Bolton Abbey the Strid waterfall in Strid Woods

The Strid and Strid Woods

What an epic place. The Strid is a part of the River Wharfe that is the reason why it is classed as being one of the most deadly in the UK, This place is NOT to be messed with. But it IS a place that you HAVE to see!

So here is the walk to it, and all the need to know details!

The Strid at Bolton Abbey is a must see when visiting!

The Strid, is a short stretch of the River Wharfe which is a furiously bubbling cauldron of water, raging deep in the middle of Strid Woods on the Bolton Abbey Estate. The reason why the Strid looks so fierce is because the entire mass of the river is forced into a narrow channel, resulting in coursing rapids, the full depth of which is not known for sure DESPITE what you might see on You Tube!

Why is it called The Strid? Well, the word is derived from ‘Stride’, the reason being that both rocky edges of the coursing water look close enough to ‘stride’ across. But if you tried, it’s unlikely it will end well. There is another ‘Strid’ further up the river in Grassington. This one called Ghaistril’s Strid and is one which is far less deadly than this one!

What is known for sure is that the Bolton Abbey Strid is a deadly stretch of river, that has claimed lives in the past and should under no circumstances be messed with!

What you SHOULD do though is walk to go and see it, because it is a sight to behold and one of the most famous parts of the Bolton Abbey Estate. Just don’t get too close…. ok?!

This section of the woods is regularly the home of a seasonal trail on the Bolton Abbey Estate. At Easter, you’ll find bunnies, at Halloween, a spooky trail and a festive trail at Christmas! You can find out more on our Yorkshire Dales Events page!

The Strid… the full force of the River Wharfe in that gap which is only a few feet wide!

How to walk to the Strid

Distance: 3 miles linear walk.

Terrain: Well maintained footpaths, some ascent. The route along the edge of the river and back is pushchair accessible 🛑 Some steep drops to the edge of the Upper footpaths, for those who are more wary of heights.

Wheelchair Accessibility: The route along the riverside to The Strid is accessible by wheelchair. There are some steep gradients involved though, so check out the route information on the Miles Without Stiles website. Electric Wheelchairs are available for hire from the Bolton Abbey Estate.

Parking: Bolton Abbey, Riverside Car Park. A charge of £12.50 is made per car when booked in advance. It is £15 on the day.

Dog Friendly? Well behaved dogs on leads are allowed on this walk.

Public Transport Links: It is possible to get to Bolton Abbey by bus, although the service is mainly weekends and bank holidays. Check out the Dales Bus Service for more info.

Location: Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire.

Map: Check out the trail maps on the Bolton Abbey website.

Toilets/ Baby Change: Cavendish Pavilion.

Nearest Cafe/ Amenities: Cavendish Pavilion.

The Cavendish Pavilion and bridge

The bridge over the River Wharfe at the Cavendish Pavillion.

Hiding in one of the holes made by the water

Directions to The Strid from the Cavendish Pavilion.

You really don’t need me for this! But here they are in summary…

  1. Starting from the Cavendish Pavilion head into the woodland, keeping the rive on your right.

  2. At the entrance to the woods you have a choice. You can stick to the main path that follows the edge of the river (this is where you’ll find the Bolton Abbey seasonal trails at Easter, Halloween and Christmas. Or, you can take the higher path (the red route) which heads off the main track to the left. This path is a little more challenging with some steep drops, but is also a great way to make this walk a circular. Both paths head straight on, parallel to the water, and will eventually take you to the Strid.

  3. If you take the Upper route, after about 1.5 miles, you will notice a large path the goes down hill to your right, this is the descent to the Strid so you need to take that.

  4. Once you have seen the Strid from the viewing area, head back along the River to the Cavendish Pavilion or extend this walk by heading to Barden Tower or the Aqueduct.

Last walked December 2024.

Looking for a Route Map? You can find the map of the Strid Woods Route by tapping the link.

⭐ We hope you enjoy our walks, but please exercise common sense as routes can change with the weather conditions and seasons! The routes have been walked by our own two feet, but you know your own limits. Always take a back-up map, don’t rely on GPS alone, wear appropriate clothing for the weather and take adequate snacks and refreshments with you (although as a parent, I know you already know that bit!)

⭐ Leave no trace! Take nothing away and leave nothing behind, take all rubbish home with you.

Sitting looking down at the river wharfe

What’s cool for kids on this walk?

☕ One for the grown ups here. The Cavendish do a fabulous coffee, tea, hot chocolate, whatever takes your fancy! Many a day has a stroll along the Strid been accompanied by a steaming brew!

🏰 During the Summer there is a large sandpit located near the start of the trail through Strid Wood.

💦 There are points where you can get down to the water to throw some stones in the river. NOT IN THE STRID THOUGH NO WAY! The area near the Cavendish pavilion is your best bet!

👻 A legend…. The Strid is said to be the home of a malevolent fairy and a fearsome Kelpie, who’s sole aim it is to drag the unwitting down into the depths of the Strid (sounds like a great way to keep people away to me!) There is also the legend of the Boy of Egremont, who reportedly fell to his death in the water of the Strid. You can read more about this legend by heading to our Yorkshire Dales Folklore and Legends blog.

✨ The Strid is an incredible place. The entire contents of the River Wharfe are literally squeezed into a narrow rocky channel causing a raging torrent of water, which has carved out subterranean tunnels, ledges and caves underneath the surface of the limestone rock. The depth of the water was unknown until relatively recently, when a You Tuber attempted to measure the depth with sonar equipment. The depth was found to be 60 metres at its deepest! Despite this recent development, what is actually going on underneath the rocky banks of the river remains completely unknown and the cave system unchartered. What we do know is that The Strid has a 100% mortality rate, and is the reason why The River Wharfe is named as one of the most deadly in the UK, so steer clear of the edge and don’t say I didn’t warn you!

🦆 Ducks to feed! Remember your duck food!

🌳 During the Easter Holidays, Halloween Break and Christmas, the Strid is home to seasonal trails! If you are visiting out of season, then why not try one of our walking games? Or you can download a free scavenger sheet!

The path along the side of the River
Child walking along the edge of Gordale Scar with blue skies

Loving the Yorkshire Dales?

So are we! So why not check out all of our Yorkshire Dales family friendly walks!

If you head to the page, you’ll find family friendly walks across the whole of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, including waterfall walks, pushchair and accessible walks, peaks to bag and LOADS more.

You’ll also find a map which will show you where all of our family friendly walks are!

Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks

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