Pateley Bridge is the main town of Nidderdale, a steep high street of stone shops climbing from the river. It claims the oldest sweet shop in England, and the Nidderdale Museum tells the story of the dale's farmers and lead miners.
The surroundings are the reason to come. Upstream, How Stean Gorge is a narrow limestone chasm you can walk, climb and scramble through. West towards Grassington are the show caves of Stump Cross Caverns, and four miles east the wind-carved gritstone towers of Brimham Rocks sit on the moor.