How Stean Gorge plans to expand under new management

How Stean Gorge has revealed plans to expand under new management.

The 10,000-year-old gorge in Nidderdale currently provides abseiling, gorge scrambling, caving, canoeing and a high ropes course.

Tony Liddy, 33, and Rebecca Verity, 29 who have taken over control of the site after working there for more than a decade, have revealed a five-year plan to install 11 chalets, including hot tubs and wood burning stoves.

The attraction currently has a 20-pitch campsite. The new chalets will sleep up to 11 people each.

Mr Liddy said there was “huge demand for adventure tourism”, adding:

“We’re transforming the site with these ambitious expansion plans with an eco-friendly build in fitting with the spectacular setting.”

Pre-covid the centre, previously run by Stan and Ann Beer, attracted about 10,000 people each year for outdoor activities.

The new owners said bookings for hen and stag weekends had doubled since the lifting of restrictions.

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There are also plans to revamp the visitor centre, with new interpretation boards containing historical surveys and maps of its cave network.

How Stean Gorge employs 18 full and part-time members of staff with an additional 10 casual instructors. Mr Liddy said:

“We’re very proud to be continuing the values of Stan and Ann, they helped raise How Stean Gorge into a leading visitor attraction, as well as a vital lifeline for local employment and our rural economy. It’s a fantastic legacy, and we are incredibly excited to take that on and build on that hard work.”