Bolton Abbey~ Hard Walk

A perfect summers walk which has so many brilliant elements to it a whole day could be devoted to it. Bolton Abbey is the destination and the start of the walk. Its ruins lie next to the River Wharfe, perfect for picnics and riverside walks. Challenging due to its steep parts and length, the walk includes a wooded area, amazing views at the top of a hill, riverside walking and ends at the historic Bolton Abbey and Priory. A walking stick is recommended as part of the walk can become marshy after wet weather.

Getting There From Middlesbrough follow the A66 to Darlington and then follow it to the A1 Scotch Corner. Keep on the A1 south bound and look for Junction 47 which is signposted to Harrogate. Follow the A59 road through Harrogate and follow it out of Harrogate until you come to a roundabout for Bolton Abbey on a right hand turn. Parking is included with the admission fee for the Abbey and it is £8. Bolton Abbey becomes very busy during the summer but additional parking is well catered for

Map of the Bolton Abbey walk

The Walk From the car park leave near the village store and turn right and head for the road. Turn left and follow the road under an archway. Look for s signed track on the left. Go through a gate

Follow the track and look for a gate on the right signed as a bridleway

Bear left to a signpost under a power line. Follow the signpost right. Go past two pools and through a gate. Head to the right towards the woods and go through a gate into the woods.

 Follow the track through the wood which is a gradual climb and meanders through the woods. Follow the track until you come to a gate.

Through the gate you will come onto an open field. The way ahead is now made by looking for stones in the field with blue coloured waymarks on them.

Follow the rocks - you need to head towards a gate to the right. Go through the gate and head diagonally through the next field. If unsure at this point there is a good GPS phone signal here. Basically head for the gate to the right of the field near the wall.

Go through the gate and turn left and follow the track against the wall. The path climbs more steeply onto Hare Head by following the track and waystones. Climb to the top of the hill for amazing views. It will be worth it!

Admire the view before descending the hill to a gate.

Just a few steps ahead take a path to the right which will be a nice downhill route heading to a signpost at the wall near the road. Turn right and parallel to the road for a short time. You will soon come to a signpost signposted as FP to B6160.

Turn right and follow the track to a stile being careful with the ground you are on, the path can get muddy and waterlogged after wet weather. Your walking stick is handy on this section of the walk. At the stile take the left fork in the track.

Follow the track heading for a corner in the wall. Continue to another wall and then turn right at the wall. You should be able to see Hare Hill ahead. Follow the track around to the left to a signpost.

Signpost to stile

Turn left at the signpost over a stile and follow the wall down to the road below. Go over another stile and turn right on the road. Enter the carpark on the left and head past the Strid Wood Visitor Centre down a path which forks to the left. Follow the path to the rivers edge.

Follow the river track downstream, this is a nice riverside section of the walk, but this still has steep areas on the path.

Eventually on this pleasant part of the walk you will come to Cavendish Pavillion. Bear left past the café and go over a footbridge.

Immediately over the footbridge turn right onto a path which is part of the Dales Way. Go over a stile in a wall and over a stream on a road

When the road carries on look for a gate on the right and go through this and continue on the path. Shortly when you come to a fork either take the lower path or the higher one. The higher one has lovely views of the Priory below

Descend to a bridge near some stepping stones. You can now explore the priory and take a well end break. Excellent space for a picnic.. The car park is found by following the path to the left of the priory back to the main road and left to the car park.