In the heart of Nidderdale, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, lies the charming town of Pateley Bridge. On either side of the valley surrounding Pateley Bridge, you’ll find the Three Trig Trail; a 24km circular route taking in three trig points with sweeping views of the Nidderdale area. This is a great route for hiking, and even trail running, with the trails quiet, peaceful and full of varied sights. Check out all the route details and download the route map below. 

At a Glance

Difficulty: Moderate - significant elevation gain along the route but well maintained paths and no technical trails. Terrain is varied. Navigation needed as the route is not signposted. 

Distance: 24.2km/15 miles

Total Ascent: 780m

Est Time: 7hrs+ depending on rest stops and speed

Starting location: Pateley Bridge Showground Car Park or Brimham Rocks if you are a National Trust member for free parking

Facilities: public toilets at Pateley Bridge and Brimham Rocks. Occasional ice cream vans in both locations too. There is a refreshment kiosk at Brimham Rocks open every day 10am-4.30pm. See their website for current information.

Dog friendly: Yes but dogs should be on a lead due to ground nesting birds and livestock grazing. There is one wall to navigate at Tenter Hill but this can be avoided by following the road instead. 

The Three Trig Trail, Pateley Bridge

The trail starts from Pateley Bridge Showground where there is a large Pay and Display car park. Pateley Bridge is a charming town with plenty of independent shops, eateries, a museum and lots of local produce and experiences. 

As you leave Pateley Bridge behind you, follow the road past the petrol station and keep left before following the track and the public footpath sign up through the fields, heading straight for the woodland. You gain some height here with Pateley Bridge below you and you’ll be able to see all the way over to High Bishopside behind, where you’ll be for your final trig of the route. 

The route winds up through the beautiful ancient woodland - full of bluebells in the right season - and gradually gains height to the main road at Nought Moor. This vast moorland is home to plenty of plantlife including Heather, Cotton Grass and Sphagnum Moss as well as birdlife such as Curlews, Red Grouse and Golden Plovers. If you’re lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you feel about them), you might even spot some Adders or Common Lizards.Soon you’ll reach Yorke Folly, an oddly positioned Grade II listed building. It looks like the remains of two stone pillars, which appear to be part of a ruined arch, but the truth is that these are a folly, built like that during a time of low employment. Originally there were three pillars but one collapsed during a storm in 1893. The walk along the moorland here feels wild and barren during dry spells. As the moorland opens up in front of you, you’ll see the tall mast that you’re heading for. Before reaching the mast, follow the sign right, signposted “Public Footpath”, up towards the rocky outcrop and your first trig of the day; High Crag Ridge. At 331m, you’re rewarded with some gorgeous views over to the other side of the valley and on a nice day, you’ll get a real sense of the distance you’ll be covering. 

The route continues back downhill, through open fields and meanders down into Hawkshaw Gill Wood. 

This is an incredibly peaceful section and as you leave the woodland you’ll then head through the farm buildings down to the footbridge crossing the River Nidd. As tempting as it may look, avoid swimming here. This part of the river lies immediately downstream from the sewage works and in 2024, sewage was dumped into the river here 139 times. So, definitely best to avoid a swim!

After crossing the footbridge, there is a short section following the path downstream before it veers off to the left, crossing a small bridge and then the main road. Following the footpath, you’ll end up walking through a lovely wooded section over a rocky and uneven path until you reach the main car park at Brimham Rocks. Brimham Rocks is a collection of dramatic and weird rock formations and is an excellent place to visit for a separate day out. It’s a site of Special Scientific Interest with some awesome rocks with names such as the Dancing Bear, Anvil and the Sphinx. You’ll get to see a small snippet of the 50 acre site as you follow the main path straight up to the second trig point of the day. 

Brimham Rocks is a great place to take a rest, or explore the area a little further before continuing on the route. There are public toilets here as well as a refreshment kiosk so be sure to stock up before the final section of the route. 

From Brimham Rocks, follow the track out of the site, following the signs for the public footpath, through a small wooded section and out onto farmland. This is a gentle section following some small road sections before gaining height through an abandoned quarry until you reach Wath Lane. 

From here, the final trig is just ten minutes away through a metal gate, high up on the moorland. This is your third and final trig of the day and the views once again on a clear day are spectacular. This time you’ll be able to make out the tops on the other side of the valley and spot the mast where your last trig was. From here, you’ll be glad to know it’s - pretty much - all downhill from here with a nice easy walk back to Pateley Bridge. 

After finishing at the final trig on High Bishopside, follow the main road downhill, with the view of Gouthwaite Reservoir in front of you until you reach a left turn at a bench and follow the road steeply downhill. The road then turns sharply right before there is a small gap in the wall on the left, signposted, leading you down to the River Nidd. 

Once you’re on the riverside path, better known as the Nidderdale Way, it’s an easy, flat walk straight into Pateley Bridge and back to the bridge where you parked your car at the showground. 

This is a fabulous walking (and trail running) route. I ran it in preparation for my first Ultra Marathon trail race later this year and my go to shorts for running are always the My Urban Trail cycling shorts. They're so comfy with a deep pocket on each side (for my snacks and phone), never ride up or fall down and are brethable so I can keep cool. Check them out here! 

Three Trig Trail downloadable maps

Download the Ordnance Survey route and map here. 

You can also download the PDF version of the route and print it out.

1. Starting point and parking at Pateley Bridge Showground Car Park. Public toilets located up the road, across the river a few minutes away. 

2. The first trig point of the route at High Crag. 

3. The second trig point on the route at Brimham Rocks. Public toilets and a refreshment kiosk here. Alternative start point. 

4. The final trig point on the route at High Bishopside.

Komoot App

Have you ever tried Komoot? Komoot allows you to access routes planned by others or plan your own which you can then download to your phone to follow while you are out. Komoot is free to join and access and you can find the route for his walk here.

Is there public transport to Pateley Bridge?

Yes - there are three public buses servicing Pateley Bridge from Harrogate, Otley, Pocklington and Grassington. You can find the bus timetables here. 

The nearest train station is Harrogate where you can then get the bus to Pateley Bridge. 

How long is the Three Trig Trail circular route?

The trail is just over 24 km/15 miles. If you are hiking this route, expect it to take you 7+ hours not including stops or rest breaks. 

This is a great running route and will take significantly less time, depending on your pace. 

How hard is the Three Trig Trail?

The Three Trigs Trail is a moderate route. The elevation gain is just below 800m but is split over sections with long sections of flat walking, downhills and gentle rolling hills. The terrain is varied with woodland paths, riverside trails, moorland and some road and track sections. This is an enjoyably challenging route with well maintained paths. 

 You will need a confident navigation method to complete this route as it is not signposted and several other trails cross over, making it easy to go the wrong way. Download the route from either OS or Komoot and save it to your phone to follow. 

Where is parking for the Three Trig Trail? 

You can start this route from two places; Pateley Bridge or Brimham Rocks. 

The car park at Pateley Bridge is at the showground next to the River Nidd. Parking here costs £1.80 for over 4 hours. 

If you are a National Trust member then Brimham Rocks is a great place to start from as you’ll get free parking with your membership card. Otherwise the cost for parking here is £10 for the day.

*Prices correct at time of writing (May 2025)

Are there any facilities on the Three Trig Trail?

Yes, luckily this is a route where you’ll be able to rest and stock up on supplies on route. 

In Pateley Bridge, there are public toilets near the bridge crossing the river at the car parking. There is also a small petrol station with a shop where you can stock up on snacks and drinks before you start or if you started at Brimham Rocks, you’ll get here around half way. 

At Brimham Rocks there are toilets and a small refreshment kiosk. 

For additional UK outdoor adventures, wild swimming, hiking routes and more, check out some other blog posts here on MY URBAN TRAIL and follow me @Wild_0utdoors on Instagram.

Happy adventuring! 

Izzy