Towns and villages

Do you enjoy exploring lovely small towns and villages set in beautiful Yorkshire countryside?

Nidderdale AONB has some great options – whether for a day out or as a base to set out for outdoor activities.

Located in the breathtakingly beautiful region of Lower Wensleydale, Masham is famous for its family-run breweries, steam engines and annual sheep fair. The town has a strong arts culture and there is an excellent arts festival each year.

Pateley Bridge is situated on the edge of the River Nidd, right in the heart of Nidderdale AONB. Set in beautiful surroundings, with its own centre for heritage and arts, annual literary festival, popular play area for the kids and plenty of small shops and cafés, visitors return here year after year.

Otley is a small historic market town on the southern edge of the AONB famous for being the birth place of Thomas Chippendale, the famous 18th century cabinet maker. Otley also hosts the country’s oldest agricultural show every May and has a wide range of shops and restaurants .

The Victorian spa town of Ilkley on the southern edge of Nidderdale AONB, offers a wide range of shops, restaurants, cafes and attractions. From a relaxing walk on Ilkley Moor to a visit to the famous Betty’s tea room, it’s a great place for a family day out.

Not really a town or village in its own right, but we must mention the Washburn Valley. Making up the Southern third of Nidderdale AONB, this beautiful area is dominated by four reservoirs with surrounding walks and country pubs – a popular destination for Sunday lunch and family stroll!

** Please note that the tourism information on this website is designed to provide an overview of opportunities in the area. The Nidderdale AONB team do not have the facilities or resources to deal with individual tourism enquiries and these should be directed to the tourist information office at Nidderdale Plus or one of the other local Tourist Information Centres.