The Best walks in the Yorkshire Dales
What is the best walk in the Yorkshire Dales? It’s a question we’re often asked when out leading guided walks and, to be honest, it’s a really difficult one to answer! There are so many fantastic walks across the whole of the Dales and the answer depends on what sort of day out you are looking for!
From full mountain hikes to a quick fix of clean Yorkshire air and beautiful countryside views, we have such great variety here in the Yorkshire Dales that picking a single walk is just too difficult…but here is a selection of a few that we always think about when asked ‘what is the best walk in the Yorkshire Dales?’!
Malham – big name highlights and a great introduction to the landscape of the Dales
“I won't know for sure if Malhamdale is the finest place there is until I have died and seen heaven (assuming they let me at least have a glance), but until that day comes, it will certainly do.” – this famous description of the area around Malham by Bill Bryson certainly gives it a lot to live up to, but we think it manages it!
Walking around Malham is such a delight and there are some true natural wonders on show. Yes, the popular routes around Janet’s Foss, Gordale Scar and Malham Cove can undoubtedly get very busy, but that doesn’t detract from the fantastic scenery and, in fact, we really enjoy seeing people out and about enjoy the fantastic Yorkshire Dales countryside! That said, if you prefer to avoid the crowds, even here that is easily done if you go for an early start or avoid the busiest times of year.
As well as the most well-known sights, we love exploring the peaceful area up above Gordale Scar and then coming down the ‘dry valley’ of Watlowes, to reach Malham’s famous limestone pavement. There’s also an exceptional range of archaeology in this area, and it’s possible to trace evidence of human activity from the earliest hunters of the Palaeolithic right through to the modern day. All in, it’s hard to think of another walk that could fit more highlights into such a short space!
This walk is part of our ‘Highlights of the Southern Dales’ self-guided walking holiday and will also feature on our new ‘Exploring Limestone Country’ route. We also sometimes run it as a small group ‘social walk’ (check the webpage for upcoming dates) or it can be booked as a private guided walk.
Ingleborough – bag one of the famous ‘Three Peaks’
Ingleborough – the most iconic of the ‘Three Peaks’ – is simply a stunning mountain. The route up from Clapham – in our view! – is the best way to reach the summit. From Clapham, you broadly follow Clapham Beck to reach Trow Gill. The route goes straight through this incredible natural limestone gorge and, as the views open up and Ingleborough appears ahead, you can have a stop to have a look at Gaping Gill (the largest known cavern in Britain). The deep underground cavern is accessible at a couple of weekends per year when local caving clubs set up an ingenious winch system to lower you down into the dark underground expanse – that will have to be the topic of another blog post!
After Gaping Gill, the ascent continues over Little Ingleborough and up onto the broad summit plateau of Ingleborough itself, where people have been making the journey to the summit since the Bronze Age.
If you are happy with a full day’s walking, our recommendation for the descent takes you down towards the limestone pavement at Sulber. From there, there’s more exceptional limestone scenery at the head of Crummack Dale and at Norber, where the famous ‘glacial erratics’ are found.
For a shorter mountain fix, a circuit of Pen-y-Ghent takes some beating. At a decent pace, a circuit from Horton-in-Ribblesdale can be fitted into a morning or afternoon, and gives you all the rewards of a longer outing – far-reaching views, plenty of incline to let you know you’re putting in some effort, an exhilarating little scramble up to the Trig point at the summit, and then a stop at another natural limestone feature - Hull Pot - on the descent.
If you want some support getting to the top of any (or all!) of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, you can book a private guided walk with us! An ascent of Ingleborough will also be an optional day on our new ‘Exploring Limestone Country’ self-guided walking holiday.
Trollers Gill and Burnsall – picture-perfect village, impressive limestone gorge and great snacks!
The starting point of Burnsall has all the trademarks of a picture-perfect Dales village – a large village green, historic church, thriving pub and traditional stone cottages, all set on a picturesque bend of the River Wharfe.
The dramatic limestone gorge of Trollers Gill is the undoubted highlight but there’s a lot more to explore on this beautiful walk. As well as Trollers Gill - the legendary home of a barguest, a black spectral hound with eyes that can turn people to stone – there are fantastic views over lower Wharfedale, mining ruins, charming riverside walking, classic Dales farmland and some surprisingly wild and remote feeling moorland.
When we’ve run this as one of our group social walks, we’ve made the most of a stop for an acclaimed ‘LOVE Brownies’ brownie on the site where they are made with fantastic views of the Wharfedale countryside, before a gentle return leg to Burnsall along the Wharfe.
For a longer and more challenging day out, you can easily add a short but steep ascent up to the summit of Simon’s Seat for even wider views.
This route features on our ‘Highlights of the Southern Dales’ self-guided walking holiday and we also run it as a small group ‘social walk’ – check the webpage for upcoming dates.
Upper Swaledale – wildflower perfection in early summer, stunning scenery all year
If you’re in the Dales during June or July, a walk from the classic Swaledale village of Muker is a must. A short stroll behind the village are the famous ‘coronation hay meadows’, which are some of the best examples of upland hay meadows in the country and in full bloom in early summer! Seeing hay meadows so full of biodiversity is an absolute joy and something to be savoured.
After strolling along the pretty flagged paths, Kisdon Gorge ahead is just asking to be explored. Head into the gorge on an easy track along the River Swale then, after a couple of miles, you can take a short detour uphill to see the stunningly situated ruins of Crackpot Hall – surely one of the most photogenic photo spots in the Dales.
From there, head past pretty East Gill Force and into the remote village of Keld for a break. The return leg begins with some climbing up the slopes of Kisdon Hill, but you’ll soon be rewarded with great views back into the gorge and then along the length of upper Swaledale. The pastroral landscape of upper Swaledale laid out before you in all its glory!
This whole area is explored on ‘Remote Swaledale and Arkengarthdale’ self-guided walking holiday and we also run this route as a small group ‘social walk’ during the peak wildflower season.
Wild Boar Fell – solitude and stunning views, if you’re prepared to put the effort in!
A slightly less well-known option, Wild Boar Fell is most easily recognised from its distinctive presence over Mallerstang on the western edge of the park. At 708m, the evocatively named ‘Wild Boar Fell’ is the 5th highest peak in the National Park. It is reported to be the place where the last wild boar in England was shot in the 15th century. It is interesting for its geology – sandstone, shale, limestone and millstone grit are all present – as well as its history.
There are of course the views to enjoy as well - the view down into the Mallerstang Valley is stunning, backed by Abbotside Common and the high point of Great Shunner Fell to the east. The southern view is dominated by the ‘Yorkshire Three Peaks’, with the distinctive profile of Ingleborough clearly visible (and you may even be able to see as far as Morecombe Bay). The Howgills are prominent to the west, and the wide expanse of the Eden Valley is laid out to the north, backed by the North Pennines. On a clear day, you even get the full expanse of the Lake District fells across the skyline to the west and the North Pennines to the North.
This is a quiet corner of the park which always provides a rewarding day’s walk. If you make the trip into Mallerstang, the romantic ruins of Pendragon Castle are charming in their solitude, next to the River Eden and surrounded by the Mallerstang fells (with Wild Boar particularly prominent). The castle is reputed to have been founded by Uther Pendragon, the father of King Arthur. According to legend, Uther Pendragon and a hundred of his men were killed here when the Saxon invaders poisoned the well. The current castle was built in the late 12th century and restored in the mid-17th century by Lady Anne Clifford. The castle gradually fell back into ruin after her death and is currently in private ownership (although access is permitted).
You can tackle the mountain from either side but our favourite route is a long day out starting in the lovely village of Ravenstonedale and heading up Wild Boar Fell along the Pennine Bridleway. After spending some time exploring the fascinating summit, we take a more ‘off road’ descent, north along the ridge over Little Fell with fantastic views into the Eden Valley to join ‘Tommy Road’ and follow pretty lanes back to Ravenstonedale. This route is part of our ‘Food and Fells of the Cumbrian Dales’ self-guided walking holiday.
Aysgarth and West Burton – Classic Wensleydale waterfalls
West Burton is home for us so always springs to mind when thinking about the best walks in the Yorkshire Dales! Another picture-perfect Dales village, West Burton is also home to a photogenic Cauldron Force waterfall (which is also a good wild swimming spot if that’s your thing!).
There is a beautiful and fairly gentle circuit from the village that takes you through classic Wensleydale scenery and along the peaceful banks of the River Ure to famous Aysgarth Falls, where you can also spend some time discovering delightful Freeholders Wood, which changes dramatically through the seasons.
For a longer and more challenging route, you can add on an extension by heading steeply up the slopes of Penhill to reach Morpeth Scar, one of our favourite places in the Dales – the views over Bishopdale and Wensleydale are perfect!
Much of this route is on our ‘Wensleydale and its Tributataries’ self-guided walking holiday and we also run a lovely private guided walk called ‘Sunset over the Dales’, which takes you up to Morpeth Scar just in time to watch the sun dip behind the hills!
We hope you get chance to try out some of our favourite walks for yourself – do let us know how you found them or tag us on social media.
If you are looking for a self-guided holiday or guided walk in the Yorkshire Dales, we’d love to help! We offer guided walks throughout the whole of the Yorkshire Dales so, if you would like to explore any of the spots listed here (or would prefer something tailored to your interests or in a specific location!), please get in touch and we’ll help you get the most out of your trip to the Dales.