Muddy Boots Social Walks
*** 2025 Social Walks now available to book! ***
Our ‘Muddy Boots Social Walks’ are small group guided walks that give you the chance to explore new areas, enjoy fresh air and stunning scenery, learn more about the Dales or Lakes and meet new people, all without needing to read a map or follow instructions!
Your walk leader, Matt, will organise the route (and make sure you don’t get lost!), as well being on hand to answer any questions about the landscape, geology, flora and fauna of the area, so all you need to do is turn up and enjoy the walk!
We have a variety of routes in locations across the Dales and Lakes and of varying levels of difficulty, so there is something to suit everyone, whether you live locally, are visiting the area for the day or are on holiday.
Details, dates and online booking for each walk are below. Full details of meeting point, what to bring, what to wear etc. will be sent on booking. Have a look at our FAQs for more information or if you have any questions just drop us a line and we’d be happy to help.
For 2025, we are continuing to offer a limited number of membership spaces for our Muddy Boots Social Walks! For a joining fee of £75 you can come along to as many of the walks as you would like to during 2025! Scroll to the end of the page for full details.
Why join a Muddy Boots Social Walk?
- Explore a new area without needing maps or walk books (and without getting lost!)
- Get out in the fresh air and meet new people
- Learn more about the Yorkshire Dales or Lake District from your walk leader (or just have a chat!)
- Small groups of no more than 12 people
- Routes of various lengths, in locations around the Dales and Lakes and at different times of year, so there is something for everyone
Muddy Boots Social Walks 2025 Schedule
- 20 MARCH 2025 - Little Langdale and Elterwater (from Elterwater)
- 6 APRIL 2025 - The Unique Geology of the Limestone Dales (from Malham)
- 8 MAY 2025 - Bluebells and Boulders (from Clapham)
- 18 MAY 2025 - Ullswater, Gowbarrow and Aira Force (From National Trust Aira Force car park)
- JUNE 2025 TBC! - Flapjacks and Film Sets! (from Buckden)
- 14 JUNE 2025 - Askrigg Meadows and Waterfalls (from Bainbridge)
- 12 JULY 2025 - Sedbergh and Dentdale (from Sedbergh)
- 11 SEPTEMBER 2025 - Wordsworth's Lakeland (from Grasmere)
- 27 SEPTEMBER 2025 - The Highest Summit in the Dales! (from Ribblehead Viaduct)
- 11 OCTOBER 2025 - Castle Bolton and Carperby (from Aysgarth)
Details and booking for each walk below
LITTLE LANGDALE AND ELTERWATER (FROM ELTERWATER)
DATE AND TIME: Thursday 20 March 2025 at 10.30am
DISTANCE: 6 miles / 10km (275m ascent)
DURATION: 4 hours
TERRAIN: Mainly on good tracks with some rockier paths. One uphill section out of Elterwater.
PRICE: £20 per person
MEETING POINT: Elterwater
A wonderfully varied day’s walking in the central Lake District. We’ll be doing a full exploration of the Little Langdale Valley. The route has a real ‘in the hills’ feel, without going up anything too high. The varied route includes pretty woodland, an old slate quarry to explore (including a look into the famous Cathedral Cavern), probably the Lake District’s most picturesque packhorse bridge, gentle lakeshore paths, and lots of stunning views in between!
The Unique Geology of the Limestone Dales (from Malham)
DATE AND TIME: Sunday 6 April 2025 at 9.30am
DISTANCE: 5 miles / 8km (225m ascent)
DURATION: 3.5 hours
TERRAIN: A mixture of terrain underfoot including well-made, flat paths, some steep sections and some rocky limestone pavement.
PRICE: £20 per person
MEETING POINT: Malham National Park Visitors Centre
A half day exploring the unique limestone landscape around Malham. Hear about some of the history and geology of this stunning area, and take in the famous sights of Malham Cove, Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar.
Don’t forget your camera as the view from the top of Malham Cove must be one of the most photographed in the Dales!
Bluebells and Boulders (from Clapham)
DATE AND TIME: Thursday 8 May 2025 at 10.30am
DISTANCE: 8.5 miles / 13.5km (350m ascent)
DURATION: 5.5 hours
TERRAIN: Walled tracks, farmland, rocky tracks through woodland and one uphill section out of Feizor into Wharfe Woods.
PRICE: £25 per person
MEETING POINT: National Park car park in Clapham
We’ll explore fantastic limestone scenery, peaceful woodland and the rolling fields of the western Dales on this beautiful walk linking two charming villages.
Our route takes us through the lovely village of Austwick and past the little hamlet of Feizor before heading through ancient Wharfe and Oxenber Woods, which have a carpet of Bluebells at this time of year. It’s then up onto the fellside to visit the geologically fascinating ‘Norber Erratics’ (and admire the gorgeous views back over much of our route and the green fields of Crummack Dale), before returning to pretty Clapham.
ULLSWATER, GOWBARROW AND AIRA FORCE (FROM NATIONAL TRUST AIRA FORCE CAR PARK)
DATE AND TIME: Sunday 18 May 2025 at 10.00am
DISTANCE: 4.5 miles / 7km (200m ascent)
DURATION: 3.5 hours
TERRAIN: Mainly on good tracks, a rough woodland path, and some rockier paths. Steep sections up the fellside.
PRICE: £20 per person
MEETING POINT: National Trust car park at Aira Force
Start the day strolling through the pretty woodland surrounding Aira Beck as we admire the impressive Aira Force and gradually gain height to emerge on the open fellside.
A steeper section takes us up to ‘Airy Crag’, the summit of Gowbarrow Fell, where we can enjoy lovely views over the northern fells. The descent loops around the side of the fell passing ‘memorial seat’ which gives us more stunning views down the length of Ullswater.
A great option for those keen to get into fell walking and tick off one of the most achievable ‘Wainwright’ summits.
Flapjacks and Film Sets! (Upper Wharfedale and Yockenthwaite Farm)
DATE AND TIME: June 2025 - exact date TBC!
DISTANCE: 7 miles/11km (265m ascent)
DURATION: 5 hours
TERRAIN: Rocky tracks, farmland and riverside paths. A steady uphill climb at the outset is the only real hill of the walk.
PRICE: £25 per person including a drink and flapjack at Yockenthwaite Farm
MEETING POINT: Buckden National Park Car Park
An absolute classic of a Dales walk, the circuit around the head of Wharfedale is a fantastic mixture of stunning views, pretty villages, gentle riverside and traditional Wharfedale scenery.
We add to this a stop at beautifully situated Yockenthwaite Farm - which you may recognise as ‘Helen’s Farm’ in the recent adaption of ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ - for a drink and to sample one of their homemade flapjacks!
ASKRIGG MEADOWS and waterfalls (FROM BAINBRIDGE)
DATE AND TIME: Saturday 14 June 2025 at 10.00am
DISTANCE: 6 miles / 10km (200m ascent)
DURATION: 4 hours
TERRAIN: Mainly on good tracks, through fields and stiles, a rough woodland path up Mill Gill, minor road walking and some rocky paths.
PRICE: £20 per person
MEETING POINT: Bainbridge
We’ll visit two pretty villages of mid-Wensleydale, as well as walking through the stunning Askrigg hay meadows. These are some of the best preserved upland hay meadows in the country, and should be in full bloom, filled with a huge variety of beautiful wildflowers.
Once through the meadows, we’ll head up the flagged path back to Askrigg (one of the original filming locations for the All Creatures Great and Small adaptations) and explore the waterfalls of Mill Gill. Gaining height to reach the little hamlet of Helm, some easy walking gives us panoramic views over Wensleydale before dropping back down into Bainbridge.
SEDBERGH AND DENTDALE (from Sedbergh)
DATE AND TIME: Saturday 12 July 2025 at 9.30am
DISTANCE: 11.5 miles / 18.5km (345m ascent)
DURATION: 7 hours
TERRAIN: Mainly on good tracks, open moorland (which can be quite boggy on this route!), minor road walking, through fields and stiles, and some rocky paths.
PRICE: £35 per person
MEETING POINT: Sedbergh
Join us for a full day’s walking around lower Dentdale. Starting from the little Cumbrian market town of Sedbergh, we’ll cross the remote moorland of Long Moor, with its outstanding 360 degree views, on the outward leg to reach Dent. This quintessential Yorkshire Dales’ village is a delight to explore with its cobbled streets and rich cultural history. Gentler riverside walking along the Dales Way and through bucolic farmland brings us back to Sedbergh.
WORDSWORTH’S LAKELAND (from Grasmere)
DATE AND TIME: Thursday 11 September 2025 at 10.30am
DISTANCE: 6 miles / 10km (200m ascent)
DURATION: 4 hours
TERRAIN: Mainly on good tracks, minor road walking, and some rocky paths. Fairly gentle walking but one uphill stretch out of Grasmere.
PRICE: £20 per person
MEETING POINT: Grasmere
William Wordsworth described his fell-side garden on the edge of Grasmere as 'the loveliest spot man hath ever found’. This circuit of Grasmere and Rydal Water is classic Lakeland, and we’ll take in the views which Wordsworth made so famous. Undoubtedly a popular area (and rightly so!), we’ll head away from the village to follow the picturesque ‘coffin route’ over to Rydal Mount. We’ll then enjoy some stunning low level walking along Rydal Water and down to Grasmere lake. An easy stroll broadly following the lakeshore brings us back to Grasmere village.
THE HIGHEST SUMMIT IN THE DALES - WHERNSIDE (from Ribblehead)
** Option to Travel by public transport to Ribblehead station **
DATE AND TIME: Saturday 27 September 2025 at 9.30am
DISTANCE: 9 miles / 14.5km (525m ascent)
DURATION: 6 hours
TERRAIN: A good path throughout but a long sustained ascent and a steep rocky descent.
PRICE: £30 per person
MEETING POINT: Ribblehead Viaduct
Setting out from underneath the iconic Ribblehead Ribbleduct, we’ll tackle the climb up the highest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks (and the highest point in Yorkshire!). It’s a steep climb up but we’ll be rewarded with expansive views back down into Ribblesdale and Chapel-le-Dale, as well as a sense of achievement at reaching the top! Following the famous Three Peaks footpath for much of our descent, we’ll then head through classic Dales limestone scenery and farmland to return under the Ribblehead arches.
CASTLE BOLTON AND CARPERBY (from Aysgarth Falls)
DATE AND TIME: Saturday 11 October 2025 at 10.30am
DISTANCE: 7 miles / 11.5km (250m ascent)
DURATION: 5 hours
TERRAIN: Mainly on good tracks, open moorland (which can be a bit boggy in places), minor road walking, through fields and stiles, and some rocky paths.
PRICE: £25 per person
MEETING POINT: National Park Visitor Centre at Aysgarth Falls
This beautiful circular walk takes in many of the highlights of mid-Wensleydale. Start the day heading through ancient Freeholders wood followed by some lovely walking through classic Dales’ pastures leading up to impressive Bolton Castle. We’ll stop for a break at the imposing castle, before enjoying beautiful views over Wensleydale from the high moors of Bolton Parks on the return. We'll come back to Aysgarth via the pretty village of Carperby.
More social walks coming soon!
We’re always developing our schedule of Muddy Boots Social Walks so keep your eyes peeled for new ones being added, and if there is anything that you would like us to do that you don’t see available, let us know and we’ll try to add it!
bECOME A mUDDY bOOTS mEMBER!
For 2025, we are continuing to offer a limited number of membership spaces for our Muddy Boots Social Walks! For a joining fee of £75 you can come along to as many of the walks as you would like to during 2025! The full schedule is set out above.
You will still need to book a spot on each walk (so that we can keep an eye on numbers) but you’ll be given a special Muddy Boots membership code so that there is no charge. Sign up below and we’ll send you full details and your membership code.
Muddy Boots Membership also makes a great gift! Just sign up below then drop us a line to let us know it is a gift, so we can send you a voucher.