The Best Autumn Walks in the Yorkshire Dales
Cauldron Falls, West Burton, surrounded by autumn leaves
With summer well and truly behind us it’s time to start embracing the changing colours, autumnal breezes and plentiful rainbows that this season brings.
Don’t let the cooler temperatures and ‘changeable’ conditions put you off – we think walking in autumn is just a good as in spring and summer and, in some cases, even better! Here are our top picks of walks to make the most of the season.
Aysgarth and West Burton WAterfalls Walk
Pretty waterfalls surrounded by woodland and falling leaves makes this a perfect route for the autumnal months.
There is a beautiful and fairly gentle circuit that starts in the village of West Burton – picture-perfect at any time of year – where you can visit atmospheric ‘Cauldron Force’, the waterfall on the village edge set in a limestone amphitheatre surrounded by trees, making it a collage of browns and oranges as the leaves start turning (pictured).
Looking down on Yockenthwaite Farm on the circuit around the Head of Wharfedale
From here, head through classic Wensleydale scenery and along the peaceful banks of the River Ure to famous Aysgarth Falls, looking stunning surrounded by scattered leaves, and where you can spend some time discovering peaceful Freeholders Wood, which changes dramatically through the seasons. The return offers stunning views back to West Burton, which are only improved by autumnal colours.
Much of this route is on our ‘Wensleydale and its Tributaries’ self-guided walking holiday and we offer this circuit as our popular ‘Introduction to the Dales’ private guided walk.
The Head of Wharfedale
A classic Dales circuit and that can be undertaken in any season as the good paths are rarely too wet or muddy to be manageable (save for a small set of stepping stones that can be slightly challenging after heavy rain!
The route begins with a climb out of Buckden so views around upper Wharfedale open up quickly and, at this time of year, can often be enhanced by mist sitting on the valley floor below you as you gain height. Dropping into the hamlet of Cray you circle round the head of the valley, where the vast view takes in the stunning autumnal colours of the tree covered hillsides.
Aysgarth Falls in Autumn
Admire picture-perfect Yockenthwaite Farm (which will be familiar to fans of ‘All Creatures Great and Small’!) and enjoy a gentle return stroll along the banks of the infant River Wharfe and through the little village of Hubberholme, where the traditional George Inn is a great spot to warm up!
The route is one of the circular walks on our ‘Wharfedale Ramble’ walking holiday and also a route we do on our social walks, including a visit to Yockenthwaite Farm to find out about their successful farm diversification and sample their delicious flapjacks!
Upper Swaledale and Kisdon Gorge
Walking from the upper Swaledale village of Muker is most popular in early summer, when the famous hay meadows are in full bloom, but don’t let the lack of wild flowers put you off! This is a stunning area in every season and the low lighting, lovely colours and quieter paths of autumn make it really special.
Start by strolling along the flagged paths through the meadows to reach the River Swale, likely to be a much more impressive waterway than in the summer months, from where Kisdon Gorge is just asking to be explored! The easy track into the gorge follows River Swale then, after a couple of miles, you head uphill and can make the short detour to see the stunningly situated ruins of Crackpot Hall – surely one of the most photogenic photo spots in the Dales, offering an amazing view down the gorge.
The Strid on the River Wharfe at Bolton Abbey
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 pastoral landscape of upper Swaledale laid out before you in all its glory!
This whole area is explored on ‘Remote Swaledale and Arkerngarthdale’ self-guided walking holiday and we also run this route as a small group ‘social walk’ during the peak wildflower season.
Bolton Abbey and Simon’s Seat
The woodland covered banks of the River Wharfe that run through the Bolton Abbey Estate make a beautiful scene in autumn as the orange and brown leaves float down onto the rocky sides of the river.
The well-maintained riverside paths make for a great easy stroll in the autumn, but it is also a good starting point for a longer, more challenging route up the ‘Valley of Desolation’, past lovely Posforth Gill Fallls and over the moor to Simon’s Seat – the rocky outcrop on the summit of Barden Fell.
This exposed outcrop is certainly a great place to feel all the autumn elements and blow away some cobwebs! Route details can be obtained when you arrive at any of the car parks on the Bolton Abbey Estate.
The village of Arncliffe in Littondale in the autumn sunshine
Arncliffe and Littondale from Kettlewell
A steep climb out of Kettlewell rewards you with fantastic views over the village and up and down Wharfedale early in the walk, but it is as you cross the moor (probably blustery in the autumn breeze!) and begin dropping down into quiet Littondale that the autumnal colours really light up the route and the picture-perfect scene over the village of Arncliffe and down the valley is at it’s best.
Have a stroll around this remote village before enjoying a gentle stroll along the River Skirfare before heading around rocky Knipe Scar and dropping back into Wharfedale to return to Kettlewell. The lovely village is home to three pubs so is a great place to end a bracing autumn walk!
This circuit is another one of the circular routes on our ‘Wharfedale Ramble’ walking holiday.
We hope this inspires you to get out and enjoy some fantastic autumnal walking! Do let us know if you do any of our suggested routes or tag us on social media (@muddybootswalkingholidays on Instagram, Facebook and Threads).