Through Stone-Built Villages to the Lake District
Hiking the Yorkshire Dales Way
Overview
One of England's celebrated “Great Walks” is the Dales Way, extending through the heart of the magnificent Yorkshire Dales and into Lake District National Park. We'll hike the entire route, a moderate ramble into beloved realms that were the inspiration for so many of the Romantic poets. Days on the trail bring us through verdant fells, remote moorlands, and idyllic peaceful valleys dotted with exquisite stone-built villages. Expect to eat and drink well, including sampling the flavorful, handmade Wensleydale cheeses and Yorkshire's many ales. Our comfortable hotels are in picturesque towns, with a grand finish at a luxury spa hotel on the shores of renowned Lake Windermere, the largest natural lake in England.
Arrive: Skipton, England
Depart: Bowness-on-Windermere, England
Highlights
- Hike one of England's loveliest long-distance trails, from the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales to the exquisite Lake District
- Stroll riverside paths, sample fine cheeses, visit lively market towns and an ancient castle
- Overnight in historic hotels, with three nights in one hotel and four nights in another (less packing and unpacking!)
Itinerary
Skipton, a bustling market town in North Yorkshire, is the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, a peaceful realm of valleys, meadows, and stone-built villages. Our hike on the Dales Way starts at Ilkley Old Bridge, and brings us along riverside paths that are home to a variety of wildlife and birds including dippers, kingfishers, wagtails, and many species of waterfowl. Our hike to the lovely village of Burnsall is on classic Yorkshire Dales terrain, with its enchanting scenery, and we also explore Malham Cove, a majestic 260-foot-high limestone amphitheater formed by a waterfall of glacial meltwater at the end of the last ice age. Our overnights are at a comfortable hotel in Skipton.
From Grassington, we follow a trail past old lead mine workings, lime kilns, and other evidence of these long vanished industries. This was also a place of ancient settlement, as shown by field systems, burial cairns, stone hut circles, and monastic drovers' byways. We make our way across this classic karst limestone country, eventually descending into the former lead mining village of Kettlewell, where we visit the church of St. Mary, with its stunning modern stained glass windows. A more strenuous hike brings us from Buckden to the Cam High Road, an ancient Roman road that is the highest point on the Dales way at 1,850 feet. Crossing open moorland, we follow a country lane along the River Dee past many small waterfalls to reach the tiny hamlet of Gearstones. Our overnights are in a country house hotel near Hawes, where we visit the local creamery where many varieties of the famous Wensleydale cheeses are made—with a tasting, of course!
The mild climate and lush riverside pastures of Dentdale make it a haven for wildflowers, and Dent, with its whitewashed cottages and winding cobbled streets, is one of the loveliest villages in the Dales. Our hike brings us through the valley of the River Lune and a countryside of fields, farmsteads, and country houses. Following the gently meandering River Kent, we reach the foothills of the Lakeland Fells as we enter the Lake District National Park, with a panorama of the Howgill Fells behind us and the high peaks of the Lake District ahead. Our journey ends in Bowness-on-Windermere, a lively town on the shores of Lake Windermere. Depart on Day 11.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 12 miles a day and being on your feet for 5-6 hours a day. All hikes are optional, but if you choose to participate, you will also need to be able to keep up with the moderate but steady pace of the group as there are no alternative hiking options available. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
Review Trip Level Details
- 8-9 miles
- 4-5 hours
- 300-400 feet gain/loss
- Day 9: 12 miles, 6 hours, and 300 feet gain/loss
Our days include both relaxed riverside walking and some more challenging hikes. While they are lengthy over occasionally uneven terrain, there is no significant elevation change, so they are not strenuous. Trip members can always choose to skip a hike and explore the town. Lightweight walking boots are acceptable, but please note that since many of the trails are riverside walks, the ground can get "squidgy" (muddy or marshy), so it is important that your footwear is waterproof with a good hiking sole. Hiking poles are beneficial on some days.
While the weather is typically stable and pleasant during the months that we run this trip, England is famous for its changeable weather. It is necessary to pack in preparation for cold rain, persistent fog, mist, and beautiful, sunny weather. The rule here is to be prepared for any eventuality by creating a layering system that takes you from shorts to warm raingear.
Our accommodations are in small, comfortable hotels that have been selected for their local history and charm. Since they are often in historic buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Additionally, many are architecturally protected, so elevators are not permitted and you will have to carry your luggage up the stairs to your room. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
Lunches will be at local cafes and pubs or picnic-style during one of our hikes. Dinners will be at a local restaurant, pub, or the hotel. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
Our van will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need for the day (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transferring that day).
Client Testimonials
"The Dales Way walk was beautiful... wonderful long vistas and gentle meandering paths along rivers and over hills. Lovely hotels, great food, and with Richard and Karen Bell as guides there is nothing left undone. A trip I'll always treasure."
Barbara P.
South Dartmouth, MA
"This was my first trip with Wilderness Travel and don't think I could have enjoyed it more. The guides and itinerary were delightful from start to finish."
Margaret D.
Belmont, MA
"This was a life-changing and spiritual experience for me. It got me out of my head and into the moment. I felt so privileged to do this trek, and had to pinch myself to ensure I wasn't dreaming of the postcard-worthy scenery and experiences I had each day. The group and guides were amazing!"
Mary Ann B.
West Vancouver, BC
"This was a brilliantly designed trip. Spending ten days in the beautiful and wild English countryside was a rare treat, made easy by the expert guidance of our trip leaders. One of the best things about this kind of travel is being able to be away from it all without worrying about being lost, stranded, etc. I completely enjoyed every day of the trip."
Mary B.
Wadsworth, IL
"Excellent trip—it was everything I expected it to be."
Mike B.
Durham, NC
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.