The Cowshed, Hampsthwaite
Our Village
The village of Hampsthwaite stands in a conservation area in the stunning countryside of Nidderdale, an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). The historic church overlooks the River Nidd and is home to Joshua Tetley's grave, the founder of Tetley's Brewery in Leeds.
The village has a good local shop, a local pub 'The Joiners' and Sophie's excellent café, renowned for its fantastic breakfasts, cakes and pizza nights.
The village is ideally placed for walking and cycling and exploring Nidderdale. We are only a 15 minute drive away from the beautiful spa town of Harrogate.
Hampsthwaite
The village of Hampsthwaite stands in a conservation area in the stunning countryside of Nidderdale, an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). The historic church overlooks the River Nidd and is home to Joshua Tetley's grave, the founder of Tetley's Brewery in Leeds.
The village has a good local shop, a local pub 'The Joiners' and Sophie's excellent café, renowned for its fantastic breakfasts, cakes and pizza nights.
The village is ideally placed for walking and cycling and exploring Nidderdale. We are only a 15 minute drive away from the beautiful spa town of Harrogate.
Only a 15-minute drive from Hampsthwaite you will find the beautiful spa town of Harrogate, with its retail opportunities, spa treatments (traditional and the latest treatments are available) and as well as familiar names you will find independent restaurants offering carefully prepared ingredients served to please the eye as well as the appetite, don’t forget to visit the famous Betty’s tearooms. Yorkshire prides itself on its food and drink, and Harrogate District flies this flag with pride, from its own gin, to the delicious local produce available across our towns and villages.
221 locals recommend
Harrogate
Only a 15-minute drive from Hampsthwaite you will find the beautiful spa town of Harrogate, with its retail opportunities, spa treatments (traditional and the latest treatments are available) and as well as familiar names you will find independent restaurants offering carefully prepared ingredients served to please the eye as well as the appetite, don’t forget to visit the famous Betty’s tearooms. Yorkshire prides itself on its food and drink, and Harrogate District flies this flag with pride, from its own gin, to the delicious local produce available across our towns and villages.
Sightseeing
An amazing collection of weird and wonderful rock formations scattered over 50 acres of moorland owned by the National Trust.
130 locals recommend
Brimham Rocks
An amazing collection of weird and wonderful rock formations scattered over 50 acres of moorland owned by the National Trust.
Yorkshire’s biggest and highest public artwork on a monumental scale with viewpoints and a platform overlooking the working quarry.
30 locals recommend
The Coldstones Cut
Yorkshire’s biggest and highest public artwork on a monumental scale with viewpoints and a platform overlooking the working quarry.
Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal is a stunning World Heritage Site with a ruined Cistercian Abbey, Water Garden, Deer Park and more.
185 locals recommend
Fountains Abbey
Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal is a stunning World Heritage Site with a ruined Cistercian Abbey, Water Garden, Deer Park and more.
A 20-metre-deep limestone gorge that can be explored via a network of paths and bridges. You can also enjoy outdoor activities such as gorge walking, caving and the Via Ferrata – one of only two in England – or delicious homemade food in the café.
18 locals recommend
How Stean Gorge
A 20-metre-deep limestone gorge that can be explored via a network of paths and bridges. You can also enjoy outdoor activities such as gorge walking, caving and the Via Ferrata – one of only two in England – or delicious homemade food in the café.
An amazing collection of artefacts telling the story of life in Nidderdale.
9 locals recommend
Nidderdale Museum
King StreetAn amazing collection of artefacts telling the story of life in Nidderdale.
Stump Cross Caverns
One of Britain’s premier show caves with a shop and café.
Fewston, Swinsty, Lindley Wood and Thruscross reservoirs in the Washburn Valley provide a beautiful area to visit and a haven for wildlife. The reservoirs are owned by Yorkshire Water. Walk routes and podcasts can be downloaded from the Yorkshire Water website.
32 locals recommend
Fewston Reservoir
Fewston, Swinsty, Lindley Wood and Thruscross reservoirs in the Washburn Valley provide a beautiful area to visit and a haven for wildlife. The reservoirs are owned by Yorkshire Water. Walk routes and podcasts can be downloaded from the Yorkshire Water website.
Beautiful gardens, a garden centre and even has Betty’s Tea Rooms
138 locals recommend
RHS Garden Harlow Carr
Crag LaneBeautiful gardens, a garden centre and even has Betty’s Tea Rooms
Sightseeing and Food Scene
Pateley Bridge
An attractive small town in the heart of Nidderdale AONB.
The village of Ripley is also worth a visit and within easy walking distance of Hampsthwaite. Home to Ripley Castle the village also has a number of shops, including Harrogate Tipple (a family-run, small batch gin distillery) and a village store selling the ‘World Famous Ripley Ice Cream’.
16 locals recommend
Ripley
The village of Ripley is also worth a visit and within easy walking distance of Hampsthwaite. Home to Ripley Castle the village also has a number of shops, including Harrogate Tipple (a family-run, small batch gin distillery) and a village store selling the ‘World Famous Ripley Ice Cream’.
Food scene
Sophie's Café offers fantastic breakfasts, snacks, coffee and cakes which are popular with the surrounding villagers, walkers and cyclists. The monthly Pizza night is not to be missed (held on the first Saturday of the month) and Sunday lunches are offered every week. Sophie now runs our village corner shop, so fresh bread and Sophie’s homemade pies and cakes may be purchased to enjoy in The Cowshed.
Sophie's Kitchen
High StreetSophie's Café offers fantastic breakfasts, snacks, coffee and cakes which are popular with the surrounding villagers, walkers and cyclists. The monthly Pizza night is not to be missed (held on the first Saturday of the month) and Sunday lunches are offered every week. Sophie now runs our village corner shop, so fresh bread and Sophie’s homemade pies and cakes may be purchased to enjoy in The Cowshed.
The Joiners Arms
High StreetOur village pub offering pub meals and great beer!
One of our favourite local pubs serving fantastic food for all tastes and great beer.
They also have electric car charging points as a bonus!
Queens Head Inn
Kettlesing LaneOne of our favourite local pubs serving fantastic food for all tastes and great beer.
They also have electric car charging points as a bonus!
Another of our favourite local pubs offering great food for all tastes
7 locals recommend
Station Hotel
Station RoadAnother of our favourite local pubs offering great food for all tastes
. When visiting Pateley Bridge, don’t forget to pop into Cocoa Joe’s an independent business specialising in the making of hot and cold chocolate drinks, like you have never experienced before. They have a range of carefully selected solid chocolates and can turn each one into a hot chocolate, an iced chocolate or a mocha, delicious!
9 locals recommend
Cocoa Joe's
41 High St. When visiting Pateley Bridge, don’t forget to pop into Cocoa Joe’s an independent business specialising in the making of hot and cold chocolate drinks, like you have never experienced before. They have a range of carefully selected solid chocolates and can turn each one into a hot chocolate, an iced chocolate or a mocha, delicious!
Betty's Tearoom in Harrogate is well worth a visit, offering its famous afternoon tea and wonderful bread, cakes, tea and coffee in the shop
156 locals recommend
Bettys Café Tea Rooms
1 Parliament StBetty's Tearoom in Harrogate is well worth a visit, offering its famous afternoon tea and wonderful bread, cakes, tea and coffee in the shop
The Wellington Inn
Main StreetThe Nelson Inn
Activity
Llama Trekking involves leading your llama out amidst the beautiful Nidderdale Countryside, whilst he carries your gear and on the day trek. You cannot ‘ride’ a llama, they are pack animals. It’s quite the alternative to pony trekking, but so relaxing.
18 locals recommend
Nidderdale Llamas
Llama Trekking involves leading your llama out amidst the beautiful Nidderdale Countryside, whilst he carries your gear and on the day trek. You cannot ‘ride’ a llama, they are pack animals. It’s quite the alternative to pony trekking, but so relaxing.
Check out the Nidderdale AONB website for details of activities, these include:
https://nidderdaleaonb.org.uk/visiting/outdoor-and-active/horse-riding/
https://nidderdaleaonb.org.uk/visiting/outdoor-and-active/cycling/
https://nidderdaleaonb.org.uk/visiting/outdoor-and-active/walking/
13 locals recommend
Nidderdale AONB
Check out the Nidderdale AONB website for details of activities, these include:
https://nidderdaleaonb.org.uk/visiting/outdoor-and-active/horse-riding/
https://nidderdaleaonb.org.uk/visiting/outdoor-and-active/cycling/
https://nidderdaleaonb.org.uk/visiting/outdoor-and-active/walking/
City advice
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Please see our full Guidebook to The Cowshed
Full information about The Cowshed, the village of Hampsthwaite and the surrounding areas are set out in our Guidebook which is available in the property.
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Pubs, Restaurants and Food Outlets
Within the village there is the local pub, The Joiners and Sophie’s Café, which offers fantastic breakfasts, snacks, coffee and cakes which are popular with the surrounding villagers, walkers and cyclists. The monthly Pizza night is not to be missed (held on the first Saturday of the month) and Sunday lunches are offered every week. Sophie now runs our village corner shop, so fresh bread and Sophie’s homemade pies and cakes may be purchased to enjoy in The Cowshed.
There are many pubs in the surrounding villages, our favourites being The Queens Head, at Kettlesing,and The Wellington at Darley.
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What to do during your stay at The Cowshed
So, apart from eating and drinking, Hampsthwaite is perfectly placed for walking, cycling, horse riding and llama trekking to name a few activities. Check out the Nidderdale AONB website for more ideas on things to do and see in Nidderdale.
The village of Ripley is worth a visit and within easy walking distance of Hampsthwaite. Home to Ripley Castle the village also has a number of shops, including Harrogate Tipple (a family-run, small batch gin distillery) and a village store selling the ‘World Famous Ripley Ice Cream’.
We are on the Nidd Way, a 53-miles walk around the Nidd Valley.
Getting around
Petrol Stations and Electric Car Charging Stations
The nearest petrol stations are on the Ripon Road, which is 2.7 miles away, where you will find a Shell and a Co-op petrol station.
The nearest Electric Car charging location is actually the Queens Head at Kettlesing, where you may enjoy breakfast, a coffee, lunch, a drink or dinner whilst your car is charging!
Getting around
Bus Service
There is a bus service between Pateley Bridge and Harrogate which stops at Hampsthwaite. A timetable is available in The Cowshed.
Getting around
Taxi Service
The only taxi service that we have actually used is Blueline Taxis from Harrogate. Their number is 01423 530830.
We have always found them to be reliable.
Don't miss
The Nidd Way
Hampsthwaite is on the well known Nidd Way walk, a 53 mile circular walk around Nidderdale.
When I did the walk with a friend we started our walk from Hampsthwaite, making The Cowshed an ideal place to stay.