Yorkshire Dales

Walking in the Yorkshire Dales is like stepping back in time and immersing yourself in a region and landscape that has changed little over decades (and in some places centuries). The local scenery is a patchwork of meandering rivers, lush meadows, dry-stone walls, field barns, wildflowers and stone-built villages. Aside from the tranquil dales (deep valleys), there are also ancient woodlands, rolling hillsides and expansive heather moorlands to explore.

Most of the Yorkshire Dales lie in the Yorkshire Dales National Park which is located in central northern England about 70 kilometres north of Manchester. The National Park is generally regarded as an “upland” area because the Pennine Hills, the mountain range often referred to as the backbone of England, runs through the Park in a north/south direction but also spreads itself as it passes through the Yorkshire Dales.

The Yorkshire Dales are home to some of the finest limestone scenery in the United Kingdom. Fascinating stone formations include towering crags and intriguing caves. One of the most prominent sites is the Gordale Scar which is a dramatic limestone ravine featuring spectacular waterfalls.

With its combination of beautiful countryside, historic architecture and friendly communities, the Yorkshire Dales has been regularly named as one of the happiest places in Britain. It has inspired many artists including William Turner, Henry Moore and David Hockney. This district has also been home and muse to many writers such as the Bronte sisters, J.B. Priestley and James Herriot.

The Yorkshire Dales offers many day and multi-day walks and there are a number of tour operators offering a variety of walking trips.

However, there are innumerable shorter multi-day walks and the walking tour operators in the area have crafted many different walking itineraries. We can help you choose a walk and an operator that best suits your needs.

One of the best multi-day walk in the Yorkshire Dales is the Dales Way.

The Dales Way and the Coast to Coast path are just two of the Yorkshire Dales walks we can tell you about, and help you to plan and complete.