self-guided walking holiday in the Yorkshire Dales - 6 nights
The shape and character of the Yorkshire Dales is almost entirely defined by limestone and nowhere is this more beautifully evidenced than in the south-western part of the National Park, around Malham, Settle, Austwick and Clapham, which you will explore on this Yorkshire Dales walking holiday.
You will begin with the famous highlights around Malham - the stunning cove, impressive Gordale Scar and peaceful Malham Tarn - before heading west over limestone strewn moorland to reach the market town of Settle. A circular walk from here takes in fascinating caves and gushing waterfalls before another linear walk takes you across more limestone uplands, through rare ancient limestone woodland to the charming village of Austwick and on to your last stop in popular Clapham. A final circular walk is packed with highlights, including the geologically fascinating Norber Erratics, vast swathes of limestone pavement, the striking gorge of Trow Gill and a peaceful stroll through the Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail. Add an extra night in Clapham to finish your trip with a challenge - climbing to the summit of Ingleborough for stunning views over the Dales.
Variations of this route between 3 and 7 nights are also available.
Summary
Number of nights: 6 nights (with variations between 3 and 7 nights also available)
Price: From £630 per person for six nights (based on two people sharing a double or twin room). Three to seven night versions also available.
Amount of walking: Two days of hotel-to-hotel walking of 8 miles (13km, ascent 320m) and 7.5 miles (12.5km, ascent 326m), three circular walks of 7 miles (11km, 300m ascent), 8 miles (13km, 460m ascent) and 8 miles (13km, 420m ascent). There is also an option to add an extra night in Clapham to finish your trip in style by climbing Ingleborough!
Difficulty level: 6/10 (moderate) with option to add a more challenging hike up Ingleborough on the last day.
Terrain: Variety of level tracks, farmland, more rugged moorland and rocky areas, including limestone pavement made up of ‘clints’ and ‘grykes’ (limestone blocks separated by deep fissures).
Accommodation: A 17th century coaching inn on the pretty village green, offering excellent food, a huge range of drinks and lovely rooms (nights 1 and 2). Another 17th century coaching inn, but this time in the heart of a popular market town full of traditional stone buildings and independent shops, cafes and restaurants (nights 3 and 4). An imposing 18th century village inn with roaring fires, comfortable rooms and a charming village setting (nights 5 and 6). For full details of the accommodation included on each of our routes see our accommodation page.
CONTACT US TO BOOK THIS TRIP OR FIND OUT MORE
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive into the bustling village of Malham and settle into a fantastic country pub with excellent food, which will be your base for the first two nights. If you would like to stretch your legs, a lovely circular walk takes you through pretty nearby villages (with options for pub and farm shop/cafe stops!) on paths far less frequented than the more famous routes around Malham.
Day 2 - Spend your first full day visiting the famous limestone scenery around Malham. The vast arc of Malham Cove and the scramble up Gordale Scar are undoubted highlights, but the quieter paths in between, the peaceful shore of Malham Tarn and a fascinating dry valley make this a truly ‘must do’ day’s walking.
Day 3 - Your first ‘hotel-to-hotel’ route takes you onto the moors above Malham for lovely views over the southern Dales. It then drops down into pretty Stockdale, where you can make a short detour to visit impressive Scaleber Force before following tracks and lanes into the popular market town of Settle, your base for the next two nights.
Day 4 - Enjoy an 8 mile circular route packed with highlights in the area around Settle - start uphill to reach Attermire Scar and visit the fascinating Victoria and Jubillee Caves. Continue across Winskill Stones Nature Reserve before dropping down to see Catrigg Force. Visit the traditional village of Stainforth and stop at Stainforth Force on its edge then end your day with a relaxing stroll along the River Ribble back into Settle.
Day 5 - Your second ‘hotel-to-hotel’ route takes you back onto limestone strewn moorland before heading through the tiny hamlet of Feizor (where you can stop for refreshment at popular ‘Elaine’s Tearoom’!) and into the rare ancient limestone woods of Wharfe and Oxenber. Stop for a potter around the lovely village of Austwick, with its village pub-cum-patisserie, before finishing with a gentle stroll through fields to end the day in pretty Clapham, where Clapham Beck runs through the village centre.
Day 6 - Your last full day takes you on a wonderfully varied circular walk from Clapham, starting with a lovely stroll through the Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail (with the option to visit Ingleborough Show Cave - charges apply) and the chance to make a short detour into Trow Gill, an impressive limestone gorge. Follow the Pennine Bridleway to reach the vast limestone plateau around Sulber before returning south with fantastic views into peaceful Crummack Dale. You soon reach the fascinating Norber Erratics, glacial erratics left on the hillside by a retreating glacier in the last Ice Age. Complete your day along inviting tracks taking you back to Clapham.
Day 7 - Enjoy a last, well-earned breakfast before a taxi will pick you up to take you back to Malham to collect your car and head home.
NB: This trip is of variable length and can be between three and six nights to suit you. There is also the option to add a third night in Clapham to end the trip with a challenging hike to the summit of Ingleborough!
“It was one of the best holidays of my life - great exercise, beautiful scenery, cozy places to eat and sleep at the end of an active day.”
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Six nights’ accommodation on a B&B basis;
Luggage transfers;
A taxi from the end of the route back to the start to collect your car;
Detailed walking notes;
A route-marked OS map; and
The ‘Muddy Boots Survival Pack’ including our guide to places to visit and eat and drink on your route.
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Packed lunches (or order these the night before at your accommodation).
Additional nights accommodation.
A personal guide for some or all of your trip.