Sitting on the jetty with Fishpond and ducks

Fishpond Wood and Ice House

This super circular walk to Fishpond Wood in Bewerly starts and ends at the park in Pateley Bridge.

It’s short and sweet, with loads of interest for little ones and plenty to explore!

Have you heard of Fishpond Wood?

It’s located just outside of Pateley Bridge in Nidderdale and whilst the woods are privately owned they are open to the public to walk around and explore.

The pond in the centre is the home of some very friendly ducks, who are partial to a bit of company and the Ice House is over 200 years old and has been restored so you can go and check it out!

It’s a walk that is jam packed with stuff to explore and is perfect for younger adventurers! Ducks, bridges, a pond, trees to climb and the super cool ice house (pardon the pun…) as well! Plus, in Spring, the woods are PACKED with bluebells and wild garlic and if you fancy a detour to explore the weird and wonderful, you can check out the bridge with a smile too…

This one may be short, but you’ll need plenty of time to explore everything!

Oh and did I mention, there’s a park too… OH and the oldest sweet shop too?

Standing in the doorway of the Ice House

Walk details for Fishpond Wood

Distance: 2 - 3 miles

Terrain: Easy paths, can be muddy underfoot. Some ascent (250 feet). Some road walking dependant on starting point. There are pavements on all road walking.

Parking: Either Pateley Bridge Pay and Display (the closest is at the cricket club), or there is some limited on street parking at Bewerley. If you choose to park in Bewerley, be respectful to its residents, and do not block any access points to fields, roads or residential properties. If you park at Bewerley, you will miss out the park, which is at Pateley Bridge.

Public Transport: Yes, there are regular buses to Pateley Bridge town centre. You can find the bus timetables on the Dales Bus website.

Dog Friendly: Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead at all times.

Nearest Train Station: N/A

Location: Bewerley, outside Pateley Bridge, Nidderdale.

Map: Explorer 298 - Nidderdale

What 3 Words: plausible.woven.nest

Toilets/ Baby Change: Toilets are located at the park

Nearest Cafe/ Amenities: Pateley Bridge

Walking along the road from Bewerley
Walking on the duck boards through a field

Directions to Fishpond Wood and Ice House

  1. Beginning from the Car Park opposite the play park, turn left along the main road (Street Lane), passing the garage on your right. At the Royal Oak pub, take the road bearing left towards Bewerley. As you reach the beginning of the village, you will reach a crossroads. At this, you need to turn sharply right, taking the road heading uphill to your right. You will almost feel like you are doubling back on yourself.

  2. After 200 yards, you will reach a footpath sign to your left, pointing in the direction of Toft Gate. Take this footpath across the fields. It crosses some duckboards, and then heads upwards and slightly rightwards, until you reach a narrow gate in the wall. Head through this and keep the wall to your left (there are signs for cattle grazing in this field. We didn’t encounter any when we were there, but be aware if you’re not keen!)

  3. The path descends some stone steps, until you reach another little gate at the bottom, which heads through the wall and into the woodland. You need to head on the path which takes you straight on, towards the pond up ahead. It crosses a little wooden bridge, and continues around the right hand side of the water.

  4. Explore as much or as little of the woodland as you like (just keep to the paths!) If you want to go and pay a visit to the teeth in the bridge (very random, I know! Then you need to head to the far end of the pond (keeping it on your left), then take the lower right fork. It will take you out of the perimeter wall, and to the large stone Fishpond Wood sign. Head on the path that continues straight on passing the left hand side of the stone sign until it reaches a metal gate out onto the road. Here turn right for a short distance, until you see the road bridge across a beck. There are the teeth in the bridge! Look down and at the edge of the bridge…

  5. Turn back and head into the woods and back to the pond, the way you came.

  6. Continue around the pond, until you reach the stone jetty. Here, the path begins to fork right. Take this path (not the one that continues around the pond). This again splits into two. You need to take the upper path to get to the Ice House.

  7. The Ice House is renowned for its spiders although we are yet to meet them but it has been fully restored and is great to go and check out!

  8. Once you have explored the ice house, head back towards the pond. At the point where the path split, now take the lower path, and this will take you back out the woods and back into Bewerley.

  9. Once back in the village, head back out he village the way you came in, and make sure to explore Pateley Bridge (it’s home to the oldest Sweet Shop in England!)

Last walked May 2023

Looking at the false teeth in the bridge at Bewerley

What’s cool for kids on this walk?

✨ The Ice House is over 200 years old! Build at the beginning of the 19th Century, it was used to store ice from the nearby pond. The ice was used to keep food fresh and make ice cream!

🦆 Ducks! There are some very friendly ducks to be found on this walk, so don’t forget your duck food!

🧒 There is a park located at the bridge in Pateley Bridge. In the Summer, there’s often an ice cream van there too! Pateley bridge is also home to the oldest sweet shop in England (or as my youngest claims, the UNIVERSE!) There are also cafes and a pancake house in Pateley Bridge too!

🌳 Need help to boot out the walking whinges? Why not check out our walking games or perhaps bring along a scavenger hunt! Check our free printable scavenger hunts!

Walking down the steps to fishponds woods
The path to the ice house and sign

Helpful Information!

⭐ 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.

The ruins of St Mary's Church in Pateley Bridge

Looking for more walks around Pateley Bridge?

We have loads of Nidderdale walks, but if you fancy trying another walk from the centre of the town, then why not try our St Mary’s Church ruins walk?

This one heads along the river, to a superb viewpoint and then onto the church ruins.

Oh and it also starts and ends at the park too!

Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks

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