Walks

Enjoy the superb walks around the beautiful Nidd Gorge, Bilton, Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Stay awhile amongst the fabulous wildlife and dream of Bilton as it was in days gone by.

There are many excellent walks around our small area. Use the map below to select the one of your choice. If you enjoy these walks then please consider sending a small donation to our society. The money will be used to allow us to continue researching and interpretating our area and its fascinating history.

The first walk takes us from the junction of the disused railway line and Bilton Lane to the viaduct, Scotton Mill along Milner's Lane. Stop for a refreshment break at the Gardener's Arms before completing the circuit.

The starting point for this walk is the disused railway crossing over Bilton Lane. Walk towards the viaduct over the River Nidd. This railway line was once the main line from London to Edingburgh. Many residents can still remember seeing the flying Scotsman steaming northwards towards Thirsk. If it was not for the connivings of the bureaucrats and politicians Harrogate could today have been a thriving railway town.

As you walk along the railway line you could see, at the right time of year, whitethroats displaying in the bushes, swallows hawking overhead for insects and yellowhammers proclaiming their territories with their short song about bread and no cheese. This area is also a good place for butterflies, look out for meadow browns, peacocks, red admirals and common blues. In recent times speckled wood and comma have become quite common. Local entomologist Robert Marshall once found the first British record for a special type of ladybird in this area.

	Continue along the railway embankment until you reach the viaduct. The viaduct has dominated the gorge since 1848. There are seven arches and it achieves a height of 104 feet. Just north of the viaduct there is a disused branch line to Pateley Bridge.
The Harrogate District Plan (circa 1997) reveals plans to convert these disused railway lines into cycle and footpaths. Do not hold your breath, many local farmers are against such ideas. Apparently paths may make it easier for folk to poach their pheasants! You will not be able to cross onto the viaduct because the owners have made rigorous attempts to discourage people from walking across with barbed wire and corrugated iron sheets. The drop from the viaduct is high and the parapet low. The local vandals are usually quite able to overcome these obstacles. If you can get onto the viaduct, entirely at your own risk, apparently the views, both up and down stream are quite wonderful.
We walk downstream along the edge of the wood and eventually drop down into the wood just before Bilton Beck. As you walk alongside the wood pause to enjoy the scenery and wildlife. In the woods here abouts you may glimpse treecreepers, nuthatchs, all manner of tits, including marsh tit and if you've lucky a great spotted woodpecker. the river from here downstream to Scotton Weir is a superb place, especially in winter. It forms a naturally secluded place, hidden away from the worst of the weather. Here you can hope to see goosander, mallard, moorhen, little grebe and one of the features of the Nidd Gorge the kingfisher. Exotic birds such as wood duck have also been seen in this vicinity.
	When you cross Bilton Beck the nature of the woodland changes from deciduous to coniferous. a likely place to see coal tit and goldcrest. the alders lining the river can reveal siskin and the occasional redpoll. The Nidd Gorge Management Project, set up by Harrogate Borough Council in 1982 were responsible for the duck boards here. The place would otherwise be impassable in wet times. When is it dry? Bilton Conservation Group now keep an ever watchful eye on events in the Nidd Gorge. Many a walker can be grateful for the work done by these excellent bodies.
You eventually, after around half a mile, reach the weir. The opposite side of the river is the site of Scotton Flax Mill now a private house. The mill was built in 1798 and was classed as being in Bilton despite been on the "wrong" side of the river. It ceased to operate in 1851.
There was an earlier Bilton Mill on the right hand side of the weir, there is little evidence now of this mill. In days gone by the river was forded near here. Nowadays if you wish to cross the river you must walk down stream a couple of miles and cross on the new foot bridge. Again we must thank Bilton Conservation Group, amongst others, for this useful addition to our walks in this vicinity. From the weir continue along the footpath and when the path reaches an hollow way which leads down towards the river and its ancient ford. We turn right away from the river along Milner's Lane. The junction here is a good place to see bluebells in spring. Follow this green lane back to the Gardener's Arms were you can enjoy a fine glass of ale. As you walk along Milner's Lane keep a look out for the yellowhammer and other birds which frequent this hedgerow. You may also be lucky and see partridge and hare in the fields here abouts. Sadly there is a decline in these beautiful creatures. The Gardner's Arms was built in the late 17th century. Now a listed building it still retains many of the fine features associated with a good traditional English Pub. Opposite the pub once stood a flax mill which was powered by the waters of Bilton Beck. This was supplemented by power from Bilton Park Colliery. Records from 1770 tell of a local bleach field in this vicinity. From "T' Gardener's," as it is known locally turn right and walk back a short distance towards your starting point. The house on your right was once a row of three cottages and they bear the date 1700. Much of the information used above was obtained from "Bilton Through the Ages" by Bill Williams in 1985