The Walk to Beamsley Beacon: Pubs, Cafés and Wharfedale Views

On a clear day you can pick out Beamsley Beacon from the campsite – the pointed little hill across the valley to the north-east, crowned with its old beacon cairn. The walk to Beamsley Beacon is one of the best days out you can have straight from your tent: a proper hill with a 360-degree view from the top, a friendly village to pass through, and a river to cool your feet in along the way.

The walk to Beamsley Beacon

From Ghyll House on Addingham Moorside you step almost straight onto the moor edge and pick up the waymarked Millennium Way, then drop down into Addingham village. From there you cross the River Wharfe on the suspension footbridge and climb up through Beamsley to the Beacon itself. It is roughly five and a half miles each way with a good steep pull at the end, so allow the best part of a day and take walking boots and a map (OS Explorer 297). Addingham’s own Walk 2 describes a longer circular if you fancy making a proper loop of it.

Through Addingham: pubs and cafés

The walk takes you right through Addingham, a lovely long village well worth a wander – and a very welcome chance to refuel. Here is who to look out for.

Pubs

• The Craven Heifer – inn and restaurant towards the top of the village
• The Lord Addingham (formerly The Sailor)
• The Swan Inn on Main Street
• The Fleece Inn – food served all day

Cafés and food

• Ginger Plum – a friendly coffee shop on Main Street
• The Addingham Sandwich Shop – sandwiches, panini and hot snacks to take away
• The Co-op – handy for picnic supplies before you head up

Down by the suspension bridge

Just below the village the Wharfe is crossed by a graceful old suspension footbridge, and the shallows beside it are a favourite spot. On warm days you will often find the village children paddling here – paddling, mind, not swimming. The Wharfe looks gentle but it has deep pools, cold water and a surprisingly strong current, so it is a place to dip your toes and skim a stone rather than to swim.

Up to the Beacon

Beyond the river the path climbs through the little hamlet of Beamsley and up onto the ridge. The final stretch is steep, but the reward is one of the finest views in lower Wharfedale.

From the cairn at the top the whole dale opens up. Look back to the south and you can trace the river, the rooftops of Addingham and the long line of Ilkley Moor above the campsite – a proper “there’s our tent” moment.

Optional: on to Bolton Abbey, or back along the river to Ilkley

If you have the time and the legs, the riverside Dales Way offers two lovely add-ons. Upstream it leads to Bolton Abbey and its beautiful ruined Priory, with tea rooms by the river for a well-earned scone (and a steam railway just to the west). Downstream it follows the Wharfe all the way to Ilkley, with its cafés, shops and plenty of things to do in town.

Make a day of it

Pack a picnic, set off in good time and take the climb steadily – the walk to Beamsley Beacon is a grand day out. Bringing the dog? Have a read of our guide to dog walking on the moor first. And if you would like the Beacon on your doorstep, book a pitch or a teepee and make the campsite your base. For more walks from the door, try the Black Potts walk and the walk to the Swastika Stone.