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Hartwith Cum Winsley

Brimham Rocks Visitor Centre – Druid's Writing Desk loop from Old Spring Wood

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

United Kingdom

England

Yorkshire And The Humber

North Yorkshire

Harrogate

Hartwith Cum Winsley

Brimham Rocks Visitor Centre – Druid's Writing Desk loop from Old Spring Wood

Moderate

4.6

(19)

hikers

Brimham Rocks Visitor Centre – Druid's Writing Desk loop from Old Spring Wood

02:20

8.12km

200m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: April 22, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Nidderdale National Landscape

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

731 m

Knox Wood

Forest

3.55 km

Brimham Rocks

Highlight • Natural Monument

The breathtakingly-beautiful rock formations of Brimham Rocks were created by an enormous river some 350 million years ago. They have since been shaped by millions of years worth of wind, rain, ice, and snow to create striking rock formations, many of which resemble familiar things. Brimham Rocks and its heather moorland are both Sites of Special Scientific Interest, managed by the National Trust.

Tip by

3.67 km

Brimham Rocks Visitor Centre

Highlight • Rest Area

The National Trust visitor centre and cafe has lots of information about the rocks and the trusts conservation work. The kiosk serves drinks, snacks and cakes.
Open daily from 11:00 - 16:00. Kiosk opening is sometimes shorter hours.

Tip by

3.74 km

Brimham Rocks Trig Point

Highlight • Monument

3.84 km

Geocache at Brimham Rocks

Highlight • Natural

One of the many geocaches hidden around this park

Tip by

3.91 km

Druid's Writing Desk

Highlight • Natural

One of the more astonishing rocks at Brimham Rocks. The name Druid's writing desk was mentioned as far back as 1843 in the Leeds Times.

Tip by

4.02 km

Wishing Stone (Brimham Rocks)

Highlight • Natural

Wishing Stone, which is located near the precariously balanced ‘Idol’. The Wishing Stone is a tall rock, at the base of which there is an opening around a short stone pillar with a hole through it.

The old guide book notes that people placed the middle finger of their right hand into the small hole, and then made a wish. Another reference mentions placing the right arm around the pillar itself, in order to bring luck.

The Wishing Stone name may have been given to this rock feature by the tour guides, or it may have been another part of the areas older folklore. In either case it shows that the belief in wishing stones existed hereabouts, and was familiar to visitors. Wishing Stones in other parts of Britain often required some action or ritual to be performed before making the wish, such as walking around the rock 3 times. There may have been something similar at the Brimham Wishing Stone, perhaps involving crawling through a gap in the rock below the wishing pillar.

Tip by

6.07 km

High Wood and Horse Wood, Nidderdale

Highlight • Forest

This area is renowned for its dramatic geological features, including sandstone outcrops that have earned names like Druid's Needle, The Eagle, and The Dancing Bear. These formations have developed over millions of years through the forces of erosion. This southern part of the site offers a more relaxed woodland walk, the striking rock formations are found further to the north.

Tip by

7.10 km

Belleme Books

Highlight • Structure

8.12 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

3.05 km

2.82 km

851 m

733 m

606 m

Surfaces

3.08 km

1.97 km

1.52 km

954 m

531 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Monday 18 May

16°C

8°C

90 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 21.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Brimham Rocks Visitor Centre – Druid's Writing Desk loop from Old Spring Wood

Brimham Rocks

Brimham Rocks Visitor Centre

Brimham Rocks Trig Point

Geocache at Brimham Rocks

Druid's Writing Desk

Wishing Stone (Brimham Rocks)

High Wood and Horse Wood, Nidderdale

Belleme Books

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