The Dales Way

The Dales Way is an 80-mile walking route from Ilkley in West Yorkshire to Bowness-on-Windermere in Cumbria. There are also three links to the starting point in Ilkley including the 16.5-mile Harrogate Link which goes from the spa town of Harrogate through the Washburn Valley close to the Beaver Dyke and Swinsty reservoirs.

Passing through the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the route takes in dramatic scenery and pretty villages and can easily be broken into stages with overnight accommodation along the way.

The Yorkshire Dales section travels the length of Wharfedale going through the villages of Appletreewick, Burnsall and Grassington, which is a good overnight stop, then continuing through Kettlewell and Buckden and on to Yockenthwaite before the route leaves the Yorkshire Dales and heads into Cumbria.

The full walk can be completed in six to eight days.