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Brimham Rocks
Explore dramatic moorland rock formations
Brimham Moor Road, Summerbridge, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 4DW
Important notice
Caution snow, ice and wind - please take care when visiting Brimham Rocks today as some of the paths may be slippery. High winds are also forecasted.
Opening times for 23 December 2024
Asset Opening time Countryside 09:00 - Dusk Kiosk 10:00 - 15:30 Visitor centre 10:00 - 15:00 Second-hand bookshop 10:00 - 15:00 Brimham Rocks is free to enter, parking is available in the pay-and-display car park. Booking is essential for minibuses and coaches. You can pay for car parking at the machines (coins only) or via the Pay-By-Phone app. Card payment can be taken with a team member at the welcome hut or visitor centre. We advise downloading the app before visiting as the signal can be patchy in the car park. National Trust members park for free, please scan your membership card at the car park machines.
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The second-hand bookshop is located at the visitor centre. We're sorry but there is no level access to this area.
Dogs allowed
Dogs are very welcome at Brimham Rocks but must be kept on short lead everywhere on site including the surrounding moorland. This helps protect our precious wildlife.
Car park
Car park open dawn to dusk every day (excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). You can pay for parking at the pay and display machines (coins only), via the Pay-By-Phone app or by card payment with a team member at the welcome hut. National Trust members park free. Booking is essential for minibuses and coaches. Coaches must be under 22 seats.
Kiosk
Serving hot & cold drinks and light snacks. There are lots of picnic benches and visitors are welcome to bring their own refreshments. BBQs, gas burners or fires are strictly forbidden anywhere on main site or the 400 acre surrounding moorland. Please take your rubbish away with you.
Cycle parking
Cycle parking is located outside the welcome hut.
Toilet
Please note that toilets are located approximately 550 meters from the car park.
We want to make sure that as many people as possible can enjoy Brimham Rocks. There are accessible trails to the main rocks, suitable for mobility scooters and wheelchairs. Please note some parts of the site have steep gradients and mixed terrain. Mobility scooters are available to hire, free of charge, by pre-booking. Accessible toilets can be found at the visitor centre and induction loops and drop-off points are also available. If you'd like to book a mobility scooter or discuss any arrangements we can make to meet your access needs please give us a call on 01423 780688
Accessible route and/or map
We have accessible trails taking visitors to the main rocks and returning the same way for mobility scooters and wheelchairs. If you're pushing a wheelchair, please bear in mind that it can be quite strenuous because of gradients around the site and mixed terrain.
Accessible route and/or map - more informationLevel access to food outlet
Accessible toilet
There is an accessible toilet near the refreshment kiosk. This is approximately 550 meters from the car park.
Level access/terrain
We have accessible trails taking visitors to the main rocks and returning the same way for mobility scooters and wheelchairs. If you're pushing a wheelchair, please bear in mind that it can be quite strenuous because of gradients around the site and mixed terrain.
Designated parking
There are a number of 'blue-badge' parking spaces near the welcome hut in the main car park.
Powered mobility vehicle available
We have mobility scooters available for complimentary hire by pre-booking- please call us on 01423 780688 to book.
Drop-off point
Steps/uneven terrain
By road
11 miles from Harrogate off B6165, 4 miles from Pateley Bridge off B6265
Parking: Pay & display (coins only). Car park £6.50 for 4 hours, £10 per day. Minibuses £12 (booking essential), motorhomes £12, coaches under 22 seats only (booking essential) £15-20, motor cycles £3. National Trust members free. There is limited parking, please car share where possible. Parking tickets are not transferable.
Sat Nav: HG3 4DW - Only gives approximate location
On foot
Follow the Nidderdale Way which passes through Brimham Rocks.
By bus
Harrogate Bus Company’s service 24 between Harrogate and Pateley Bridge stops at Summerbridge, a 1.5 mile/40 min walk away along Hartwith Bank and Brimham Rocks Road.
By bicycle
National Cycle Network Route 688. Cyclists are welcome on main track to the visitor centre and bicycle racks are available next to the refreshment kiosk.
Brimham Moor Road, Summerbridge, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 4DW
Planning your visit
Article
Your accessible visit to Brimham Rocks
We want to make sure that Brimham Rocks is accessible to as many people as possible. Find out how we can support you when visiting us.
PDF
Article
Group visits at Brimham Rocks
We welcome all groups at Brimham Rocks and are open throughout the year. If you are planning to visit with a group, you’ll need to book in advance. Click here to make your booking and find out more.
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Visiting Brimham Rocks with your dog
Discover why Brimham Rocks is such a great place to bring your dog and take a look at our top tips to help you make the most of your visit.
Article
Photography and filming at Brimham Rocks
With weird and wonderful rock formations and stunning views over the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty it's no surprise that Brimham Rocks is a top destination for both amateur and Professional shutterbugs. Find out all you need to know about taking photographs and video here.
Highlights
Rock formations
Weird and wonderfully shaped giant rock formations, created by an immense river 100 million years before the first dinosaurs walked the earth.
Dramatic moorland
Brimham Rocks' heather moorland is a Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), home to three local varieties: ling heather, bell heather, and cross-leaved heath.
Shopping
Find a cosy second-hand bookshop in the visitor centre filled with cook books, children's books, historical editions and lots more.
Things to see and do
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Family friendly things to do at Brimham Rocks
There are plenty of ways to explore Brimham Rocks, from walking and cycling, to orienteering and geocaching. Discover the outdoor activities on offer.
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Exploring Brimham Rocks
From rocks to moorland, Brimham Rocks offers a host of different of features for visitors. Take a look at the highlights of what you might see on your next visit.
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Poet Laureate Simon Armitage at Brimham Rocks
'Balancing Act' a poem by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage inspired by Brimham Rocks
Outdoor activities
Activity
Outdoor activities at Brimham Rocks
There are plenty of ways to explore Brimham Rocks, from walking and cycling, to orienteering and geocaching. Discover the outdoor activities on offer.
Trail
Nidderdale cycling loop at Brimham Rocks
Set in and around the Nidderdale AONB, this loop around one of the most beautiful areas of the Yorkshire Dales is a challenging route for more experienced riders.
Top trails
Trail
Monks' walk from Brimham Rocks to Fountains Abbey
Walk in the monks' footsteps from Brimham Rocks to Fountains Abbey, following an ancient trail with views from Riva Hill to Brimham Rocks.
Trail
Circular walk at Brimham Rocks
This short walk will show you the highlights of Brimham from the dramatic rock formations, to the heather moorland.
Trail
Brimham Rocks to Pateley Bridge circular walk
Explore the Nidderdale area, an area of outstanding natural beauty, on this circular walk.
Trail
Pastures and panoramas walk at Brimham Rocks
Pass through pastures on this circular countryside ramble through farmland and meadows in North Yorkshire, with panoramic views of Nidderdale and beyond. Beside the river, look out for kingfishers and brown trout.
Trail
Moorland and meadows walk at Brimham Rocks
Explore the diverse landscapes around Brimham Rocks, home to a wide range of pondlife, plus wild cotton and waist-high bracken.
Trail
Brimham Rocks boundary walk
Enjoy a circular walk around the boundary of Brimham Rocks and discover panoramic views of the Yorkshire countryside.
Trail
Fields and Fell Beck trail from Brimham Rocks
Take a short walk down to Fell Beck from Brimham Rocks on this gentle route that offers beautiful views across Nidderdale's pastures and meadows and the chance to admire Brimham's fascinating rock formations.
Trail
Brimham Rocks to Pateley Bridge circular walk
Explore the Nidderdale area, an area of outstanding natural beauty, on this circular walk.
Eating
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Eating and drinking at Brimham Rocks
Looking for some refreshment during your visit to Brimham Rocks? You can find a selection of food and drinks at the refreshment kiosk open Wednesday to Sunday 10am - 3pm (3.30pm on weekends). Every bite of a sausage roll or crunch of an ice-cream cone helps to protect this special place.
Upcoming events
Event
A taste of Brimham tour
Join one of our volunteer guides to discover more about this weird and wonderful place.
Event
Brimham through the ages tour
Discover Brimham's history, from the last ice age that helped form the rocks, to the stories of the people who lived here.
Event
Geology tour
Join one of our volunteer guides on this 90-minute walk to learn how Brimham Rocks came to be.
Event
Easter trail at Brimham Rocks
This spring, treat the whole family to a world of adventure at Brimham Rocks on an Easter trail.
About Brimham Rocks
The natural spectacle of Brimham Rocks, with its giant rock formations, was created by an immense river 100 million years before the first dinosaurs walked the earth, and a visit to this amazing landscape is truly a journey into pre-history.
The rocks, sculpted by 320 million years of movement of entire continents as well as hundreds of thousands of years of ice, rain and wind, have taken on weird and wonderful shapes and with a little imagination, they resemble familiar creatures. Visitors are free to explore the site, spotting the Dancing Bear, the Gorilla, the Eagle and the Turtle, whilst the more nimble can crawl through the Smartie Tube and balance on the Rocking Stones.
Some of the most iconic rock formations can be viewed only 10 minutes’ walk from the car park, and it takes around four hours to explore all of this fascinating site, with its enduring landscape and carefully managed environment.
Brimham Rocks and its heather moorland are both Sites of Special Scientific Interest and are a magnet for geologists, naturalists, climbers and walkers, as well as families who love the freedom to explore this amazing place.
History
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History of Brimham Rocks
Discover the millions of years of natural history evident at Brimham Rocks, which has been enchanting visitors for centuries.
Our work
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Cattle grazing and moorland management at Brimham Rocks
Find out how our countryside team conserve the moorland at Brimham, from trialling different bracken control techniques to introducing certain breeds of cattle to graze.
Support us
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Volunteering at Brimham Rocks
Find out how you can join the volunteering team at Brimham Rocks and play an important role in the smooth running of this special place.
Article
Supporter groups in Yorkshire
Find out about National Trust supporter groups based in Yorkshire. You can support the places you love by volunteering or enjoying a programme of trips and talks.