Yorkshire Heritage Way

This 42 mile walk was launched on 29 April 2022. It links the cities of Bradford, one of our great, multicultural multiethnic cities with its own rich history linked to the wool trade, with Ripon, one of England’s smallest cities in the wonderful, rolling countryside of the eastern Yorkshire Dales, now Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It also links the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Saltaire and Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.

En route, the walk passes through beautiful woodland, heather capped moor and, the colossal sculptured stones of Brimham Roacks, passing many spectacular views.

The route has been created by the Burley Bridge Association (BBA) a registered charity based on the riverside village of Burley-in-Wharfedale. Although Burley has developed a reputation as an excellent base for walkers and runners, the only means of using the right of way across the river Wharfe is via only intermittently available precarious stepping stones.

The BBA was formed in 1996. The aims are “To build a bridge to provide safe year round access to the rights of way in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and promote for the public an increase in engagement with healthy outdoor exercise”.

Planning permission has been obtained and the BBA are working towards securing appropriate funding.
For further information about the Yorkshire Heritage Way and the Burley Bridge Association, please visit the Burley Bridge Association website.

The route of the walk can be seen on the dynamic OS map below (zoom/move as required) and downloaded here as a Yorkshire Heritage Way.gpx file, or via the Ordnance Survey on line mapping site, if you are a subscriber.

A summary description of the route, broken into six sections, potentially manageable as separate day walks, can be seen on the Burley Bridge Association website.

= Start Point of the Walk

There is a book for the walk, giving a detailed route description and interesting information. This is available from various local outlets:

• Mountseys in Otley, Bookshop on the Square in Otley
• Grove Bookshop in Ilkley
• Visit Bradford Tourist Information in Bradford
• Bradford Cathedral.
• Cockpit Farm Tea Rooms, Burley in Wharfedale

Cost is £5.99

It can also be purchased from the Burley Bridge Associiation. Contact burleybridge@gmail. comfor more information. Cost will be £6.50 including postage.

If you need to buy any hiking equipment/clothing before your trip see the Hiking Store

All information on this site is given in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of any damage, loss or injury which might result from acting on it.