self-guided walking holiday in Wharfedale - 6 nights
Enjoy a relaxed ramble through Wharfedale, soaking up riverside paths, woodland trails, moorland views and pretty villages. Explore the charming villages of mid-Wharfedale before heading north all the way to the ‘head of the valley’. On the way, you will take in atmospheric Grass Wood, the fascinating ‘Conistone Dib’, a trip into peaceful Littondale, the villages of Kettlewell and Buckden and stunning views up and down the valley. There is also plenty of time to stop and refuel in some of the many cosy pubs and cafes on the way!
This is a great route for anyone looking to explore ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ country, as the recent adaption was filmed almost exclusively in Wharfedale. On this route you will visit many of the main filming locations, including the village of Grassington, which was transformed into ‘Darrowby’, and Yockenthwaite Farm, which was used as Helen’s farm in the series!
SUMMARY
Number of nights: 6
Price: From £630 per person (based on two people sharing a double or twin room)
Difficulty level: 4/10 (fairly gentle, with a couple of short, steep sections)
Amount of walking: Two days of hotel-to-hotel walking of 8.5 miles (14.5km, ascent 485m) and 6.5 miles (10.5km, ascent 385m), and three optional full day walks, each of approximately 7 miles (11km).
Terrain: A mixture of gentle riverside footpaths, woodland, classic Dales farmland and a few stretches on slightly more rugged moorland, with a couple of short sections on quiet country lanes.
Accommodation: Three fantastic country pubs in the heart of their villages, offering fantastic, cosy rooms and great quality food. Stay right on the village green in pretty Linton; in a quiet corner of Kettlewell next to the beck and overlooking the church; and in an impressive Georgian coaching inn in the centre of Buckden. For full details of the accommodation included see our accommodation page.
Contact us to book this trip or find out more
ITINERARY
Day 1 – Arrive into the beautiful village of Linton, with its picture-perfect stone cottages, pretty beck and large village green. Settle in to the village inn, which will be your base for your first two nights.
Day 2 – Enjoy a 7 mile circular walk, taking you through classic Dales scenery of dry-stone walls and field barns to visit the popular village of Burnsall, set on a bend in the River Wharfe that makes a perfect spot for a picnic or even a dip on a nice day! Return along the banks of the river, fitting in a stop at little Hebden before ending the day with a visit to the small but lively market town of Grassington, recently renowned for featuring as ‘Darrowby’ in the latest adaptation of ‘All Creatures Great and Small’.
Day 3 – Your first ‘hotel-to-hotel’ walking day takes you north through Wharfedale on a wonderfully varied 9 mile route. Start with a peaceful stretch along the river before exploring Grass Wood then tackling the short scramble up through ‘Conistone Dib’. Take in the fantastic views up and down Wharfedale from ‘Conistone Pie’ then descend into Kettlewell for a well-earned rest and to settle into your base for the next two nights.
Day 4 – Another 7 mile circular route takes you out of Wharfedale over the moor into less well-known but equally beautiful Littondale. Enjoy the views as you descend to the remote village of Arncliffe – a great lunch stop – before heading back along the banks of the River Skirfare and over ‘Knipe Scar’ to return to Kettlewell.
Day 5 – Your second ‘hotel-to-hotel’ walking route takes you 6.5 miles right into upper Wharfedale. The first half of the route is along ‘green lanes’ and you begin with the only real climb of the day along ‘Top Mere Road’, which offers stunning views back down Wharfedale so there are plenty of excuses to catch your breath! Descend into the village of Starbotton for an early lunch before heading back to the River Wharf and enjoying a gentle riverside footpath all the way to Buckden, which will be your base for the last two nights.
Day 6 – Your final circular walk is another 7 mile route, exploring the ‘Head of Wharfedale’. Skirt around the slopes of Buckden Pike to reach pretty Cray Gill (where there is the chance for an early pub stop!) before following the ridge around the head of the valley and dropping down to picture-perfect Yockenthwaite Farm. Head back along the infant river Wharf to reach the hamlet of Hubberholme, with its pretty church and cosy pub, before finishing back in Buckden for your last night.
Day 7 – Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before taking a transfer back to Linton to collect your car and head home (or travelling back to the train station to catch your train).
what’s included
Six 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 and lots of little extras!
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Room 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.
Tailor-made options - if you like the look of this route but it isn’t quite for you, let us know - there are lots of options for shortening, extending or tweaking it!