Lofthouse
North Yorkshire
The village is just above the River Nidd and a mile from the smaller hillside village of Middlesmoor, where the anglican church of St Chad looks out over the valley. Interestingly the only inns in both Lofthouse and Middlesmoor are called The Crown Hotel.
Although quite a remote village today, Lofthouse did in the early 1900s have a railway station on the Nidd Valley Light Railway. The railway was principally created for the construction of the Angram and Scar House Reservoirs, a few miles further up Nidderdale above the Nidderdale Caves where the river famously runs underground. In addition to the reservoir construction, the railway also offered a passenger service between Lofthouse and Pateley Bridge which was run by Bradford Corporation, for which the reservoirs were built. The track was lifted in the 1930s after completion of the huge reservoirs.
Village features
Lofthouse is in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The village is on the River Nidd.
Lofthouse has a pub - The Crown Hotel.
Places to stay in Lofthouse include inn, camping accommodation.
Lofthouse has a village hall - Lofthouse Memorial Institute.
There are public toilets in the village. Locations of toilets and opening times can be found at this North Yorkshire Council - Public toilets web page.
Lofthouse has a school.
Travel
Bus travel
The village has an infrequent bus service. 
Road travel
Lofthouse is reached on minor roads . Places to visit
Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Extending across an area of 232 square miles (603 sq km), the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Beauty has Brimham Rocks
Brimham Moor Road, near SummerbridgeThis area of around 160 hectares of heather moorland and woodland can be found around 3 miles east of Pateley Bridge. It features some weird and wonderful rocky outcrops in many strange shapes and formations which have been given familiar names such as The Sphinx, The Gorilla and The Dancing Bear. Some formations stand around 10 metres high and attract climbers as well as walkers and tourists. The site also has visitor facilities including a car park, shop, refreshments and toilets and is managed by The National Trust.
Find out more at the
National Trust - Brimham RocksLocate on map:
Brimham Rocks Coldstones Cut
Near B6265, Greenhow HillYorkshire's biggest and highest public artwork, Coldstones Cut, is around 2 miles west-south-west of Pateley Bridge. The hilltop site is reached by an ascending path of around 0.5km from the B6265 road near the old Toft Gate lime kiln. Created by artist Andrew Sabin, Coldstones Cut features two low stone towers reached by spriral paths and a large viewing area where visitors can look down into the hidden depths of a massive working limestone quarry and across the landscape of Nidderdale. A giant Yellow bicycle was placed alongside Coldstones Cut to mark the Grand Dédepart of the Tour de France through Yorkshire in 2014.
Further details at the
Coldstones CutLocate on map:
Coldstones Cut Stump Cross Caverns
On B6265 Hebden Road, near Greenhow Hill
Situated around 5 miles west-south-west of Pateley Bridge, Stump Cross Caverns are show caves with some impressive stalactites and stalagmites among the limestone features reached by steps leading beneath the ground. A cafe with fine views across the nearby hills is also situated at the show cave entrance. Find on map: Stump Cross Caverns
Stump Cross Caverns How Stean Gorge
LofthouseHow Stean Gorge offers an outdoor pursuits and activities centre with activities including, rock climbing, canyoning and canoeing, but also provides opportunities for the day visitor offering tickets to explore the ancient limestone gorge as well as a cafe and a shop offering provisions and local gifts. A unique feature of a new events room is a glass floor allowing people to stand directly over the gorge, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
For more information see the
How Stean GorgeLocate on map:
How Stean Gorge
Nidderdale Museum
The Old Workhouse, King Street, Pateley BridgeLife and work in Nidderdale through the ages is explored through a large collection of exhibits housed in a building which was built in 1863 as the Pateley Bridge Union Workhouse. The museum is run and staffed entirely by volunteers of the Nidderdale Museum Society, which received The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2017. The comprehensive collection is housed in 11 rooms including leisure, agriculture, industry, religion, transport, and costume themes. There is an original cobblers shop, a Victorian parlour, a general store, schoolroom and couthouse, exhibits from World War I and II, about the local lead mining industry and about the area's now-closed railways.
More information at the
Nidderdale Museum Ripon
One of Yorkshire's historic cities, Ripon has a cathedral dedicated in 672 which was founded by St Wilfred, the Abbot of the monestary of Ripon. The smallest of Yorkshire's seven cities, Ripon also continues ancient traditions, including The Ripon Hornblower who blows the horn at the town's Obelisk in its Market Place at 9pm each evening. Ripon also features some fascinating museums revealing its historic past: a Prison and Police Museum, a Workhouse Museum and Garden and a Courthouse Museum. Find out more about 
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden
Fountains, near Ripon, North YorkshireA World Heritage site containing Britain's most complete Cistercian abbey ruins. Fountains Abbey dates from 1132 when it became the home of 13 monks. The water gardens in the wooded valley of the River Skell were a Georgian addition to the Studley Royal Estate with features including classical statues, follies and garden buildings. Also on the estate are the 12th century Fountains Mill, the early 17th century Fountains Hall, the Porter's Lodge exhibition in the abbey gatehouse, St Mary's Church, a splendid Victorian Gothic Church, and a deer park. The estate is off the
Find out more at the
National Trust - Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal
Marmion Tower
West TanfieldAn impressive stone gatehouse to a lost manor house beside the River Ure which was once the manor of Elizabeth Parr, grandmother of Queen Katherine Parr, the sixth and last wife of King Henry VIII. The manor passed to Elizabeth Parr in 1513, but the gatehouse is now its only significant remains. The gatehouse was originally built during the latter part of the 14th century but has been remodelled several times. Its first floor has a splendid projecting oriel window. The 69 spiral steps of the tower can be climbed during its daily opening times. The tower is managed by English Heritage and there is no admission charge.
More information at the
English Heritage - Marmion Tower
Lightwater Valley
North StainleyLightwater Valley is a theme park in 70 hectares of countryside off the A6108 near North Stainley about 4 miles north-north-west of Ripon. It includes more than 40 rides and themed attractions aimed at under-12s.
Find Lightwater Valley on map.
Lightwater Valley Ripley Castle
Situated four miles north-north-west of
For further details see the
Ripley CastleLocate on map:
Ripley Castle
Yorkshire Dales National Park
Adjoining the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the west is the further 841 square miles (2,179 square kilometers) of beauty of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Find out more on our 
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Local government
Civil parish council
Upper Nidderdale Parish CouncilProvides some local services in the area.
Link to council website:
Upper Nidderdale Parish Council District authority Abolished
Harrogate Borough Council ceased from April 1, 2023. From 1974 it was the most populous of the seven abolished shire districts of North Yorkshire. The borough also included many other villages, towns including
The North Yorkshire Council unitary authority takes over services previously operated by Harrogate Borough Council. These included local planning, waste collection, street cleaning, parks and car parks, housing and markets.
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Harrogate Unitary authority New
The North Yorkshire Council is a new unitary authority formed from the previous County Council from April 1, 2023. It covers the existing county duties including highways, schools, libraries and transport planning over an area of around 3,085 square miles while also taking over the responsibilities of the seven huge district authorities also created in 1974 — Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby — these including local planning, waste collection, street cleaning, parks and car parks, housing and markets.
Councillors were elected to the County Council in 2022 and continue as councillors of the new North Yorkshire Council unitary authority. In that election, the Conservatives gained a slim majority gaining 47 of the 90 seats.
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County authority Abolished
North Yorkshire County CouncilNorth Yorkshire County Council was a shire county authority which existed between 1974 and April 1, 2023, covering duties including highways, schools, libraries and transport planning. It was transformed into the North Yorkshire Council unitary authority on April 1, 2023, while the seven huge district authorities within — Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby — were also abolished.
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