self-guided walking holiday in the southern dales - 4 nights
Spend your first day enjoying the famous Malham circuit, taking in Gordale Scar, Malham Tarn and the huge arc of Malham Cove, as well as the quieter footpaths in between. Your second day takes you across the moors into Wharfedale where you visit the pretty village of Linton before arriving at your base for the last two nights in beautiful Burnsall. Spend your last full day exploring a lovely stretch of the River Wharfe (great for a dip if you’re brave enough!) and the gorge of Trollers Gill. A great trip for those new to ‘hotel-to-hotel’ walking as well as more seasoned walkers!
SUMMARY
Number of nights: 4
Price: From £480 per person (based on two people sharing a double or twin room)
Amount of walking: One day of hotel-to-hotel walking of 12 miles (19km, ascent 566m) and two optional day walks of 7 miles (11km, ascent 300m) and 8 miles (13km, ascent 360m)
Difficulty level: 6/10 (moderate)
Terrain: Mixture of gentle riverside paths, open moorland and some rocky scrambling (a fairly testing scamble up Gordale Scar can be detoured around if desired). Short road sections through some charming Dales villages.
Accommodation: A 17th century coaching inn on the pretty village green, offering excellent food, a huge range of drinks and lovely rooms well away from the hustle-and-bustle of the inn (nights 1 and 2), and a 16th century ferryman’s inn on the banks of the River Wharfe. Lots of outside seating makes this a great place to enjoy a post-walk pint (nights 3 and 4). 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 and a huge selection of drinks, which will be your base for the first two nights. If you would like to stretch your legs on your first day, 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 - Set off from Malham travelling over the moors into charming Wharfedale for your last two nights. Your route will take you across some fantastic open moorland, along tracks that have been used for hundreds of years and through the picture-perfect village of Linton before a gentle end to the day along the banks of the River Wharfe to arrive into Burnsall.
Day 4 - Today’s walk takes you through the stunning scenery surrounding Burnsall, including the rocky miniature gorge of Trollers Gill, across typical moorland and stone wall lined fields of the southern Dales and through the gorgeous little village of Appletreewick; a great place to refresh yourself in one of its two lovely pubs before the final stretch along the River Wharfe back to Burnsall.
Day 5 - Enjoy a last hearty breakfast at your inn before taking a taxi back to Malham to collect your car and travel home (or to the train station to catch your train).
“We really enjoyed the trip and it has been great to feel like we’ve been communicating with a real person who cares, rather than just a salesperson with a big company! The wonderful Yorkshire Dales landscapes were the highlight of the trip and the route notes provided were clear and easy to follow.”
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Four nights’ accommodation on a B&B basis;
Luggage transfer;
Transport from your last hotel to your first hotel to collect your car (if travelling by train, contact us to discuss options);
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
Room or hotel upgrades.
Packed lunches (or order these the night before at your accommodation).
Additional nights accommodation.
A personal guide for some or all of your trip.