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Yorkshire Dales Walks
Walking Routes & Hiking Trails

Find Yorkshire Dales walks from the list below which features the best walking routes in the area. Most of routes are circular walks although there are a few linear hikes. The walks are listed from the shortest and easiest to the longest more challenging routes. The walks are divided into sub areas so you can find specific walks.

100+ Great Yorkshire Dales walks with detailed route descriptions, excellent mapping, photos and GPX files. The walks include all the major Dales and are subdivided by Dale. The Three Peaks of Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-ghent have their own sub-section. In addition walks in the Howgill Fells are also listed.

Highlights of walking in the Yorkshire Dales include walks to the 'Yorkshire Big Three', riverside walks through Wharfedale, hikes in Swaledale with its rich Industrial Heritage and wonderful landscape, walks to Malham Cove and Tarn, plus many other scenic routes through the dales and across moors.

Area walks and walking guides

Useful guides to walks and walking from these popular centres. Includes places to stay, local amenities and the best walking routes.

 

Lower Wharfedale, Cracoe, Burnsall & Bolton Abbey Walks

Walking Highlights. Personal favourites include the Valley of Desolation and Simon's Seat, Barden Fell, the Rylestone Edges above Cracoe and Trollers Gill. An easy walk full of interest is Barden Bridge and the Strid from Bolton Abbey.

Where to stay - Skipton, Burnsall, Ilkley and Addingham are convenient for walking in this area.


 
WalkDescriptionGradeMiles
1576Embsay Reservoireasy1.00
1001Barden Bridge & the Strid from Bolton Abbeyeasy4.00
3109Rylstone Edges & Cracoe from Rylstoneeasy/mod6.00
1811Sharp Haw in Airedale from Craven Heifereasy/mod7.00
1946Valley of Desolation & Simon's Seat from Barden Bridgemoderate8.40
1280Trollers Gill from Burnsallmoderate9.00
1905Beamsley Beacon and Bolton Abbey from Addinghammoderate10.00
1249Simon's Seat from Bolton Abbeymoderate10.00
2574Valley of Desolation & Barden Fellmoderate11.00
2000Wharfedale Circular from Burnsallmoderate13.50
 

Upper Wharfedale, Grassington, Kettlewell & Buckden Walks

Walking Highlights. This is a fine area for walking with varied terrain. Personal favourites include an ascent of Buckden Pike, following the Dales Way between Kettlewell and Yockenthwaite, Conistone Dib and Capplestone Gate plus the hike from Kettlewelll into Littondale and Arncliffe.

Where to stay - Grassington, Kettlewell, Starbotton, Buckden and Hubberholme are convenient for walking in this area.


 
WalkDescriptionGradeMiles
1846Garnshaw House & Linton Falls from Grassingtoneasy3.00
2611Hebden Gill from Hebdeneasy4.00
1573Grimwith Reservoireasy4.50
3301Conistone to Grassington via the Dibeasy5.00
1277Starbotton & Kettlewell circulareasy/mod5.00
1407Thorpe & Burnsall from Lintoneasy/mod6.20
1278Cosh & Foxup from Halton Gilleasy/mod6.50
2610Hebden Gill & Cupola Cornereasy/mod6.50
2423Capplestone Gate & Conistone Pie from Conistoneeasy/mod6.80
2332Mastilles Lane & Bordley from Kilnseyeasy/mod6.80
1294Arncliffe & Kettlewell Circularmoderate7.00
3262Copplestone Gate and Conistone Pie from Conistoneeasy/mod7.00
1632Arncliffe & Starbotton from Kettlewell moderate7.00
1250Great Whernside from Kettlewellmoderate8.00
1254Yockenthwaite & Hubberholme from Buckdenmoderate8.00
2132Buckden Pike and Hubberholme from Buckdenmoderate8.40
1292Linton & Thorpe Fell & Cracoemoderate9.00
1281Buckden Pike from Buckdenmoderate10.50
1145Grassington, Mastilles Lane & Conistone Dibmoderate11.25
1645Grassington, Mastilles Lane & Conistone Dibmoderate12.00
 

Malhamdale & Malham Cove Walks

Walking Highlights. Some of my favourite Yorkshire Dales walks are in the area around Malham. Personal highlights include the easy walk to Malham Cove, any walks including Gordale Scar and the 'five-star' walk from Malham Tarn to Malham Cove returning via the Watlowes dry valley.

Where to stay - Malham is the prefered centre for walking in this area. However Settle and Gargrave are convenient alternatives.


 
WalkDescriptionGradeMiles
3577Malham Cove from Malhameasy3.00
2737The River Aire & Kirkby Malham from Malhameasy3.00
2704Kirkby Malham & Hanlith from Malhameasy4.00
3092Malham Cove, Malham Tarn & Watloweseasy4.40
1274Nappa Cross & Malhameasy/mod5.50
2066Winterburn Reservoir circulareasy6.00
1377Calton and Hanlith Moors from Airtoneasy/mod6.50
1239Gordale Scar & Malham Cove from Malhameasy/mod6.50
3307Gargrave to Flasbyeasy/mod6.50
3107Flasby Fell from Flasbyeasy/mod6.50
2385Airton & Bell Busk Circulareasy/mod6.80
1701Bordley Hall & Malham Moor from Threshfield Mooreasy/mod7.00
1051Gordale Scar & Malham Cove (Route 2)moderate7.00
2602Gordale Scar & Malham Cove (Route 3)moderate9.10
1282Malham Tarn & Arncliffemoderate12.50
 

Lower Ribblesdale, Settle & Langcliffe Walks

Walking Highlights. Lower Ribblesdale offers a variety of easier walks amidst the limestone scenery so typical of this part of the Yorkshire Dales. Favourite walks include Attermire Scar and Catrigg Force, the Norber Erratics and Sulber Gate, and Giggleswick Scar.

Where to stay - Settle, Clapham, Austwick, Stainforth and Langcliffe are convenient for walking in this area.


 
WalkDescriptionGradeMiles
1740Attermire Scar & Victoria Cave from Settleeasy/mod5.10
1105Settle Circulareasy/mod6.00
1403Attermire Scar and Catrigg Force from Settleeasy/mod6.50
2082Attermire Scar, Catrigg Force & Langcliffe from Settleeasy/mod7.50
1548Rye Loaf Hill from Settlemoderate7.60
2603Feizor & Giggleswick Scar from Settleeasy/mod8.00
1251The Norber Erratics & Sulber Gate from Austwickmoderate8.00
2620Sulber Gate & Crummack Dale from Austwickmoderate9.50
2617Nappa Cross & Victoria Cave from Langcliffemoderate9.50
1404Oxenber and Wharfe Woods from Langcliffemoderate10.50
2649Attermire Scar & Malham Tarn from Stainforthmod/hard16.50
 

Upper Ribblesdale & Three Peaks Walks

Walking Highlights. The 'Big Three' peaks of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent are the focus of walking in this area. Yorkshire Dales walks to these summits do not involve any technical difficulties hence their popularity. Personal favourites also include the Norber Erratics, the Ingleton Waterfalls Walk and walks starting from Dentdale.

Where to stay - Settle, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Clapham and Ingleton all provide an ideal base for walking in this area.


 
WalkDescriptionGradeMiles
3091Ingleton Waterfalls Walkeasy4.30
3233Dent & Gawthropeasy/mod6.00
3094Norber & Norber Erractics from Claphameasy/mod6.30
3392★☩Darnbrook Fell & Fountains Fellmoderate6.40
1013★☩Pen-y-ghent from Horton-in-Ribblesdalemoderate6.50
1500★☩Pen-y-ghent via Horton Scar from Horton-in-Ribblesdalemoderate6.75
2146Deepdale Circular (near Dent)moderate7.00
3584★☩Gragareth from Irebymoderate7.40
3599Clapham, Oxenber Woods, Feizor & Settleeasy/mod7.50
1208★☩Ingleborough & Park Fell from Chapel-le-Dalemoderate7.50
3340Blea Moor & Denthead from Ribbleheadmoderate8.20
3032★☩Gragareth & Great Coum from Yordas Cavemoderate9.00
1121★☩Pen-y-ghent & Plover Hill from Horton in Ribblesdalemoderate9.00
2376★☩Gragareth from Leckmoderate9.30
3500★☩Ingleborough (northern approach) from Chapel-le-Dalemoderate9.50
1970★☩Great Knoutberry Hill & Dent Headmoderate9.50
1248★☩Trow Gill, Ingleborough & Long Scar from Claphammoderate9.50
1184★☩Whernside & Scales Moor from Ribbleheadmoderate11.00
1052★☩Whernside & Dentdale from Dentmod/hard12.00
2409The Upper Eden valley without a carmoderate12.00
3135★☩Dentdale & Bleamoormoderate12.50
2796★☩Ingleborough via Gaping Gill & Norber from Claphammoderate13.00
1926★☩Pen-y-ghent & Littondale from Littonhard16.00
3433★☩Yorkshire Three Peaks from Horton-in-Ribblesdalevery hard24.50
 

Wensleydale Walks

Walking Highlights. Wensleydale is the only dale not named after its river. The dale is wide with the River Ure following a gentle course through green pastures. Semer Water located on the side of the dale is my favourite place to walk as are routes through the valley. Aysgarth Falls especially after heavy rain are well worth including in a walk.

Where to stay - Hawes, Askrigg, Bainbridge, Aysgarth, Carperby and West Burton all provide an ideal base for walking in this area.


 
WalkDescriptionGradeMiles
2286Gayle & Aysgill Force from Haweseasy3.50
3384Aysgarth Falls and Caperbyeasy4.00
2265Semer Water, Stalling Busk & Marsetteasy4.00
2363Drumaldrace (Wether Fell) from Burtersetteasy/mod5.20
3524Semer Water and Cam High Road from Bainbridge easy/mod5.70
1694Nappa Hall & Whitfield Gill Force from Askriggeasy/mod6.00
1680Haw Lane & Aysgarth Moor from Aysgartheasy/mod6.30
3333Redmire Force & the Templar's Chapel from West Witton easy/mod6.70
2155Mossdale & Cotterdale from Appersetteasy/mod7.90
3624★☩Great Shunner Fell from Hardrawmod/hard9.20
1055Penhill & West Burton from Aysgarth Fallsmoderate10.00
3621★☩Great Shunner Fell & Lovely Seatmod/hard11.40
2273Dodd Fell Hill & Drumaldrace from Hawesmoderate11.50
2822Aysgarth & Castle Bolton from Askriggmod/hard14.50
 

Swaledale Walks

Walking Highlights. Swaledale is my favourite dale and is characterised by its iconic field barns and stone walls. The area around Gunnerside is rich in industrial heritage. Favourite Yorkshire Dales walks include Gunnerside and Swinner Gills where you can explore the ruins of the lead mining industry. Just outside the National Park lies Nine Standards Rigg with its prominent cairns offering a wonderful view into the Eden Valley.

Where to stay - Thwaite, Muker, Keld, Gunnerside and Reeth all convenient for walking in this area.


 
WalkDescriptionGradeMiles
1253Booze & Slei Gill from Langthwaiteeasy2.50
3478Cringley Hill & Scar House from Langthwaiteeasy/mod4.80
3093Bunton Hush, Blakethwaite & Gunnerside Gilleasy/mod5.50
1252Great Pinseat from Surrender Bridgeeasy/mod5.50
2190Calver Hill & Reeth Low Moor from Healaugheasy/mod6.00
1341Nine Standards Rigg from Birk Dalemoderate6.00
1340Muker & Upper Swaledale from Keldeasy/mod6.50
1197Gunnerside & Swinner Gillsmoderate8.50
1053Swinner Gill and Muker from Thwaitemod/hard8.50
1768Thomas Gill and Ravenseat from Tan Hillmoderate8.70
1056Gunnerside & Surrender Bridgemoderate10.25
 

Mallerstang & Howgill Fells Walks

Walking Highlights. The Howgill Fells provide excellent walking and generally see few walkers. Careful navigation is essential as the area is a complex system of ridges and deep valleys. Personal favourites are an evening stroll to Cautley Spout, an ascent of Aran Haw and Winder or Wild Boar Fell in nearby Mallerstang.

Where to stay - Sedbergh, Kirkby Stephen and Ravenstonedale all provide ideal bases for walking in this area.


 
WalkDescriptionGradeMiles
1387Cautley Spout from Cross Keyseasy2.00
1393★☩Yarlside from Cross Keysmoderate4.00
3006★☩Cautley Spout & The Calf from Cross Keysmoderate5.50
1160Wild Boar Fell & Swarth Fell from Cotegill Bridgemoderate7.00
3008★☩Winder & Arant Haw from Sedberghmoderate7.00
3007★☩Fell Head & The Calf from Howgillmoderate7.50
2253Uldale Falls & Wandale from Rawthey Bridgemoderate8.50
2458Winder, The Calf & Fell Head from Howgillmoderate9.80
1616★☩Bowderdale and the Calfmoderate10.00
2438★☩Cautley Spout & the Calf from Sedberghmoderate10.00
1196★☩The Calf from Sedberghmod/hard10.50

★ GPS file ☩ Route profile

Location Map

location map

Yorkshire Dales Guide

Walking in the Yorkshire Dales National Park covers an extensive area, which contains a wide variety of scenic interest. Each Dale is usually named after its river although there are a few examples that don't follow this rule. The varied underlying geology is reflected in the scenery with limestone and gritstone the prominent rocks resulting in virtually every type of scenery from dry valleys to wild moorland.
Yorkshire Dales Walking Guide

Other walks in Britain - For a list of all the areas where walks are available go to the Main Walk Index.

Walk grading - Learn how each walk is assessed and select a walk to suit your ability and experience by going to Walk Grading Details.

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