Dales Way Tour with 5 Reviews by World Expeditions

8 daysDuration

Group TourJoin a group of travelers

20 peopleMaximum group size

18 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Starts

Ends

Ilkley, England

Bowness, England

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Highlights

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

Well waymarked route with no technical hillwalking required

Itinerary

Walk through the Pennines and Lake District in the Yorkshire Dales. Welcome to the timeless beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, one of England’s purest Highland landscapes. With rolling green hills, limestone escarpments, winding valleys, and stone-built villages, this is a region where age-old traditions and stunning views remain remarkably untouched. Along the way, you’ll encounter waterfalls, Roman roads, ancient churches, abbey ruins, and cosy real ale pubs that reflect the proud heritage of the area.
This self-guided walking holiday follows the full 78-mile route of the much-loved Dales Way, a long-distance path established in 1969. Beginning in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the trail winds west through river valleys and over stretches of open moorland, finishing in the Lake District at Bowness-on-Windermere.
The walking is mostly gentle, though some sections can be muddy after rain, and there are a few higher moorland crossings. Much of the route follows picturesque rivers such as the Wharfe, Dee, Rawthey, Lune, and Kent, where you may spot kingfishers, dippers, wagtails, and even Berwick swans. Brown trout are often seen in the clear waters.
Highlights include a scenic walk through Wharfedale, time to explore the atmospheric ruins of Bolton Abbey, and a steady ascent to the Pennine watershed at Cam Fell, which rises to 1,700 feet (518 metres). From there, the trail descends into peaceful Dentdale, continues through the historic market town of Sedbergh, and crosses gently rolling pastureland to reach Lake Windermere.
This is a rewarding route for walkers seeking a true taste of rural upland England, full of natural charm, history, and quiet beauty.

day 1Arrive Ilkley

Make your own way to Ilkley. Optional walk to Cow, Calf Rocks and Ilkley Moor. Here you can find the ‘White Well’ a tiny Victorian spa, not much bigger than a luxury sized bath, popular in the days when people with pneumonia were encouraged to bathe in icy cold waters. If the flag is flying, a small teashop is also open (2.5 hr round trip). If you prefer to relax have a look around this attractive country town with its range of specialist local family shops and cafes, there is a branch of Betty’s Tea Rooms with declicious cakes and a variety of teas. There is a small history museum and next to it, All Saints Church, which is built on the site of a Roman fort, contains some Anglo-Saxon crosses dating back to the 9th century.
Accommodation: Stay in the Victorian Riverside Hotel. All facilities are ensuite and rooms come equipped with satellite TV. This is a pub hotel and does great food throughout the day and there is a separate restaurant area away from the bar. The picturesque setting, with river views and rowing in the summer months, make this an ideal place to start our tour.

day 2Ilkley to Burnsall 20.9 km/13 miles, 6 h. 500ft ascent

day 3Burnsall to Hubberholme 25.7 km/16 miles, 6.75 h. 850ft ascent

day 4Hubberholme to Cowgill 22.5km/14 miles, 6.5 h. 1500ft ascent

day 5Cowgill to Sedbergh 17.7 km/11 miles, 5 h. 500ft ascent

day 6Sedbergh to Burneside 25.7 km/16 miles, 6 h. 1300ft ascent

day 7Burneside to Bowness on Windermere 16 km/10 miles, 4 h

day 8Arrangements end after breakfast

What's Included

Accommodation

7 nights accommodation in hotels and guesthouses on a twin share basis with ensuite facilities where available

Meals

7 breakfasts

Others

One piece of luggage per person transferred from Inn to Inn, not exceeding 20kgDigital information pack including Navigational App, maps & route notesEmergency hotline

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

5.0

based on 5 reviews

Availability

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What are customers saying about Bookmundi

4.67/5

Excellent based on 846 customer reviews from

Anonymous

Guillia put a great self-drive tour together for us and Susana looked after us as we travelled. (Even when we got lost) The car and accommodation was good and the guides patient and informative. Only issue we had was parking in small villages, garages, and cities. Apart from the parking we had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday, thank you.

1 week ago

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