UK walking - Yorkshire dales - a self-led walk

A 6 day self led walk in the southern Yorkshire Dales, starting and ending in Settle, North Yorkshire. The Yorkshire Dales have always been a favorite with walkers and lovers of the countryside atracted by the lure of "the three peaks" Ingleborough, Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, which are rarely out of sight during the week.

Those that have an interest in railway history may want to extend their stay so as to be able to take a return trip on the famous Settle to Carlisle Railway. Some of the history can be absorbed on the walk by visiting the stations of Settle and Ribblehead.

The walk is not tough but includes some high and remote sections.

The main features

• 7 nights B&B en-suite accommodation chosen for quality and charm.
• start on the date of your choice (not fridays). 
• step by step walk notes included.
• 1:25000 customised topographical map of the route
• daily distances between 8 and 15miles(12 to 24km).  
• Luggage transfers.
• Local support.
• meet and greet on day 1.
• Price 410 sterling per person.
  

Optionally

• include Picnics.
• Transfers from airports and stations. Settle has train access from Leeds. The airports of Leeds/Bradford and Manchester are nearby. We can arrange transfers to meet you at station or airport.

Settle is on the doorstep of some wonderful walking.
We will meet you in your Hotel and pass on all information that you have not already received by post. Any last minute questions, or problems you may have can be solved before setting out on the walk tomorrow.

Your hotel in Settle is 1 minutes walk from the town centre.

Walking from Settle to Clapham on day 2 takes you through typical dales lowland, alongside the river Ribble, later crossing higher ground with a first look at limestone scars before descending again to pass through various hamlets surrounded by their stone walled farmland, to Clapham sitting aside its beck.

Day 3 sees you on the ridge of Ingleborough

On Day 3 having walked 16 km. from Clapham to Ribble head you are rewarded by sleeping in a remote Inn almost under the arches of this Victorian masterpiece.  The Railway Station here has an exhibition in honour of those who built the line.

The famous Ribble head viaduct is a target for day 3.

Day 4's walk leaves  Ribbledale and heads west. The target is Littondale but the route is via Langstrothdale using a section of The 'Dales Way' waymarked route. The distance today is 23kms and so the Queens Arms Inn of Litton with its in-house brewery and log fire is a welcome sight at the end of the day.

Littondale - barns and typical glaciated shape

From Litton to Malham is a 15km day and affords some lovely views back to Litton and some spectacular scenery on arrival in Malham. Passing Malham Tarn and Cove on the way which ca be explored in depth on the following day.

Spending 2 nights in Malham give you the chance for a rest but also to explore in more depth this lovely village and it spectacularly interesting surroundings. The Guest house where you stay has a charm handed down from its 16th C origins

The geographical features of The Tarn, The Cove and Gordale Scar are rightly famous throughout the land, but these are not the only ones. Our suggested walk for the day will take you through these and more.

The last walk of the week returns you to Settle. Quite a short walk at 12km it leaves you time to explore a little more in Malham or arrive in Settle in good time for a little shopping before your departure the following day. The walk itself is a very attractive finale as it completes the circle and returns you to the verdant Ribble valley.