Starts
Ends
Ilkley, England
Bowness-on-Windermere, England
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25,000+ trip reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.
Walk the full 78-mile route from the Yorkshire Dales to the Lake District
Stay in Inns and Farmhouses dating from the 16th and 17th Centuries
Stroll along the banks of the Rivers Wharfe, Dee, Lune and Kent
Explore charming villages, historic churches, and the ruins of Bolton Abbey
Finish at Lake Windermere and revel in views of the Langdale Pikes
Stroll through England’s quintessential countryside on "The Dales Way," a self-guided walking tour spanning 78 miles from Ilkley to Bowness-on-Windermere. Perfect for experienced and senior walkers, this eight-day journey traverses the Yorkshire Dales’ rolling hills, limestone cliffs, and green valleys—landscapes unchanged for centuries. Marvel at historic churches, cross Roman roads, and pause in charming villages with heritage pubs. The route follows the rivers Wharfe, Dee, Rawthey, Lune, and Kent, offering serene picnic spots and abundant birdlife. Walkers will relish the straightforward gradients, though some moorland crossings and muddy sections add gentle challenge. The unique experience is the pure immersion in England’s traditional countryside—complete with comfortable accommodations, transport, meals, and a true taste of rural charm.
It was good initially, but was not that helpful for a specific trip.
We recently completed 6 days of walking along the Dale's Way path in the Yorkshire Dales area of Great Britain and they did a brilliant job making all the arrangements. There were a few glitches with the mobile App that was set up for our trip but with the map backups there was no real issue. The accommodations were all good to great, and it should be noted that if you don't heed their advice and book a table for dinner in certain restaurants, there won't be a table available. They did everything except guarantee the weather. Also note that if you're booked into the Winderemere Park Hotel in Windermere at the end of the Dales Way walk, it is a fair climb up the hill from Bowness, but there is a regular bus route that runs along the road. That would have been better than another uphill walk, and good information to have. All-in-all, a great trip and we were extremely happy with both Walkers Britain, and ourselves for making the trip.
A wonderful walk through the British countryside with glorious views. We loved it.
Kaz and I have travelled many times with the help of Trina and the team. We love the walks, the places we stay, and the help we get when we need it - and sometimes we need it!
Excellent walking tour. Friendly innkeepers and people were encountered along the way. Food was great, and got better each day. Not overly strenuous, so the walk was enjoyable