchair advice. The forest track from the B6165 car park is well surfaced, with some gentle inclines. Other paths may include steps and boardwalks, and can be slippery when wet.

How long is the walk at Nidd Gorge?

The Woodland Trust’s walking map, printed in 2019, gives its Woodland Walk as 2.4km (1.5 miles). It suggests allowing 1¼ hours and grades it strenuous.

Are there toilets at Nidd Gorge?

None are listed on site. The Woodland Trust names Conyngham Hall car park in Knaresborough among several public toilets in the town. The council lists baby changing there.

Are dogs allowed at Nidd Gorge?

The Woodland Trust welcomes dogs in its woods. Keep them in sight, under control and on a lead where signposted. Use a short lead near livestock and ground-nesting birds, particularly in the nesting season, usually March to July.

Is Nidd Gorge safe for young children?

Take care. The Woodland Trust says the site is steep in places, with possible steps and boardwalks, and slippery in wet weather. Keep little ones close, especially by the river.

Checked on 12 November 2026 against the official pages of North Yorkshire Council (Nidd Gorge) and its Conyngham Hall toilets record, and the Woodland Trust pages for Nidd Gorge, Bilton Beck and Rudding Bottoms, its walking map, Castle to Castle walk and dog walking code. Paths and conditions can change, so check before you travel.