Outstanding natural beauty beyond the National Parks
Pateley BridgeMiddlesmoorLofthouseFountains AbbeyExtending across an area of 232 square miles (603 sq km) of North Yorkshire is the beautiful and varied scenery of the Nidderdale National Landscape.
Since November 2023 the area has been renamed a National Landscape like other areas across the country previously called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The area was almost entirely within what was the
Harrogate district before government changes in April 2023.
The area has
Pateley Bridge at its centre and extends almost as far as
Masham in the north and to the outskirts of the West Yorkshire towns of
Ilkley and
Otley in the south.
Just beyond the magnificent remains of Fountains Abbey, the small city of
Ripon is just outside the eastern boundary and to the west is the vast
Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Brimham RocksGouthwaite ReservoirToft Gate Lime KilnNidderdale has a beautiful and varied landscape including rolling heather-topped moorland, stone-walled agricultural fields and farms, small villages, lake-like reservoirs and some outstanding geological features, the best known of which are Brimham Rocks.
The area has a number of protected wildlife sites and provides important habitats for several varieties of birds, reptiles and animals, including otters and water vole.
The area has been shaped both by nature and by human activity. The latter ranges from Iron Age settlements, old mines, quarry sites, a scattering of textile mills, traditional field barns, some historic parks and gardens and the area's huge reservoirs.
Town and villages
Kirkby MalzeardRamsgillPlaces within Nidderdale National Landscape include:
Askwith, Azerley, Blubberhouses, Bouthwaite, Clifton, Dacre, Dacre Banks, Darley, Denton, Ellingstring, Farnley, Fearby, Fewston, Galphay, Glasshouses, Grewelthorpe, Healey, High Ellington, High Grantley, Jervaulx, Kettlesing, Kirkby Malzeard, Langbar, Lofthouse, Low Laithe, Middlesmoor, Pateley Bridge, Ramsgill, Sawley, Stean, Summerbridge, Thornthwaite with Padside, Timble, Wilsill, Winksley.
Just outside are:
Birstwith, Burley in Wharfedale, Hampsthwaite, Ilkley, Masham, North Stainley, Otley, West Tanfield.
Other websites
Nidderdale National Landscape Nidderdale National Landscape website
Page updated: Tuesday, 12-Aug-2025 08:53:20 UTC
Also in Yorkshire.guide
The three National Parks of Yorkshire
North York Moors
Peak District
Yorkshire Dales
Other National Landscapes in Yorkshire
Forest of Bowland
Howardian Hills
North Pennines
