The Dales Way
The Dales Way runs for about 80 miles, going south-east to north-west across northern England and taking in sections of the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District. The route was the brainchild of guidebook writer Colin Speakman and
Tom Wilcock (who was Footpath Secretary for the West Riding Ramblers Association), and the first recorded crossing was made by a group of Venture Scouts in 1969.
The Dales Way is predominately a valley route that follows the River Wharfe to cross a high, remote watershed at Cam Houses (490m) before continuing along Dentdale, past the Howgill Fells and along the river valleys of The Mint and Kent to reach Lake Windermere. It is a charming walk, with some surprisingly strenuous sections and fits nicely into a 5-day or 6-day holiday. There are three link routes that connect the way to the centres of Bradford, Leeds and Harrogate. Accommodation is fairly good and the walk is serviced by baggage transfer services.
5-DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1 Ilkley to Grassington (26km) DAY 2 Grassington to Buckden or Hubberholme (20km) DAY 3 Buckden or Hubberholme to Dent (32km) DAY 4 Dent to Burneside (32km)
DAY 5 Burneside to Bowness-on-Windermere (16km)