Yorkshire Dales Walks

There are some beautiful walking routes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. This National Park was established in 1954, and covers an area of 1,762 square kilometres (680 square miles) in the north of England, straddling the central Pennines, in the counties of North Yorkshire and Cumbria. It has a landscape of drystone walls and limestone outcrops which as far as I know is not replicated anywhere else..

Different dales have their own characters some being ‘U’ shaped and some ‘V’ shaped.

Most of the dales in the Yorkshire Dales are named after their river or stream (e.g. Arkengarthdale, formed by Arkle Beck). The best-known exception to this rule (and the subject of regular quiz questions) is Wensleydale, which is named after the town of Wensley rather than the River Ure which runs through it.

Because of the limestone that runs throughout the Yorkshire Dales, there are extensive cave systems present across the area, making it one of the major areas for caving in the UK. The most famous stretch of limestone is probably the limestone pavement at Malham with its “clints” (the limestone blocks) and “grikes” (the fissures between) from which there are tremendous views. Two of my walks takes in this pavement; Gordale Scar and Malham Cove and Bordley to Malham Cove.

The Dales contain the famous “Three Peaks” Ingleborough, Pen-y-Ghent and Whernside which represent an acknowledged 24.5 mile challenge walk which has to be completed in under 12 hours starting at Horton-in-Ribblesdale where you clock in at the café to get your badge.

If you are looking for Yorkshire Dales walks to access by public transport, click on the

"ticket" symbol below. Although many of the walks have been accessed by car and some of the starting points themselves might not be close to reliable public transport, most walks are circular and some do pass close by public transport at some point. The walks can be picked up at that point.

Yorkshire Dales Walks With "Traffic Light" Rating

For an explanation of the "traffic light "rating see My Walks page.

Each symbol = 2½ miles

The start point for all walks can be located on Google Maps. Click here .

The walks bearing the symbol

have been published in one Kindle book. Click the symbol for further details.

Appersett to Mossdale and Cotterdale

Arkengarthdale from Langthwaite

Arncliffe to Kettlewell

Barden Bridge to Simon's Seat

Bordley to Malham Cove

Buckden Pike

Buckden to Yockenthwaite

Burnsall to Grassington

Burnsall to Troller's Gill

Crummack Dale and the Norber Erratics

Fremmington Edge and Langthwaite

Gordale Scar and Malham Cove

Great Whernside

Gunnerside Round

Hebden to Grassington and Yarnbury Henge

Hetton to Winterburn Reservoir

Horton-in-Ribblesdale and Upper Ribblesdale

Ingleborough From Clapham

Kettlewell to Langcliffe Fell

Linton and Kilnsey Circular

Long Preston, Newton Moor Top and Scaleber Force

Malham Tarn Walk

Masongill and Tow Scar

Middleham to Aysgarth

Pen Hill Circuit

Pen-Y-Ghent and Plover Hill

Sedbergh to Winder (note this walk is also listed under Cumbria - see walk text)

Settle Round

Settle to Catrigg Force

Sharp Haw and Rough Haw

Three Men of Gragareth

Upper Barden Round

Whernside

Maps used on these walks:

If you need to buy any hiking equipment/clothing before your trip see the Hiking Store

All information on this site is given in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of any damage, loss or injury which might result from acting on it.