Our top five reasons to visit the Yorkshire Dales
For our very first blog post, we thought there was no better subject than the best reasons to visit the Yorkshire Dales! We could write a book on this subject but here are a few of our favourites.
1. Scenery
It will come as no surprise that our top reason to visit the Yorkshire Dales is the beautiful scenery! The Dales are made up of a series of valleys, separated by hillsides covered in the iconic dry stone walls and field barns, topped with open expanses of heather-covered moorland. The valleys are cut through by bubbling rivers and streams with more than their fair share of pretty waterfalls and are dotted with charming little stone villages, full of character and usually with a café or pub to refresh yourself and enjoy your surroundings.
2. Footpaths
We are incredibly lucky in Britain that we have a vast network of well-maintained footpaths all over the country, giving everyone the chance to easily access great swathes of countryside at any time, most of which is actually in private ownership. Nowhere is this more true than in the Dales. The National Park Authority does a great job of upkeeping the huge number of footpaths and bridleways that criss-cross the park, as well as the myriad of stiles and foot-bridges.
For us, there aren’t many things more inviting than a traditional wooden footpath sign leading you invitingly across a moor or meadow!
3. Wild flowers
Come to the Dales in June and you will be treated to the beautiful spectacle of wildflower meadows in full bloom. Whilst sadly there are far fewer than there used to be due to modern agricultural practices, the remaining ones are being protected and encouraged to thrive. The National Park website has walks to follow to see the best of the meadows and some of our routes take them in too! The meadows are not only stunning but also an important habitat for rare plants and flowers and wildlife.
Other times of year also offer some beautiful natural flower spectacles – the displays of bluebells carpeting woodland, for example in Freeholders Wood at Aysgarth and Grass Wood near Grassington; the rare species that grow in the grikes of the Dales’ famous limestone pavements, and the stunning wild orchids that can be found throughout the park, including the only remaining wild site of the rare Lady’s Slipper, whose location is a closely guarded secret!
4. Pubs
Almost as essential to a good walk as the scenery is a cosy country pub to settle into at the end (or half way through!) and the Dales certainly has no shortage. While in many places village pubs have been closing at a great rate, in the Dales nearly every village still has a bustling pub at the heart of the community, welcoming locals and visitors alike.
Most pubs not only offer a warm welcome and hearty food and drink but also an interesting history, and lots of historic features, not to mention a roaring fire for cooler days. Keep an eye out for our blog about our favourite Dales pubs, which will be coming soon!
5. Dark skies
The lack of large settlements in the Yorkshire Dales means it has some of the darkest skies in the country and this is celebrated every February during the week long Dark Skies Festival, arranged by the National Park Authority. A variety of events for all ages are put on by businesses all over the park, including night time activities, educational lectures, a planetarium and dark skies trails to help teach children about stars and space. But if you miss the festival you can enjoy the skies independently at any time of year simply by stepping out of your accommodation on a clear night once the sun has gone down – from almost everywhere in the park you will be treated to a fantastic display of the night sky.
If you are interested in a self-guided walking holiday in the Yorkshire Dales or would just like to find out more about what we offer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.