Glass floor overlooking popular Yorkshire Dales gorge opens
A new glass floor over one of Yorkshire’s natural sights has opened to the public.
How Stean Gorge is a unique limestone gorge in the Yorkshire Dales, carved over thousands of years. The steep sided chasm over half a mile in length and up to 80 feet deep in places, is already a popular outdoor attraction for abseiling, gorge scrambling and exploring caves.
The floor-to-ceiling glass walls and partial glass floor, in an architecturally iconic new extension, hangs over the gorge. The development cost £180,000 with support from the European Structural Investment Fund.
Open to visitors for over 100 years, How Stean Gorge is managed by owners Stan and Ann Beer.
Stan Beer said: “Since we took over the attraction in 2007, we’ve been working on innovative ideas to help put this special area on the map. We’ve transformed it from a simple gorge walk to a fully interactive adventure, with highly qualified instructors, and added a 52 seat restaurant serving local produce.
“The new glass floors in our events facility offer a real wow factor. It’s helping us to maximise the full potential of this natural wonder in an Area of Outstanding Beauty in the Yorkshire Dales.”
How Stean Gorge features just one of only three via ferrata courses in the UK – a high wire course of cables. The unique geography allows for rock sports and paddle sports, including the unique chance to canyon down the highest waterfall in England.
Richard Spencer, CEO of Visit Harrogate, said: “As an attraction, it’s world-class. This remarkable development not only showcases the landscape that makes the Harrogate District so unique, it is a valuable addition to our tourism economy, creating jobs in our rural areas, and attracting local visitors and families, as well as tourists from further afield.”
Stan added: “With this development, How Stean Gorge’s business capability will be in the best position to develop new markets, increase bookings and spend per head and encourage longer stays, increasing the long term sustainability and profitability of this rural business.”
