Harkna six

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Easy walk, tarmacked all the way and level most of the way (just the climb up and down the gorge at the Knaresborough end). The first part, from Harrogate to Bilton Lane, is a popular bridleway with locals, so lots of families out walking and cycling. The second part, from Bilton Lane to Bilton Hall Drive is theoretically a road but it has a locked gate halfway along, so there's no through way, which makes it nice and quiet. This part of the walk is quite high, with views back towards the golf balls of Menwith Hill. The third part, from Bilton Hall Drive to Knaresborough, is narrower, still tarmacked but only wide enough for two to walk abreast, with overhanging trees, and a gentle, winding climb down to the river like an old green track.

Took me about an hour and twenty minutes, walking at a gentle pace, with dog in tow.

This is a beautiful and fully accessible route between Harrogate and Knaresborough, using the Beryl Burton Cycleway and parts of the Nidderdale Greenway. It is tarmac all the way, with some section also used by local traffic. But no through traffic as the lane is gated. There are many side paths over farmland or through the Nidd Gorge that are well worth trying, but having tried them all, this is my recommendation for an accessible route.

The route starts at Harrogate station, goes under the railway and past the side of Asda before following the old railway track. It is tarmacked and quite wide but is shared by walkers, cyclists and horses. It is mainly wooded along this section but becomes more thinly wooded towards Bilton Lane.
It turns right along Bilton Lane, descending to pass a pub (food served) with excellent beer garden before rising and passing several farms and houses, a camping site and dog kennels. From here it is mainly flat and it passes through a road barrier to prevent passage of cars (see photo). It continues past several houses/smallholdings to reach a crossroads (see photo). The road turns right but the Beryl Burton cycleway, which you want, goes straight on.
This section of the walk is shared by bikes and walkers, but not horses. It is tarmacked throughout but is narrower than the road you have just left. It descends slowly at first, then more steeply as it passes through woodland, before flattening out once it reaches the river. There are several signposted paths leading off from the cycleway as it passes through the woodland.
The path reaches the main A59 opposite Mother Shipton’s Cave entrance, goes over the bridge then along Waterside until reaching Water Bag Bank. It goes up Water Bag Bank (very steep cobbles with pavement beside) to reach the railway station and then goes onwards to the town centre. The latter part of the walk is very scenic.

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