Yorkshire Dales National Park

Hiking in Yorkshire Dales National Park

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Experience a vast landscape of iconic hills, tumbling waterfalls, spectacular limestone geology and sensational Victorian architecture. Walks in the Yorkshire Dales rank amongst the best in the UK. They don’t call this region ‘God’s own country’ for nothing.

841 square miles (2,178 km2) of this wonderful countryside awaits exploration. There’s an abundant variety of landscape, from the beautiful walled fields, barns and meadows of Swaledale in the north to the glorious heights of Ribblesdale in the west. The national park even takes a delectable bite out of Cumbria in the form of the Howgill Fells, where verdant hills take on a little bit of the character of nearby Lakeland.

There is every kind of walk, hike or ramble imaginable here. On a short walk you can access some truly stunning sights, such as the dramatic Malham Cove. For more strenuous excursions, there’s the 24-hour challenge of the Yorkshire Three Peaks. There’s no doubt about it, hikes in the Yorkshire Dales offer something for everyone.

Janet's Foss waterfall – Gordale Scar Loop from Back Lane	Difficult	03:17 7.19 mi
Janet's Foss waterfall – Gordale Scar Loop from Malham	Difficult	03:58 8.57 mi
Pen-y-Ghent – Pen-y-ghent summit Loop from Horton-in-Ribblesdale	Intermediate	04:57 9.98 mi
Pen-y-Ghent – Hull Pot Loop from Horton-in-Ribblesdale	Intermediate	04:02 7.96 mi
Pen-y-ghent summit – Pen-y-Ghent Loop from Horton-in-Ribblesdale	Intermediate	03:40 7.24 mi
Whernside – Ribblehead Viaduct Loop from Ribblehead	Intermediate	04:02 8.25 mi
Ribblehead Viaduct – Low Force Loop from Ribblehead	Intermediate	02:04 4.74 mi
Bolton Abbey – Bolton Abbey Aqueduct Bridge Loop from Halton East	Intermediate	03:16 7.68 mi
Janet's Foss waterfall – Malham Cove Loop from Back Lane	Intermediate	03:09 6.68 mi
Ingleborough – Gaping Gill Loop from Clapham	Intermediate	04:38 9.12 mi
Reservoir on the nature trail – Gaping Gill Loop from Clapham	Intermediate	04:48 9.57 mi
Trow Gill – Sulber Gate Loop from Clapham	Difficult	05:23 10.9 mi
Bolton Abbey Aqueduct Bridge – Bolton Abbey Loop from Bolton Abbey	Difficult	05:07 11.1 mi
Aysgarth Middle Falls – Aysgarth Lower Falls Loop from Aysgarth	Intermediate	02:41 6.18 mi
Tan Hill Inn – Wain Wath Force Loop from Gunnerside	Intermediate	04:20 9.50 mi
East Gill Force – Tan Hill Inn Loop from Cotterdale	Intermediate	04:56 10.8 mi
Malham – Malham Cove Loop from Back Lane	Intermediate	02:02 4.42 mi
River Wharfe – Hebden Suspension Bridge Loop from Burnsall	Intermediate	02:55 6.97 mi
Stainforth Force – Catrigg Force Loop from Langcliffe	Intermediate	03:01 6.54 mi
Whernside – Ingleborough Loop from Ribblehead	Difficult	07:19 14.2 mi

Top 20 best walks and hikes in Yorkshire Dales National Park

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Janet's Foss waterfall – Gordale Scar Loop from Back Lane

Difficult

03:17

7.19 mi

2.2 mph

825 ft

Expert Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Janet's Foss waterfall – Gordale Scar Loop from Malham

Difficult

03:58

8.57 mi

2.2 mph

875 ft

Expert Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Pen-y-Ghent – Pen-y-ghent summit Loop from Horton-in-Ribblesdale

Intermediate

04:57

9.98 mi

2.0 mph

1,850 ft

Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Pen-y-Ghent – Hull Pot Loop from Horton-in-Ribblesdale

Intermediate

04:02

7.96 mi

2.0 mph

1,600 ft

Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Pen-y-ghent summit – Pen-y-Ghent Loop from Horton-in-Ribblesdale

Intermediate

03:40

7.24 mi

2.0 mph

1,475 ft

Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Whernside – Ribblehead Viaduct Loop from Ribblehead

Intermediate

04:02

8.25 mi

2.0 mph

1,425 ft

Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Ribblehead Viaduct – Low Force Loop from Ribblehead

Intermediate

02:04

4.74 mi

2.3 mph

350 ft

Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Bolton Abbey – Bolton Abbey Aqueduct Bridge Loop from Halton East

Intermediate

03:16

7.68 mi

2.3 mph

400 ft

Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Janet's Foss waterfall – Malham Cove Loop from Back Lane

Intermediate

03:09

6.68 mi

2.1 mph

700 ft

Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Ingleborough – Gaping Gill Loop from Clapham

Intermediate

04:38

9.12 mi

2.0 mph

1,875 ft

Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Reservoir on the nature trail – Gaping Gill Loop from Clapham

Intermediate

04:48

9.57 mi

2.0 mph

1,825 ft

1,800 ft

Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Trow Gill – Sulber Gate Loop from Clapham

Difficult

05:23

10.9 mi

2.0 mph

1,925 ft

Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Bolton Abbey Aqueduct Bridge – Bolton Abbey Loop from Bolton Abbey

Difficult

05:07

11.1 mi

2.2 mph

1,400 ft

Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Aysgarth Middle Falls – Aysgarth Lower Falls Loop from Aysgarth

Intermediate

02:41

6.18 mi

2.3 mph

450 ft

425 ft

Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Tan Hill Inn – Wain Wath Force Loop from Gunnerside

Intermediate

04:20

9.50 mi

2.2 mph

1,075 ft

Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

East Gill Force – Tan Hill Inn Loop from Cotterdale

Intermediate

04:56

10.8 mi

2.2 mph

1,200 ft

Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Malham – Malham Cove Loop from Back Lane

Intermediate

02:02

4.42 mi

2.2 mph

525 ft

Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

River Wharfe – Hebden Suspension Bridge Loop from Burnsall

Intermediate

02:55

6.97 mi

2.4 mph

225 ft

250 ft

Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Stainforth Force – Catrigg Force Loop from Langcliffe

Intermediate

03:01

6.54 mi

2.2 mph

850 ft

825 ft

Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Whernside – Ingleborough Loop from Ribblehead

Difficult

07:19

14.2 mi

1.9 mph

2,875 ft

Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Exploring the character of the Dales

There is so much to experience on your walks in theYorkshire Dales. In spring, discover the bright wildflowers and riverside walks of Swaledale or head for the 30,000 acres (12,141 ha) of delightful countryside on the Bolton Abbey estate in Wharfedale. In the west, where the boundaries of the Dales and the Lakes meet, are the Howgill Fells. On a clear day, these rounded hills offer staggering views across the entire Lake District skyline and the vast sprawl of Yorkshire’s highest hills.

Meanwhile, Ribblesdale hosts the most spectacular section of the famous Carlisle to Settle railway line. You can add its most iconic moment, the scenic beauty of Ribblehead Viaduct’s 24 Victorian stone arches, to your itinerary. There are few sights in the British countryside more evocative.

Feeling peaky in Ribblesdale

Ribblesdale is also home to the Yorkshire Three Peaks: Ingleborough, Pen-y-ghent and county high point Whernside at 2,415 feet (736 m). For some of the most adventurous hikes in the Yorkshire Dales, this is the place to be.

Whale-backed Whernside may be the highest, but Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent are the most adored by hikers. Ingleborough’s alternating layers of limestone, sandstone and shale create a distinctive wedge-shaped profile, whilst its summit was once the site of a Neolithic fortress. Not to be outdone, Pen-y-ghent takes on the visage of a giant, crouching lion surveying its kingdom.

The famous challenge of summiting all three peaks in 24 hours is deservedly popular. Part of the key to success is route planning, as there is no set way to complete the round. However you decided to tackle them, they are richly rewarding hikes with fantastic views.

The limestone splendour of Malhamdale

Some of the best hiking trails in the Yorkshire Dales explore the many delights to be found around the village of Malham. Chief among them is Malham Cove, a gently curving 230-foot (70 m) white limestone cliff that is popular all year round. The limestone pavement that tops the cove is also a great place to explore.

Gordale Scar, a sensational hidden limestone gorge carved out by torrents of ancient glacial meltwater, is a magical place. As it narrows and steepens dramatically, two waterfalls crash down. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even ascend out of the gorge via a rock scramble by the cascading falls.