Walks in the Yorkshire Dales
Classic Yorkshire Dales walks can be found on this page. All content is free to download including map, GPS route, statistics, personal report and images.
Looking from Crina Bottom to Ingleborough
My first memories of the Dales are when I went on a school trip in the 1960s. I vaguely recall walking for what seemed like an eternity in the Richmond area. I guess it must have been somewhere near Reeth as I do remember the school bus negotiating the narrow roads in that region. One of my most vivid recollections was the vastness of it all, or so it appeared to me when I was a boy looking down into a particular valley to see a distant river meandering in the bottom. It was not until my late 30s though that I really began to appreciate the beauty of the Dales in full. In the 1990s and into this millennium I have explored the area at length and discovered some excellent walks of all types including ascents onto fells, walks through areas of outstanding spectacle like limestone pavements and hidden gorges and even superb riverside walks.
The Yorkshire Dales is a beautiful National Park, a park also blessed with the most delightful people. It is a welcoming place in all respects and I shall always visit. My walks here are growing with regular frequency now I live on the edge of the park. You will find the more popular walks interspersed with less well-known ones and some that take you off the beaten track. Are you adventurous enough to follow? Whether you are or not, I am sure you can find a walk that suits you so take some time out to read my recollections of enjoyable Yorkshire Dales walks. I hope some prove interesting enough for you to try. The walks are categorized by difficulty, so that everyone from a pensioner looking for some exercise to the type of person who needs a military loan to replace all the hiking boots they go through can find just the right walk for them.
Walks by Area:
Yorkshire Dales Walking Routes Index
| Walk Route | Miles | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Skipton Castle Woods
Easy
|
2.0 | A short walk in the prettiest of woodlands which is inspiring all year round and simply stunning in springtime. |
| 2.0 | A short walk with some amazing vistas to Addingham High Moor and on to the fascinating Doubler Stones. | |
|
Aysgarth Falls
Easy
|
2.2 | One of the Yorkshire Dales premier family walks to the most breathtaking series of waterfalls. |
| 2.4 | A wonderful walk which includes a visit to a fairy tale waterfall hidden from view in a delightful arboreal dell. | |
| 2.5 | A fascinating walk through Wharfedale's interesting geology including a narrow gorge and an inedible pie! | |
| 2.5 | This walk centered on Keld in Upper Swaledale is a delight for waterfall lovers. There are four to see. | |
| 2.9 | A short walk from Yarnbury following the history of the lead mining industry on Grassington Moor. | |
| 3.0 | A delightful short walk from the centre of Richmond to woodland, open countryside and riverside. | |
| 3.1 | A real little gem of a walk to some fantastic waterfalls. A splendid walk for a Sunday morning. | |
|
Muker and Thwaite
Easy
|
3.3 | A delightful walk to two of the prettiest and most popular villages in Upper Swaledale. |
| 3.7 | A family-orientated short walk from Reeth with sublime views of beautiful mid-Swaledale to enjoy. | |
| 3.8 | An ideal family walk with an option to travel the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway. | |
| 4.3 | A very popular walk to the famous waterfalls of Ingleton including Pecca Falls, Thornton Force and Snow Falls. | |
| 4.4 | Probably the most popular walk in the Yorkshire Dales for walkers of all abilities including families with children. | |
| 4.5 | A short walk with an exciting clamber down the beck of Hacker Gill in resplendent Dentdale. | |
| 4.6 | A lovely countryside walk in the north-west of the Yorkshire Dales. | |
| 5.0 | A perfect family walk. Pity when we did it we walked in the worst weather of the year. | |
|
Buckden, Cray and Hubberholme
Moderate
|
5.3 | A winter walk in Upper Wharfedale and Langstrothdale which came about because of a whiteout snowstorm. |
| 5.4 | A walk centered on Leyburn and which explores the beautiful Yorkshire Dales countryside west of the town. | |
| 5.6 | A walk of hill and dale, the first half on a high edge over Wharfedale and the second half a walk along the River Wharfe. | |
| 5.7 | A walk of contrasts in Upper Swaledale from Keld to Ramps Holme Bridge and back. | |
| 5.7 | A great walk in the Howgill Fells to four of the five Yorkshire 2,000's in the range. | |
| 5.8 | Walk in history exploring the childhood places of Richard III and then find a forbidden corner near Coverdale. | |
| 5.8 | A walk of ups and downs in Wharfedale which includes riverside, upland and a limestone gorge. | |
| 5.9 | The most popular and most interesting walk in the Howgill Fells. Deservedly so. | |
| 6.0 | A ridge walk is achieved by a steep ascent that requires careful navigation. | |
| 6.1 | The classic Pen-y-ghent walk from Horton in Ribblesdale which includes a visit to fantastic Hull Pot. | |
| 6.3 | A heather moor walk to the Twelve Apostles Stone Circle and to the famous Cow and Calf rocks. | |
| 6.6 | Normally a moderate walk but it was hard on this occasion due to walking in deep snow! | |
| 6.6 | A Swaledale walk from Reeth which follows the valley to Marrick Priory before returning by upland and moor. | |
| 6.9 | A walk from Malham village, the first half in quiet beautiful Dales countryside and the second half to the most famous Dales hotspot. | |
| 7.2 | A Swaledale walk of riverside and moor with a visit to two Iron Age hillforts. | |
| 7.3 | A moorland yomp in a miscellany of old lead mine workings, shooting beats and wild nowhere land. | |
| 7.5 | This is without question the most popular of walks in the southern Yorkshire Dales. | |
| 7.7 | A walk in the pretty dales of Upper Wharfedale and Langstrothdale which visits the villages and hamlets of the area. | |
| 7.9 | Whernside is one of the great Yorkshire Dales mountains and this walk proves it. A walk with unsurpassed views. | |
| 8.2 | The ultimate for those who enjoy natural Dales scenery. The walk is a geology lesson. | |
|
Bainbridge, Raydale and Semer Water
Moderate
|
8.3 | Begin by walking back in time over 2,000 years with the Romans before visiting Raydale and Semer Water. |
| 8.3 | A walk from Settle to two series of impressive limestone features and an exciting series of waterfalls. | |
| 8.3 | This is a quiet moorland walk from Skyreholme Bank which includes some easy right to roam challenges. | |
| 8.3 | There are many highlights to this walk. Add Winskill Stones and Warrendale Knotts to the list for a start. | |
| 8.5 | Simply the best example of limestone pavement walking in the Yorkshire Dales. | |
| 8.7 | The less trodden enigmatic climb to Whernside from the quiet of Kingsdale is followed by a visit to Yordas Cave. | |
| 8.8 | Lower Wensleydale is the setting for this varied day of delights which begins in West Witton. | |
| 8.9 | A classic Yorkshire Dales walk which covers the entire length of the upland massif of Pen-y-ghent and Plover Hill. | |
| 9.0 | Starting out from Skirwith this classic route to Ingleborough includes Crina Bottom and Chapel-le-Dale. | |
| 9.1 | An invigorating Wensleydale walk with Jervaulx Abbey and the River Ure being particularly pleasing. | |
| 9.3 | A fascinating walk in one of the most beautiful but lesser-known Yorkshire Dales. | |
|
Gunnerside Gill and Swinner Gill
Moderate
|
9.4 | Up Gunnerside Gill, across moor and down Swinner Gill, make for a fantastic round trip. |
| 9.4 | A stunning walk from Ribblesdale centered on exploring Ingleborough National Nature Reserve. | |
| 9.5 | An ascent of Ingleborough from Clapham via Trow Gill and returning by an unplanned route. | |
| 9.5 | Follow the Dales Way by limestone pavements, cliffs and gorge before enjoying woodland and the River Wharfe. | |
| 9.6 | This magical walk visits waterfalls and caves in the centre of limestone country. | |
| 9.6 | An interesting walk to Embsay Crag, Rylstone Cross and Cracoe Monument. | |
| 9.6 | A walk from Grassington to two Yorkshire Dales highlights, one a scene of tragedy. | |
| 9.6 | A spectacular moorland and valley walk from Hubberholme. The upland views are some of the best in the Yorkshire Dales. | |
| 10.0 | A walk around Grassington and Hebden with many highlights including a visit to old mine workings. | |
| 10.0 | Celebrate isolated and much underrated Mallerstang. This walk includes lovely valley views and spectacular upland paths. | |
| 10.1 | A superb walk up Ingleborough from Clapham and via Gaping Gill in the snows of winter. | |
| 10.2 | Lower Wensleydale is the setting for this varied day of delights which begins in West Witton. | |
| 10.3 | A fantastic high level horseshoe walk from the popular town of Hawes in Wensleydale. | |
| 10.4 | A tough moorland walk for determined walkers as there are sections off-route on tough ground. | |
| 10.6 | Do you want adventure in your walks? Then this mix of paths, tracks and off-routes is just the ticket. | |
| 10.8 | A walk from Kettlewell following Top Mere Road to Buckden Pike before hiking down to Starbotton for a walk along the River Wharfe back to the start. | |
| 10.9 | A walk of contrasts, first exploring lead mining heritage and then across flower meadows to a riverside walk. | |
| 11.1 | A walk centered on the wonderful upland country of Barden Fell and Hazlewood Moor. | |
| 11.2 | Explore the hills and dales around Settle on this walk which has surprise after surprise in store. | |
| 11.2 | Follow the Pennine Way from Malham Tarn to Fountain's Fell before enjoying a right to roam exploration of Out Fell. | |
|
Ilkley Moor
Moderate
|
11.3 | A tour of the moor from Panorama Wood to the Swastika Stone and Doubler Stones. |
| 12.0 | A walk from Kettlewell to Buckden Pike, a dales hill with a WW2 memorial and then on to Great Whernside. | |
| 12.5 | A quiet Cumbrian moorland walk in the remote south-west of the Yorkshire Dales. | |
| 12.6 | A very interesting walk in Wensleydale to a hill with history, a super waterfall and to a limestone scar. | |
| 12.9 | A walk which offers the walker awesome views of Lancashire, Yorkshire's Three Peaks and Lakeland too. | |
| 13.0 | An alternative approach to fabulous Pen-y-ghent, one of the Yorkshire Dales finest hills. | |
| 13.1 | A challenging fell walk to Wild Boar Fell followed by a scrambler's adventure to secluded waterfalls. | |
| 13.2 | A classic walk in lower Wharfedale with many exciting features and a gill of legend. | |
| 13.9 | A remote and airy walk from Sedbusk via Hardraw to Great Shunner Fell, Buttertubs and Lovely Seat. | |
| 14.0 | A lovely river walk along the Strid followed by a walk to the iconic rock formation of Simon's Seat. | |
| 14.2 | A winter walk along a drovers road to Malham Tarn then over rolling fells to a hidden waterfall of character. | |
|
The Howgill Fells Circuit
Strenuous
|
18.1 | A Howgill Fells epic including visits to Winder, Arant Haw, Calders, Bram Rigg Top, The Calf, Hazelgill Knott, West Fell, Bowderdale, Randygill Top, Kensgriff and Yarlside. |
|
Three Peaks Walk
Strenuous
|
25.0 | The classic and very popular Yorkshire Dales challenge walk crossing its finest hills. |