If I only had three words to describe Brimham Rocks, it would be a ‘Natural World Disneyland’.
It’s the kind of place you imagine dinosaurs and prehistoric civilisations once roamed free. Swooping, weaving and climbing in and around the cracks and crevices found among these striking rock formations.
Nowadays, visitors can do the same, which makes a visit to Brimham Rocks one of the best places in England for adventure.
Not only are the rocks visually spectacular, they act as the main platform to view miles upon miles of famed countryside synonymous with the rural landscape of North Yorkshire.
You’ll see people standing at the top of rocks towering over 30m high and wonder how the hell they managed to get there without the use of a harness. “To climb or not to climb?*” is a question you’ll ask yourself when looking up at many of the formations. Though if you suffer from vertigo, fear not, you can save yourself severe palpitations by admiring the view from a specified look-out point that claims to capture views from over 50 miles away on a clear day.
Now all that’s really left to do is show you the photos.Though I should add, the only thing you need to spend your money on is food for a picnic because the entrance to Brimham Rocks is FREE!
*Please note. I foolishly and inappropriately wore a dress. So in respect, I chose not to climb too high lol!
How was Brimham Rocks formed?
I’m not a geologist so I can’t over up anything too detailed for you. In brief, over millions of years, erosion from water and glacial activity shaped the rocks. During the Ice Age, melting glaciers and flowing water wore away softer rock, leaving harder sections behind.
Wind, rain, and frost further sculpted the exposed rock into peculiar shapes. Processes such as frost wedging, where water freezes in cracks and expands, broke the rock into intricate forms. Cool, eh?
If rocks and geology are your cup of tea, I also recommend visiting Malham Cove. Aside from the beautiful limestone rocks that you’ll find there, the countryside vistas are spectacular. The distance between these two places is approx 30 miles, taking around 50 minutes by car.
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You can even go bilberry picking. They look like miniature blueberries and taste just as good! Or might want to climb the trees too… there’s so much wholesome fun to be had here.
Where else can you visit in North Yorkshire?
North Yorkshire is England’s biggest county and in my opinion it’s most beautiful. I think most people would agree too.
If you’re thinking about going to Brimham Rocks then you should definitely incorporate Fountain’s Abbey and Bolton’s Abbey into your itinerary. Each of these places are within a seven mile radius and provide you with some of England’s most scenic walks.
4 responses
I love this, it’s incredible! I’d love to go climbing/scampering up these 🙂
It’s an amazing place and nearby are other places of natural beauty too, like Fountain’s Abbey and Bolton Abbey. Tie these in with a visit to a Yorkshire cafe for clotted cream and scones and your day is sorted!
You have taken me back a few years! 1979 to be precise when I used to go rock-climbing at Brimham Rocks. They are incredible formations. I have lived in Thailand and Bhutan for the last 25 years but I really must make an effort to visit Brimham Rocks again the next time I visit the UK.
Hi Nigel! I’m happy reading this brought back some memories for you! There’s few better places to go rock-climbing than Brimham Rocks, eh? I imagine you have some interesting stories from your time in Thailand and Bhutan…!