Pateley Bridge Lead Mine Circular Walk

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Start at Southlands Car Park, among the shops of Pateley Bridge. Take your time on the High Street or leave an hour afterwards for Nidderdale Museum. When you’re ready, cross the River Nidd and head into the hills towards the old Prosperous lead mines. This 5.7 mile circular brings you back into town for pancakes.

Walk facts

Distance: 5.7 miles (9.2 km).

Walking time: About 2 to 3 hours, plus stops.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Ascent: About 700 ft (213 m).

Terrain: Country lanes, woodland paths and uneven tracks.

Start and finish: Southlands Car Park, Pateley Bridge.

Drive from Harrogate: About 25 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Last walked: September 2026 (approximate).

Toilets: Southlands Car Park.

Food stop: Pancakes or a café in Pateley Bridge.

Follow this route

Open the Pateley Bridge circular walk in Mapy.com, save the route and download the surrounding map before setting off from Southlands Car Park.

1. Download the offline map covering Yorkshire.
2. Return here, tap ‘Open walk in Mapy.com’ and save the route to My Mapy.
3. Before leaving home, turn on aeroplane mode and turn off Wi-Fi. Check the route and background map both open, then turn aeroplane mode off.
4. At the start, allow precise location and follow the route line using your location arrow.

Prefer another mapping app? Download this walk’s GPX file and import it into a compatible app.

Paper map: OS Explorer 298: Nidderdale covers Pateley Bridge. Take a paper map and compass you know how to use.

Parking and getting there

Use the main Southlands Car Park, Pateley Bridge, HG3 5JX. Parking charges apply from 8am to 6pm: 80p for one hour, £1 for two hours, £1.70 for four hours or £2.90 for 24 hours. The separate short stay area has a two-hour limit. Allow time for the walk and your stop in town. There are public toilets at Southlands. Check current council charges.

Starting the walk

Step 1: Leave Southlands Car Park and head towards the High Street bridge over the River Nidd.

Step 2: Cross the bridge to the recreation ground on the far side of the river.

Step 3: Continue straight along the path with the toilet block on your right and the children’s playground on your left.

Step 4: Once past the toilet block and playground, stay on the same path. Keep the open field on your left and continue straight ahead towards the caravan campsite.

The story of the Prosperous lead mines

Beside Ashfold Side Beck, the stonework marks a place where people did far more than dig for lead. Workers prepared the ore here before heating it in a smelt mill to separate out the metal. The mine workings, processing areas and mill survive together as a scheduled monument. From the path, you can see how a quiet stretch of Nidderdale once served as a workplace.

Read Historic England’s account of the Prosperous mines and smelt mill.

After the walk: Pateley Bridge

Back on the High Street, The Pancake House is an option if the climb has left you hungry. For a shorter stop, try Cocoa Joe’s for chocolate or the Oldest Sweet Shop for something to take home. These stops are in town, so you can leave the car parked if your ticket allows.

Before you go

Wear footwear with good grip and allow extra time on wet tracks. Stay on marked paths around the mine workings. Keep away from shafts, spoil heaps and unstable walls, and never enter a mine opening. Keep dogs close and on a lead near livestock and the workings.

Walking safety

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