Walk Brimham Rocks and Moor: Ultimate guide

You know, Brimham Rocks has been on my list to come and walk for some time now, but I kept putting it off for a number of reasons. First off, I knew I had to come on a weekday. I had heard how busy it can get (queuing for the car park). Monday it would be, as that’s my day off.

Second, I knew I wanted to walk around Brimham Moor as well as the rocks. This I had heard gets crazy muddy after rain.

So I waited. At first it was the rain that stopped me, then when that eased, we had so many bank holidays back to back. This would not be a good idea if I wanted to avoid the crowds. Then I had a couple of weekends of being very unwell.

I did start to wonder if I would ever see them, and to be honest, I wasn’t that fussed. It felt super touristy, and I was only planning on going because I figured I should at least see them whilst I’m living in Yorkshire.

When I did finally make it to Brimham Rocks for the walk, I was shocked. I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did, but I was actually blown away..…

Looking towards the mass of Brimham Rocks, on the walk around them. There are a few bushes between the rocks, and tree branches poking into the frame.

What I’m going to do in this guide, is first give you a bit of an overview of Brimham Rocks and how to walk around them, and across the moor. With useful tips, full logistics, and a map. Then I will go on to describe the route step by step with lots of photos. At the end, I will provide ideas for other walks nearby, and similar walks.

What to expect on the Brimham Rocks circular walk

This walk first takes you through and around the main site of Brimham Rocks. Where you will be surrounded by massive, obscurely shaped rocks which are older than the dinosaurs. We are talking 100’s of millions for years old. You can find out more detail about the history here.

Looking across the mass of Brimham Rocks, with bushes and trees poking up in-between, on the circular walk around them. There is a house in the hill in the distance.

A large flat green walking area, with a big rock on the left.

You will then go off the main path, to explore all the other rocks dotted about, including the famous Idol Rock.

Idol Rock, the most famous of the rocks and Brimham, with a path to walk around it. It's a big rock sitting on top of a small rock

After this, you head to the Brimham Moorland, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is home to three varieties of heather. Bell heather, ling heather, and crossleaved heather. You will also get to see many more rocks, as well as vast views down across the countryside.

Looking across a mass of brown heather with small green bushes and trees dotted about, on the walk across Brimham Moor.

Looking across the Brimham Moor, with heather and green trees, to one of the rocks in the distance.

A large rock ahead, nestled within the trees, and poking out the top.

Is the walk easy?

Walking around Brimham Rocks is super easy. There is a well laid out path that takes you around them, with options to take slightly more rugged trails to walk through them.

A walking path leading to Brimham Rocks ahead. The path runs through the green, with bushes and trees dotted about.

Two people standing, looking through the mass of trees and rocks at Brimham.

A few dirt trails leading through lots of large rocks at Brimham, on the walk through the main area.

Walking across Brimham Moor is also easy, although the trail is fully rugged and a bit muddy in places. Prams will be suitable when sticking to the main path at Brimham Rocks, but not for the walk across the moor.

A dirt trail leading through Brimham Moor, filled with green bushes and trees, part way through the circular walk.

A very muddy dirt trail through the moor.

There are a couple of hills on this walk, but they are barely noticeable, so don’t really count.

How long is the walk?

The walk I did around Brimham Rocks then across the moor, was 2.5 miles. If you want to go further, the moor extends over the road. You can also make this shorter by skipping out Brimham Moor.

Do you have to pay at Brimham Rocks?

Visiting Brimham Rocks itself is free, it’s the car park you have to pay for. It’s National Trust, so if you are a member, you get this for free. For everyone else, the cost (at the time of writing) is £6.50 for 4h. The machine takes coins, or you use the Pay-By-Phone app. You can pay by card at the welcome hut.

Now, you know I love a bit of free parking, and will do everything I can not to pay, however, in this instance, I am a National Trust member so didn’t need to bother going on a free parking hunt.

I did notice though, when walking across the moor, some cars parked on the road side. I can’t tell you for sure if this is allowed as I wasn’t close enough to see, but you can take a look. Alternatively, you could park elsewhere (like Pateley Bridge) and make Brimham Rocks part of a longer walk….

Read more: Pateley Bridge Circular walk

Are dogs allowed at Brimham Rocks?

Dogs are allowed at Brimham Rocks, but they must be kept on a short lead at all times. Other than that, dogs are welcomed. There are water bowls, dog bins, and you can request a map showing you various dog friendly walks.

Tips for the Brimham Rocks walk

If you are able, then I highly recommend walking across Brimham Moor, as you will see more rocks, and it’s a bit out of the way of the crowds who stay at the main spot.

Brimham Moor was mostly dry for me, with one section of mud. It hadn’t rained for a while. However, I have heard that after lots of rain, it’s pretty wild out there, and you will want hiking boots. If it hasn’t rained, then you should be fine with trainers.
If you have flexibility, then come on a weekday. I was there on a Monday, and although it was fairly busy, it wasn’t that bad at all. I have heard that on weekends it’s nuts, and you will have to queue.
If you think you will be exploring more National Trust places in the future, then get a membership. This gives you free parking at their sites, and free entry (if there is an entry cost). Fountains Abbey is very near Brimham Rocks, which is also National Trust.

The rocks have names. I know a few of them, but I suspect that the welcome hut will have information leaflets that give you more details.
Go off the main trail. It’s quite fun walking through the gaps and tunnels in the rocks.

Looking through a gap through the impressive Brimham Rocks at the start of the walk.

Logistics

Start/Finish: Brimham Rocks National Trust car park
Where is it: Brimham Rocks are located in Nidderdale AONB, in Yorkshire. Post code for the car park is HG3 4DW.

Public Transport: Yes. There is a bus than runs on a few days of the year. You heard me right. Looking at the timetable, there are just 4 days. You can check it out here. It runs between York, Harrogate, and Richmond.
Distance: 2.5 miles circular
Time: I did the walk in about an hour, but allow more time for more exploring.
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Easy well laid out path, dirt trail, mud, rocks.

Time of year: I walked here in spring
Amenities: There is a welcome hut at the car park, and right by the main area of Brimham Rocks is a cafe and toilets/accessible toilets. Free mobility scooter hire.

The cafe on the other side of the green, surround ed by trees.

Map for the circular walk around Brimham Rocks and Moor

You can find my more detailed route map for the circular Brimham rocks walk on AllTrails.

Read more: Best walks to do in Nidderdale

A guide to the circular walk around Brimham rocks and moor

From the Brimham Rocks car park, there is a main path straight past the welcome hut. For this walk, take the steps to the left if it.

A wide path, with the information centre on the right, and trees lining the path ahead. — The main path

Steps leading up into the woods, with an information board to the left. — The steps

This will take you on a slightly more rugged trail, past some rocks before you get to the main ones. You can have a little explore around here, as you gradually make your way in the direction of the main path. It’s straight line to get to the big rocks.

A rugged trail leading through the bushes and trees, with a large rock partially hidden ahead.

The path leading through the trees, towards a large rock out in the open ahead.

A trail split, lined with grass, and a rock behind the bushes ahead.

A rigged trail leading up through some of the big rocks at Brimham, near the start of the walk.

Walk around Brimham Rocks main area

When I arrived at the main area, I gasped. The mass of rocks ahead of me was so grand, and not at all what I was expecting.

Looking over a mass of rocks on the walk through the main area at Brimham. There are trees and bushes poking out through the rocks.

You will be able to see a building on the other side. This is where you are heading to. So go ahead and make your way there any way you wish. You can follow the main path, or walk along the little dirt trails through Brimham Rocks, exploring all the little nooks.

The viewpoint

When you reach the other side, you should see some steps between the cafe and building up the hill. If you walk up those, you will get a view looking down over Brimham Rocks, and a view across the countryside on the other side.

A path through the green, leading to a hill ahead, with a house sitting on top of the hill. There are steps leading up the hill to the right of the house. There are a few people standing on the path.

Looking down over Brimham Rocks, with people walking on the paths running through them.

A dirt trail leading up to a trig point. the trail is lined with grass and bushes.

Looking down over the tree tops, to a view ahead of green fields as far as the eye can see.

Finding Idol rock

To continue on the walk, go back down the steps and take the path up, on the other side of the building, and then trail trail that leads off it to the left.

The main path curving to the right, and a dirt path leading off it to the left. There is a big rock in the junction of the paths. — Take the left here

You will pass by a rock called ‘dancing bear’ or ‘begging dog’. It’s whatever formation you see. I see a begging dog.

A person standing, looking up at a big rock called 'dancing bear', on the walk through Brimham Rocks.

Continue following the trail past begging dog. There is one rock in particular I wanted to see. Idol Rock. It’s the one that is standing on a tiny rock. I didn’t know where it was, I just knew it was somewhere away from the main ones. So I kept my eyes peeled.

A wide path surround by green strips of grass, bushes and green leafy trees.

A dirt path leading up to some rocks, surrounded by green leafy bushes and trees.

Staying on the main trail, passing by more rocks, I found it. It’s to the right of the main trail:

A dirt path leading through a gap in the bushes, and part of a rock visible through the gap in the trees ahead. — That’s Idol rock over there

Walk to Brimham Moor

Continue straight past Idol Rock (on the trail in the same direction that you found it on).

A dirt path leading through the green leafy trees.

At the junction in the photo below, take the left, which will take you on a trail, with a view down to your left.

A dirt trail leading to a junction, with a mass of green bush ahead. — Go left here

Looking over the rock slabs and tree tops, with field of green leading way into the distance.

A narrow dirt trail leading through the small green bushes to a mass of trees ahead.

Keep walking along the trail, and you will reach an opening with Brimham Moor ahead. To get onto it, go through that gate.

A dirt path leading towards a fence with a gate, and Brimham Moor on the other side, part way through the walk.

Walk across Brimham Moor

There is an obvious walking trail that leads you on a circular through Brimham Moor, so you don’t need to navigate too much. There are a few junctions though. The first one is near the start, where you make a left turn. The other junctions are later on.

A dirt trail leading though the brown heather of Brimham Moor, partway through the circular walk.

A wooden trail signpost with an arrow pointing ahead along the dirt trail.

When you enter Brimham Moor, you will have a lovely view back to the main rocks to your right. Further into the walk, you will get to see even more rocks. The interesting one is mushroom rock, which you will start to see as you keep going.

Looking over the brown heather of Brimham Moor to some rocks ahead, part way through the circular walk.

A dirt path winding ahead surround by grass and brown heather.

Looking across the heather of Brimham Moor, to one of the rocks in the distance, part way through the walk. There are people climbing up the rocks. — That’s mushroom rock ahead

When I arrived, there were loud Americans climbing up it, so I didn’t stay.

At mushroom rock, the trail curves to the right, and you will now be walking surrounded by heather, with the views to your left, and vast moor to your right.

A dirt trail through the mass of brown heather.

A dirt trail leading through the heather to some trees ahead, and a view to fields in the distance.

A few big rocks visible past the green leafy trees.

A little further along, there will be more big rocks, and soon a junction you need to keep an eye out for. If you reach the rocks in the photo below, you have gone too far:

However, if you want to cross over the road to walk further across Brimham Moor, then this is the way you go.

To stay following the route I took, this is the junction you want to turn right on:

A dirt trail split, surround by tufts of green grass, bushes and small trees.

For reference, it is just past this rock on your left:

Looking over the bush and tree tops to a view of green fields and tree tops as far as the eye can see. There is the top of a rock visible to the left.

Once you found the turning, keep following the main trail, all the way to and through the gate.

A thin trail leading through the brown heather.

The dirt trail leading to a wooden fence with a metal gate.

Walk back to Brimham Rocks and the car park

Through the gate, the trail goes directly straight and up some rocks. It’s further along here that I came across lots of mud.

Rock slabs leading the way up through a gap in the green leafy bushes. — You need to go straight up there

You will soon start to get a view to the main area of Brimham Rocks ahead, as you approach a rock platform.

Looking over the green to the main area of Brimham Rocks, near the end of the walk.

This is where I got a bit stuck. I spent a good while going back and forth trying to figure a way down off the rock platform. I did find it eventually. There is a trail on the left side of the rock platform:

A thin dirt trail leading through the brown heather.

Getting down is a little rugged and rocky at this point.

the trail as it leads down through a gap in the rocks, near the end of the walk around Brimham.

The next bit is quite confusing, and you may have to figure it out for yourself. You can see where the main Brimham Rocks are, so if in doubt, walk over to those. It had just started raining so I wanted to go straight to the car park….

From the bottom, I took the trail leading to the left of the big rock ahead.

A very large rock standing tall ahead, near the end of the Brimham Rocks and Moor walk.

The rest of the route looked something like this:

A large area of green with tufts of grass, and some dirt trails.

a large green area, with a dirt trial lead, leading to some woods.

A dirt trail leading through the grass, with some rocks ahead.

A dirt path through the grass, leading through the woodland area.

There were so many trail options along this bit, that I can’t even remember what I took.

More walks near Brimham Rocks

I did this walk around Brimham Rocks, straight after Hackfall Woods. It’s not too far away. It’s also a very short route, but surprisingly difficult in parts. It is wonderful though, with lots of follies, grottos, waterfalls, and perfect views.

You could walk to Brimham Rocks, from Pateley Bridge. That’s one to do it you want a bigger hike, and less people.

Fountains Abbey is very near to Brimham Rocks, and this circular route takes you around the grounds, and across the Studley Royal Deer Park. I devised it to take me around all the main good stuff.

For more rocks, you might like Druid’s Temple. It is on a much smaller scale than Brimham Rocks, so I made it into this bigger circular walk. I wasn’t so keen on the exact route I took, but did really enjoy the Druid’s Temple area. You can just walk straight to them in a few minutes if you want, rather than do the bigger walk.

For more from the Nidderdale area, you check out my best of Nidderdale walking guide.

Other rock walks

Over in the North York Moors are the Wainstones, which are a group of dramatic rock outcrops. I did a larger circular taking me across the heather moorland, and past the Wainstones. This is one of my favourites out that way, and I highly recommend it. It’s much longer and more challenging than Brimham Rocks though. Yo do have the option of making it a shorter route, and just going straight to the rocks, but there is still a big hill involved. You can read about the walk I did here.

Simon’s Seat is another one I recommend. This is another rocky outcrop, this time in the Yorkshire Dales. It is also a big walk, involving moorland, a surprise waterfall, and a river. It was the first truly grand walk I did when I moved up here to Yorkshire, and set the bar for all the others.

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