Discover Middlesmoor: Church, Cycling Route and Walking Trails

Middlesmoor combines remarkable church history with varied routes through the countryside. St Chad’s Church, an all-weather cycling route and the Nidderdale Way offer different ways to explore the village and its surroundings. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth deciding early whether culture, cycling or walking should be the main focus.

St Chad’s Church and rural traditions

St Chad’s Church is a Grade II listed building. The present building was built by Crossland in 1864 and contains an Anglo-Saxon cross head with double crossbars. This gives the church more than a single historical connection: its 19th-century architectural history is combined with an older sacred detail. Anyone interested in church art, regional history and distinctive details in one place can include St Chad’s in their travel plans.

St Chad’s in Middlesmoor is also a “Festival Church”. Its services include a “Lambing Service” in May; these services are dedicated to rural and local traditions. The date gives a visit to the church its own seasonal connection and shows how religious events are linked to life in the countryside.

Cycling route and walking trails with different levels of difficulty

The all-weather Tour of Nidderdale cycling route runs along stony tracks through agricultural land and small villages, as well as past reservoirs. The route climbs uphill to Middlesmoor and then descends back to the reservoir. Anyone planning this route should take the stony surface and the change between ascent and descent into account when organising their day. The route therefore offers a different type of trip from a stay focused primarily on culture and short excursions.

Another option is the Nidderdale Way. The circular walking route is 53 miles long and starts and finishes in Pateley Bridge. Its course includes a section from Pateley Bridge to Middlesmoor. After the climb to Middlesmoor, the route crosses the moors and then descends along a steep path to Scar House Reservoir. This information can help you decide whether to focus your plans on the entire circular route or on the section including Middlesmoor.

There is open-access land around Middlesmoor. Walking there can be difficult, as you are often far from recognised paths. This characteristic is important when choosing a suitable activity: anyone wishing to move away from clearly defined routes will plan differently from travellers who specifically want to follow the walking trail described above.

Find accommodation to suit your travel plans

When looking for a holiday apartment in Middlesmoor, you should therefore first decide on your preferred daily rhythm. For a culture-focused stay, St Chad’s Church provides a specific point of interest. Anyone travelling by bicycle can make the Tour of Nidderdale and its climbs the main focus. For walkers, the section of the Nidderdale Way, the moors and the descent to Scar House Reservoir are the defining elements.

Other places to consider

If you would like to consider other destinations in addition to Middlesmoor, you can also visit Thwaite, Embsay, Sand Hutton, Oswaldkirk, Grassington, Bainbridge, Great Broughton and Scalby.

For the overarching travel overview: North Yorkshire.