Malhamdale
Bill Bryson, the author, said of Malhamdale “I won’t know for sure if Malhamdale is the finest place there is until I have died and gone to heaven (assuming they at least let me have a glance), but until that day comes, it will certainly do.”

Malhamdale is a site of unique and nationally famous limestone scenery. Near the picturesque village of Malham are to be found the 100m high cliff of Malham Cove, extensive limestone pavements and the dramatic Gordale Scar gorge which has near-vertical sides rising over 100 metres high. Our walk through Malhamdale takes in all of these plus Malham Tarn and Janet’s Foss waterfall. Distance approx. 10 miles.

Ingleton Waterfalls Walk
The finest natural waterfall and glen scenery in England. It is one of the most beautiful and magnificent walks in the whole country because as well as waterfalls there are also wooded gorges, limestone grasslands and open views of Ingleborough nature reserve.
The walk is 5 miles long.

Ribblesdale
1. Clapham - Trow Gill - Gaping Gill - Ingleborough - Sulber - Horton-in- Ribblesdale. 8 miles.
This walk starts in the delightful village of Clapham, a place of old bridges, waterfalls, stands of ancient trees and attractive cottages. A lovely footpath leads through a nature reserve and past Ingleborough Cave and upwards to Trow Gill and Gaping Gill. Trow Gill is a classic example of a limestone gorge and Gaping Gill is the most famous pot-hole in England. The path then leads to Little Ingleborough and then onto Ingleborough summit. As you can imagine the views are wonderful. At 2,373 feet, Ingleborough, with its famous flat-topped profile, is perhaps the best known of the Yorkshire Dales’ famous “Three Peaks”.

2. Horton-in-Ribblesdale - Pen-y-Ghent - Plover Hill - Hull Pot. 8 miles.
Pen-y-Ghent is one of the other “Three Peaks” (the third is Whernside). Its ascent from Horton-in-Ribblesdale, is easy and the views magnificent. At 2,273 feet it’s slightly smaller than Ingleborough.

Wharfedale
Arguably the most beautiful of the Dales, it’s packed with beauty spots, lovely villages and wonderful walks. The villages of Burnsall and Kettlewell were main locations for the film “The Calendar Girls”.
We do several walks through the dale:

1. The river Wharfe. The priory at Bolton Abbey is widely regarded as one the most impressive and beautiful landmarks of the Dales, set as it is in a magnificent location on the banks of the river Wharfe. Both Turner and Wordsworth have been inspired by this romantic location. From the priory we walk along the river to the spectacular Strid where the broad waters of the river Wharfe are funnelled through a narrow gorge. From here we follow the river to the picturesque villages of Appletreewick, Burnsall and Grassington, passing by Linton Falls. Distance 9 miles.

2. Bolton Abbey, The Valley of Desolation, Simon’s Seat, Barden Tower and The Strid. Simon’s Seat is one of the highest points in Wharfedale and this walk gives breathtaking views of most of the dale and far beyond. Approx. 10 miles.

3. Kilnsey Crag, Conistone and The Dales Way to Kettlewell and Starbottom. This 11 mile walk begins at Kilnsey Crag, an overhanging limestone cliff close to the river, passes through the village of Conistone and then climbs up the valley side to follow the Dales Way path to Kettlewell and Starbottom. The walk passes by areas of extensive limestone pavement and the views across and up the dale are wonderful.

4. Buckden, Cray, Hubberholme, Starbottom, Kettlewell and Coniston. This walk through upper Wharfedale passes through perhaps the prettiest part of the dales. From the lovely village of Buckden we walk up and along the valley side to see some breathtaking panoramic views of Wharfedale and Langstrothdale.
The views between Cray and Hubberholme are sensational. After a brief stop at the George Inn in Hubberholme we follow the river downstream to Kettlewell (the main village used in the film 'The Calendar Girls'). The final part of the walk between Kettlewell and Coniston gives us great views of Kilnsey Crag and a chance to explore some of the most extensive areas of limestone pavement in the dales. 12 miles.

5. Buckden Pike. At 2303 feet the Pike, at the head of Wharfedale, offers fantastic views not just of Wharfedale, but of much of the Dales beyond. 6 miles.

6.Grimwith reservoir - Trollers Gill - Black Hill - Howgill - Appletreewick - Burnsall. 9 miles.
We start high up at Grimwith reservoir and from there it's nearly all downhill. We pass through Trollers Gill which is a miniature limestone gorge about 300m long. The gill is narrow, dark and steep sided. In its depths you'll find the lair of Barguest, the spectral hound of Craven, a huge shaggy beast with eyes as big as saucers. After a short climb up Black Hill we descend to the river and the single street village of Appletreewick. From there we follow the river to Burnsall which we think is the most picturesque village in the dales.

Wensleydale
Wensleydale has its own distinctive character that sets it apart from the other valleys in the dales. Because the valley is wide the high fells never crowd the river and the villages scattered throughout its length.

There are so many wonderful sites to enjoy in Wensleydale and so it’s a walkers’ paradise. It’s a valley of waterfalls, castles, abbeys and lovely riverside villages.

1. Leyburn Shawl, Wensley, Middleham Low Moor, Middleham Castle
We start at the bustling market town of Leyburn and use the famous Shawl as an outward route. It is claimed that Mary Queen of Scots was recaptured on the Shawl following here escape from captivity in nearby Bolton Castle. From the Shawl we walk down to the 14th Century church at Wensley, cross the river and then walk up the valley side to Middleham Low Moor. Walking along the moor we are given superb views of Wensleydale, the adjoining Coverdale and the distant North York Moors.

We finish the walk at Middleham Castle, the childhood and favourite home of Richard III. The well preserved, massive keep and surrounding chambers and walls are fascinating to explore. 6 miles.

2. Waterfalls above Askrigg.
The village of Askrigg is perhaps best known as the setting for the popular tv series “All Creatures Great and Small”. There are two very pretty waterfalls above the village and the views of the dale from above them are stunning. Approx. 5 miles.

3. Aysgarth Falls and West Burton Falls.
Aysgarth Falls is a spectacular stretch of water in lower Wensleydale where the river Ure dramatically drops 30m in a triple flight of waterfalls. The falls featured in the film “Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves”. Turner painted the lower falls in 1817.
From Aysgarth Falls we walk to the village of West Burton which was recently voted the prettiest village in England. It’s even got it’s own waterfall. Approx 6 miles.

4. Bainbridge, Cam High Road (Roman Road), Buttersett and Hawes.
Bainbridge is a beautiful little village that sits just above the river Ure. It takes its name from the river Bain, which at just 3 miles long is the shortest river in England. Bainbridge was once the site of a Roman fort which was built on a large drumlin that overlooks the village. From Bainbridge we walk along the Roman road towards Wether Fell where fantastic views of Wensleydale and Semer Water open out. From the fell we drop down back towards the river Ure passing through Buttersett and finishing at Hawes, which at 850 feet above sea-level is the highest market town in Yorkshire. 10 miles.

5. Appersett - Hell Gill Bridge - Cotter Force - Appersett. 13 miles.
This slendid walk starts and finishes in Appersett, a small and very pretty village in upper Wensleydale. This long, steady walk takes us to Hell Gill which is the boundary with adjoining Cumbria. The scenery is outstanding.

6. Sedbusk - Pike Hill - Hardraw Force - Hawes. 7 miles.
The walk begins in the hamlet of Sedbusk and climbs up the valley side to Pike Hill. We then drop down to Hardraw Force which is said to have the highest single drop of any waterfall in England.

7. West Witton - along the river Ure to Redmire Force and Aysgarth Falls - Carpeby. 7 miles.
This is the nicest section of the river Ure.

Swaledale
The most northern and remotest of the Yorkshire Dales. Swaledale is very narrow and rugged. It’s full of waterfalls, meadows, dry-stone walls and lovely field barns. It contains our favourite walk.

1. Waterfalls around Muker and Keld.
There’s a view just down from Keld that you won’t want to leave. Words can’t describe it. A walk of about 6 miles follows the river from Keld towards Muker and then back again on the opposite valley side.
A longer 9 mile walk takes in the river and waterfalls between Muker and Keld and also Kisdon Hill.

2. Reeth to Gunnerside. A 9 mile walk that follows the river.

3. Keld - Wain Wath Force - Birkdale - Ravenseat - Keld - Muker. 11 miles.
Keld can be a busy spot for walkers as it's here that the Penine Way and the Coast to Coast path cross. Keld is a tiny hamlet surrounded by rugged fells and waterfalls. This walk passes by Wain Wath Force before going into Birkdale, a small tributary valley of Swaledale. From there we head to Ravenseat, a small isolated farming community and then head back towards Keld. On reaching Keld we continue downstream because the
section of Swaledale between Keld and Muker is just too lovely to miss.

Nidderdale
Nidderdale isn’t actually within the National Park. This is probably because of the three reservoirs that were built in its upper reaches during the last century. However, it is An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and, to most of us, is part of the Dales.

Roly Smith, chairman of the Outdoor Writers' Guild, in his book 'On Foot in the Yorkshire Dales' asserts that Nidderdale is "The Yorkshire dales in microcosm, possessing all the qualities and features that have made the dales famous - wild, open moorland, dramatic limestone gorges, caves and pot-holes, weirdly sculptured rocks and ancient, flower- decked stone villages.

1. Scar House Reservoir, Middlesmoor, How Stean Gorge, Gouthwaite Reservoir, Pateley Bridge and Brimham Rocks.
This walk is full of brilliant views and fascinating places. Scar House Reservoir sits right at the top of Nidderdale. It's a desolate, but beautiful place. From there we walk to Middlesmoor and then to How Stean Gorge, which at up to 80 feet deep, is one of the most dramatic and interesting places in the Yorkshire Dales. We then walk along the valley floor to Gouthwaite Reservoir (the one seen in the opening to Emmerdale) and then onto the lovely village of Pateley Bridge. It's then a short climb up onto the Panorama Way and a level walk to Brimham Rocks. Brimham Rocks is like no where else. This amazing landscape of millstone grit tors has been carved out into unbelievable shapes by thousands of years of exposure to wind and water. The rocks cover an area of 20 hectares and in their towering position they provide spectacular views of Nidderdale. 15 miles.

2. Scar House reservoir, Little Whernside and Starbottom.
Although this walk starts in Nidderdale, it actually finishes in the heart of Wharfedale. A stunning walk. As we walk up Little Whernside (1982 feet) the views down Nidderdale and also Coverdale and Wensleydale will take your breath away. Approx. 12 miles.

3. Wath - Pateley Bridge - Brimham Rocks - Low Laithe - river Nidd back to Pateley Bridge. 8 miles.

4. Pot Moor High Road - Scar House reservoir - Middlesmoor - How Stean Gorge. 7 miles.
A brilliant walk with fabulous views and it includes a visit to How Stean Gorge.

Settle to Carlisle railway
The 72 mile route from Settle to Carlisle takes you on a journey through magnificent scenery. Starting out from the gentle limestone scenery around Settle the line heads north up Ribblesdale between the famous Three Peaks of Ingleborough, Pen-y-Ghent and Whernside. At the head of Ribblesdale the line climbs onto open moorland and crosses the 24 arch viaduct at Ribblehead. It continues into Dentdale (one of the more remote and dramatic northern dales) and then on to the Eden Valley and Carlisle. There are some wonderful walks from the stations along the line.

Ripon Cathedral to Fountains Abbey
Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and most impressive monastic ruins in Britain. Along with the beautiful gardens, deer park and lake of Studley Royal, this famous abbey has been declared a World Heritage Site. This 6 mile circular walk goes from Ripon to Fountains via the deer park and returns to Ripon via the Seven Bridges walk along the river Skell.

Haworth, Bronte Waterfalls and Wuthering Heights
Haworth is home to the Bronte Parsonage Museum and we walk over the beautiful moors that so inspired the Bronte sisters. Distance 6 miles.

Sutton Bank, Rievaulx Abbey and Helmsley
Although not in the Dales, Sutton Bank is close by to the east. With its cliffs and views that stretch for miles and miles it is a magnificent place. Alf Wight (the real James Herriot) used to regularly walk along Sutton Bank and referred to it as his favourite place in the whole world. We can’t disagree. From Sutton Bank we walk to the beautiful Rievaulx Abbey and then to Helmsley, which is one of the prettiest villages in England. 9 miles.

White Horse at Sutton Bank to Osmotherley
Approx. 9 miles.