Coldstones Cut and Eagle Hall
A fantastic route that takes you to the skyline on the southern side of Pateley Bridge.
Starting from the green at Glasshouses, the route begins with an undulating run through to Bewerley which offers a gentle warm up before the climbing starts. Once we reach Fishponds Wood we start the long climb over varied terrain up past Gillbeck Farm and on to Peat Lane. A short stretch of tarmac leads to the path up to the highest point at Coldstones Cut where, weather permitting, you have excellent 360 degree long distance views.
From the Cut, the route then follows the quarry perimeter before crossing the main B6265 to a tarmac road down towards the Lead Mines. The road becomes a meandering gravel track as you descend towards the disused lead mines. Here you cross Brandstone Beck via a shallow ford or skip across the various stones and follow the track up towards Lords Hall. A quick right, left at the boundary of Lords Hall keeps you on the bridle path and heading towards Providence mine where we turn right along the Nidderdale Way. (Note: Providence is not strictly on the route but is a very evocative and photogenic disused mine well worth the short (c200m) diversion).
Following the Nidderdale Way down between Vipoints Hill and Nabs, the gravel track becomes tarmac at Hillend and continues down past Ladies’ Rigg and Eagle Hall – a grand house built on the mineral wealth of the area and now divided into apartments and smaller houses.
At the bottom of the Eagle Hall drive we cross back over the B6265 and follow a quiet country lane into Bewerley village. We then run through the village and retrace our initial steps back to Glasshouses and the end of our route.