Hiking in Yorkshire - Dales Way

Welcome to the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, the purest form of English highland landscape, with traditions that have remained virtually untouched for centuries. Gentle rolling hills, limestone edges, green valleys, waterfalls, a Roman road, several interesting old churches, a monastery and some lovely Real Ale pubs are here, as well as villages that are proud of their heritage. This route goes across Yorkshire Dales National Park to Lake District.

A large part of the trail follows beautiful river valleys, particularly The Wharfe, Dee, Rawthey, Lune and The Kent. All with beautiful spots for shady picnics, small ravines and rapids. The trail is patrolled by birds such as Berwick swans, kingfishers, dippers and wagtails. Trout lurk in the water depths. There are also a large number of 'stiles' and 'kissing gates', so good mobility is important. The itinerary follows Wharfedale (where there is time to admire the ruins of Bolton Abbey) and then via Hubberholme, gradually increasing upstream to reach the Pennine watershed at Cam Fell. The route then goes down Dentdale to the market town of Sedbergh and over pastures to Bowness on Windermere.