Park or nature areaUsable guide

Yorkshire Dales

Upland area of the Pennines in Northern England

Photo: Ann Clare, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The Yorkshire Dales are a scenic area of limestone hills and valleys in North Yorkshire in the north of England. Much of the area falls within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, which extends into neighbouring Cumbria and Lancashire.

Getting there and around

Getting there

By train
By bus
Buses ply along A65 between Skipton, Gargrave, Settle, Clapham and Kirkby Lonsdale. They run from Clitheroe to Settle and Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

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Getting around

You probably need a vehicle, the distances, gradients and weather are challenging for bicycles. Buses are infrequent and confined to radial routes from the larger towns.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Leeds Bradford Airport

Leeds, West Yorkshire · International · LBA

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Read before you go to Yorkshire Dales

Articles and travel topics about Yorkshire Dales and United Kingdom.

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Full travel guide

Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.

UnderstandA "dale" simply means a valley, so it's a very common component of a place-name, in Yorkshire and elsewhere.

DalesThe principal dales are Wharfedale, Wensleydale, Swaledale, Nidderdale, Ribblesdale, Airedale and Lonsdale, each with a distinct character. Many smaller dales feed into these.

Get inBuses ply along A65 between Skipton, Gargrave, Settle, Clapham and Kirkby Lonsdale. They run from Clitheroe to Settle and Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

Get aroundYou probably need a vehicle, the distances, gradients and weather are challenging for bicycles. Buses are infrequent and confined to radial routes from the larger towns.

See

BuyIf you're self-catering, stock up at the supermarkets near the larger towns further out, such as Skipton or Harrogate. And consider re-filling the tank.

EatThe best dining is usually in the village pub-hotels. It's not just trad fare, the chefs are often keen to show off their European nous to city slicker visitors, and veggies and GF are well catered for.

DrinkWater from the tap is pleasant to drink, as it comes from upland sources and needs minimal treatment beyond keeping the enuretic sheep away from the reservoirs.

SleepOverall bed capacity is small, and the Park intends to keep it that way. You need to book ahead, because places may be either booked out for summer or closed for winter.

Stay safeThe hills are of no great height, but bad weather can set in at any time, with poor visibility and slippery rocks.

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Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Yorkshire Dales" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Yorkshire Dales", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Ann Clare, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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