Fancy a stroll?
If you’re not on a whistlestop tour and you’ve got enough time to enjoy a bit of the Dales on foot, there’s a whole host of excellent walks that’ll allow you to take in some spectacular sights that you won’t see from your bike. Here’s four of our favourites.
Hawes, Aysgill Force and Hardraw Force, North Yorkshire
7 miles / 5 hours / Moderate
Starting and ending in the lively market town of Hawes pretty much slap bang in the middle of the Dales, this meandering seven-mile walk takes you past a series of stunning waterfalls that are only accessible by foot – though it’s worth noting that you’ll have to pay to get up close to Hardraw Force.
Malham Tarn, North Yorkshire
3.6 miles / 2 hours / Easy-to-moderate
This is a cracking short walk around the edge of Malham Tarn (which is a glacial lake) in the shadow of Great Close Scar. It’s lovely and peaceful and a vast array of wildlife calls it home. While you’re in the area it could be worth taking a trip to Malham Cove and admire the 250-metre amphitheatre-shaped cliff formation of limestone rock. You can even make your way to the top of the cliff and take in some spectacular views of the wider dales beyond.
Keld to Tan Hill Inn, North Yorkshire 10.2 miles / 6 hours / Moderate
We touch on some of the cracking riding around the infamous Tan Hill Inn later on, but there’s a brilliant walk there too, which takes you from Keld to the head of Arkengarthdale on the edge of Swaledale (at which point you’ll be ready to stop in the cosy log-fired pub for a breather and a bite to eat).