Brimham Rocks - a favourite tourist attraction in Nidderdale
Brimham Rocks is one of of the finest natural tourist attractions in the Dales. A series
of weirdly shaped rocks, it's wildly popular with kids but understandably less so with parents.
In fact, I remember once suggesting it as a venue at a planning meeting of a youth group, and
the leaders turned quite white at the very thought of it.
Like How Stean Gorge and Bolton Abbey, it's one of those wonderful Victorian tourist
attractions which fell out of favour in the 20th century. Now it's popular again,
as you may find out if you try and park there on a hot Summer weekend. The Victorians
were crazy about natural features like this, and the crazy shapes of the rocks still
don't disappoint today.
When I was younger the rocks were just the rocks, and you rolled up in your car, parked
amongst them and climbed whatever you wanted. Nowadays they're in the care of the National Trust, so
it's rather more regimented. And while I'm not a big fan of the Trust, I think they've done a passably good job here.
There's now a small formal car park (chargeable of course), but as you approach, there's several small areas
of unofficial parking on the roadside which are only a few hundred yards away from the rocks. No prizes
for guessing where I choose to park. In fact it's so hard parking in Summer, that I park just South East
of the rocks at Brimham Hall and do a half-day circular amble stopping at the rocks
for lunch. The route's about five miles, and if you look on a map it's so obvious
I won't bother repeating it here.
The rocks themselves now have nicely laid out paths between them, and there's a
hut selling Ice Cream and snacks. Plus of course there's toilets,
baby changing and the old shooting lodge has been fully renovated and is
now a little museum combined with a National Trust shop.
In fact it's all clean,
manicured and typically National Trust. The geology is explained nicely in the museum
(have to give the NT credit for something), but basically the rocks are a hard Millstone
Grit which has weathered better than the surrounding landscape.
And that's it, great place to visit, but can be crowded