Add Pateley Bridge to Your Travel Bucket-List and Visit The World's Oldest Sweet Shop
The world's oldest sweet shop, magical caves, and unique independents make Pateley Bridge a must-visit
Eat
Treat yourself to a cuppa and homemade treats at Sweet heART Tea Rooms – a quirky tearoom within the oldest building in Pateley Bridge, much-loved by cyclists and walkers. The Bridge Inn welcomes your four-legged friends. Further into the centre, find Olley’s, a superb pizzeria with rustic charm and open fires. Pop by The Willow Restaurant for traditional Yorkshire fare including Nidderdale lamb, locally-caught trout and fresh fish from the coast. Sweet treats are taken seriously in Pateley Bridge. Take The Pancake House as one example, Just Delicious as another (serving homemade cakes and desserts) and not forgetting Cocoa Joe’s who specialise in making hot and cold chocolate drinks – yum!
Sleep
River View Pateley’s holiday cottages are just 10 minutes from Fountains Abbey, promising a beautiful rural retreat. Nestled in the heart of the Nidderdale valley, The Sportsman’s Arms is another great base for explorers. Bewerley Hall Farm’s holiday cottages are the perfect homes from home or you can choose to stay in their bed and breakfast rooms (the finest bacon, sausage and black pudding from nearby Kendall’s Farm Butchers sounds like a great way to start the day). For something a little more grand, wake up to a hearty breakfast at the stunning Grassfield Hall or choose from Harefield Hall’s rooms, bunkhouse or lodge.
Browse
No visit to Pateley Bridge is complete without stepping inside The Oldest Sweet Shop In The World. Take your pick from old fashioned sweets, liquorice and chocolates. Yorkshire Born & Bread home-bake products using recipes passed down the family for generations, and you can really taste the difference – pair your pastry with a cup of Yorkshire Tea. Pateley Bridge is also home to popular artist Claire Baxter’s gallery. As well as stocking her entire range, there are new artists to to discover inside too.
Don't Miss
Enjoy spectacular views over the surrounding countryside from Brimham Rocks (don’t forget your camera), and learn more about the rich history of the area at Nidderdale Museum which holds stories of the past. There’s plenty to discover including an original cobblers shop, a Victorian parlour room set, a general store and a schoolroom.
Around the corner
Feeling adventurous? Explore the caves at Stump Cross Caverns. Dig for fossils, follow the various trails or enjoy underground cream tea. Check out the Rock Shop with crystals and fossils, or book the on-site cinema which you can hire out for parties. Fancy breakfast or a colouring in competition with a cavewoman? Your children are sure to enjoy this day out. It’s a unique experience you’ll struggle to find elsewhere.
