A Day Out in Pateley Bridge and How Stean

 This morning dawned cold, windy and rainy, and it looked anything but the sort of weather you would venture out into, but surprisingly by mid day the sky was clear and bright, so by two o'clock we decided to make the most of the day and headed for How Stean & Pateley Bridge.

There is a small cafe at How Stean Gorge, whcih serves up very tasty and satisfying food, so this was our first port of call.

About the time we purchased the Vauxhall Meriva, from Nidd Vale Motors in Pateley Bridge, we paid two or three visits to the How Stean Cafe, and on one occasion Mum let slip that I was an organist. No sooner said than the owner of the cafe persuaded me to play him some tunes on the rather fine electronic organ he had at the rear of the cafe.

On another occasion when I had gone up on my own, I was again persuaded to play the instrument and was rewarded with free drinks!

How Stean Cafe

 How Stean Cafe showing the electronic organ (back right)

The car bridge over the gorge has been widened and there is a new toilet and shower block near the site of the car park. The gorge itself is still as impressive as ever.

We then decided it was time for Ruby to have a walk. About a year previously we had discovered an impressive road which runs from Pateley Bridge to Wath along the top edge of the valley. There are some fine views of the valley from the road, and it is an ideal spot to take Ruby for a walk.

 

The View from the top Pateley Bridge - Wath Road

Gouthwaite Reservoir seen from the top Pateley Bridge - Wath Road

By the time we got back into Pateley Bridge, most of the shops were either closed or closing, so we headed home via Summerbridge, Burnt Yates, Killinghall, and Otley, to complete a circular tour!

A Day out at Pateley Bridge & How Stean Gorge

Ruby has always been the kind of dog who enjoys a day out. Particularly if it involves a ride in the car and a swim in the river or canal. So what better idea than to spend the day in and around Pateley Bridge?

Above, you see her sitting patiently in the car, waiting to set off.

The real reason we headed for Pateley Bridge, was that the Meriva was due for  service, and as Nidderdale Motors had been so helpful during the purchase of the car I decided to take it back to them for its first service. Again they were most accommodating and said if I had the car to them for 10.30, they would do the service there and then and I could collect it at 12.30.

So we de-camped from the car and I headed for the village itself, whilst Dot and Ruby went on a riverside walk (and as far as Ruby was concerned a swim!)

The park at the bottom of the village looked quite picturesque in the sunshine.

The following shot is looking up the Main Street, and in the next shot you will see the flower display in the centre of this shot.

Just past this flower display, on the opposite side of the road is a small alleyway which leads into the very picturesque King's Court.

We usually have a bite to eat in the Coffee House on the right of the photo above, but decided to have a snack (Coffee and some chocolate crisp), so we sat and ate the chocolate crisp and drank the coffee on the circular bench.

After her long walk and swim in the river Ruby was ready for a long cool drink!

How Stean Gorge is situated about about eight miles up the Nidd Valley, and is spectacular whatever the weather. It is known as Little Switzerland. The view above is looking down the gorge towards Pateley Bridge.

This is the view looking up the gorge. You can arrange to do all sort of adventures here, such as wading through gushing water, traversing on ladders and beams, abseiling down 60 feet, sliding through spouts and sitting under waterfalls, rock climbing, caving and canoeing. You can even camp adjoining the Gorge!

We thought the Red Indians had landed when we saw these teepee's in the field!

The is a super cafe here and we always call in for a meal when we are in the area. The food is highly recommended, tasty and extremely good value for money.


On the way back to Pateley we noted how low Gouthwaite Reservoir was. At this part you could have walked across the reservoir from one side to the other!

Pateley Bridge

We had to go up to Pateley Bridge yesterday, and it is a few weeks since we had been there. Many years ago we had a chalet on the riverside on the road up to Wath. For a change we took the road up past the Parish Church, turned left and headed alongside the top of the valley. It was a crisp Winter day, but very clear and sunny. This was the view across the valley.



If you turned to the right you could see almost the full length of Gouthwaite Reservoir, which is one of the reservoirs built to serve Bradford with water.



Another view of Gouthwaite Reservoir.

As the sun broke through the clouds I took this shot, which is looking across the valley. Pateley Bridge is off the shot, to the left, above the dry stone wall.

Whilst we were up here Ruby had a walk, and we met a couple of ladies, one of whom had been a nurse and trained at Harrogate General Hospital. Later on Dot took Ruby for a walk alongside the River Nidd (in the park in Pateley Bridge) and Ruby decided it would be most enjoyable to have a swim in the river!

Pateley Bridge and How Stean Gorge Cafe Again!

How Stean Gorge

We visited Pateley Bridge again today, and went up to How Stean Gorge (to the café) to sample their meals. Dot had something Veggie (nut type cutlet) and mashed potatoed, peas, carrots and cabbage, whilst I had a cheeseburger (steak supplied from the local butcher – none of your GM rubbish, and proper cheese [none of the rubber variety] with onions) and chips. Both meals were excellent and very good value for money. We will no doubt be making it in our way to call here again for a meal now that the Miners Arms at Greenhow has closed its doors!

The guy who owns the café has a rather fancy Yamaha Claviolina in the room (which at first sight makes you not sure wether you should drive it, fly it or play it), and the last time we were there he persuaded me to play him a few tunes, and tried to get me to come up on a Sunday to entertain the customers! Today there were a couple of locals in having a meal, and he said to them, “You should hear this guy play he’s terrific!” Once again I was persuaded to play the instrument for a few minutes.

Coincidentally the couple who were eating had a Vauxhall Meriva, so I questioned them about it. They were very happy with it, after having downsized from a 1.9 VW Deisel. Stranger still they had bought it from Nidderdale Motors. Then in conversation with the girl who served us I discovered that she too had a bought a second hand car from Nidd Vale Motors. Both of the car owners spoke highly of the garage, which had been in the same family for in excess of 30 years.

After eating, the cafe owner suggested that Ruby might like a walk down by the gorge, and said, “It’s quite safe you can let her off the lead it’s all fenced off”. So she and Dot went exploring whilst I paid the bill and had a look round the shop.

Now it might be farewell to the old Zafira...........

After this we called into Pateley Bridge, but this time with a mission in mind. I had arranged to see the saleman at Nidderdale Motors with the possible option of saying goodbye to my Zafira if the price was right! Unseen he had quoted me what I thought was not a bad price against either a Zafira (3 years old with 10.000 miles on the clock - a motability car) or a Meriva (4 years old with 16,000 miles on the clock) both had full service histories and he had maintained them from new. I put him to the test and took along all the service history for my Zafira plus the log book and said, alright now give me a price. He walked round my Zafira and eventually upped his offer by another £300!

I had a test drive of the Meriva and was suitably impressed.

Two old codgers really don’t need a seven seater any more, and there is plenty of room in the back of the Meriva for a labrador!

I may just get back to him. In which case you might well see the Bentley Mafia in a tinted windowed Meriva Active Special Edition.

He is obviously interested in a deal as he said, "I will be in the garage tomorrow", but he’s going to have to wait at least until Monday before I ring him back!