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Dales Way Walking Holiday
in Northern England
9 nights and 8 days
Day by Day Itinerary
This 82 mile walking holiday through the Yorkshire Dales starts in Ilkley and ends in Bowness on Windermere in Cumbria.
This is one of our Moorland Walking Holidays and also one of our Northern England Walking Holidays.
Where in the UK is the Dales Way?
Dales Way Walking Holiday
in Northern England
From Ilkley in The Yorkshire Dales to Bowness on Windermere in Cumberlands Lake District
along Wharfedale, Dentdale, Lonsdale and Lunedale from Ilkley via Bolton Abbey, Burnsall, Grassington, Kettlewell, Buckden, Dent, Sedbergh, Burnside and Bowness on Windermere
Our Dales Way walking holiday begins at Ilkley and is an 82 mile walk through the stunning scenery of the Yorkshire Dales, ending at Bowness on Windermere.
On the Dales Way walking holiday you follow the River Wharfe upstream from Ilkley via Bolton Abbey, Grassington, Kettlewell, Buckden to Oughtershaw. Then you cut across to the head of the River Ribble and hike in Dentdale downstream along the River Dee via Dent and Sedbergh until you meet the River Lune. You then walk up Lunedale before cutting across farmland north of Kendal and finish the walk on the shores of Windermere at Bowness.
Our self-guided walking holidays are designed with your comfort and enjoyment in mind and can be tailor-made to your own personal requirements.
The routes are clearly way-marked to provide reassurance on your hiking vacation.
We use a selection of guest houses, inns or small hotels with en-suite or private bathroom to ensure you are well rested each night after a busy day hiking and sightseeing. Rest assured that all our accommodation walking holiday providers are hand-picked and offer you that famous British hospitality.
Special diets can be catered for, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free.
We organize the luggage transfer so your bags are at your next accommodation when you arrive. We try to get your bags delivered by 4pm, but this may be delayed due to road conditions.
Let’s Go Walking has developed one of the largest selection of walking holidays.
Our offices are staffed 9am to 9pm during our walking season (March to September) to ensure your walking holiday runs without a hitch.
All our walking holidays are self-guided and you must be a confident map reader and able to navigate from a compass bearing. The weather in the UK and Ireland can change quickly effecting visibility and underfoot conditions. It is important to carry a selection of clothing with you on your hike each day to cope with changing weather conditions. If you are not confident of completing any days walk, do not set out.
This walking holiday in the UK operates March to September and in either direction.
The daily distances are only a suggestion. If you would like to walk longer or shorter distances, we can arrange that too.
Our stated distances include mileage to the accommodation or pickup point and so may not agree with the guide book mileages.
Rest days can be taken in any location.
Why not combine this walk with a hiking tour in another part of the UK or Ireland. Our staff will be happy to advise on necessary transfers.
Online booking available.
A deposit of £85 per person is required to secure the booking, with the balance due 6 weeks before departure.
Optional extra days and accommodation upgrades can be added during the booking process online.
Please wait for the confirmation of your holiday before making final travel plans just in case your holiday is not available for your requested date.
Dales Way Walking Holiday
Suggested Tour Duration:
9 nights, 8 days walking
Total Distance:
82 miles/131 kms
Min/max daily distance:
5/13 miles
Average Daily distance:
10 miles
Grading:
Moderate
Features:
Wharfedale, Dentdale
Londsdale, Lunedale
Windermere
This path connects with:
Richmond Way
Dales Way Walking Holiday
in Northern England.
from Ilkley in The Yorkshire Dales to Bowness on Windermere in The Lake District
9 nights and 8 days walking
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Ilkley
To start your walking holiday in the Dales Way you arrive at the historic spa town of Ilkley.
Optional Day in Ilkley:
Relax and enjoy this historic spa town of Ilkley.
Day 2: Ilkley to Appletreewick 11 miles
The Dales Way leaves Ilkley following the River Wharfe upstream via Addingham to Bolton Abbey where you can explore the priory. The walking trail then enters Strid Wood, a remarkable place and Site of Special Scientific Interest as it contains the largest area of acidic oak woodland in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and a wealth of flora and fauna. You walk past Strid Gorge and Barden Tower as you make your way to Appletreewick for overnight.
Day 3: Appletreewick to Kettlewell 11 miles
Today you continue walking through Wharfedale through the picturesque villages of Burnsall and Grassington, passing the cliffs and rapids of Loup Scar and the waterfall at Linton Falls. On leaving Grassington the Dales Way heads up on to Grassington Moor where there is some limestone pavement. Then you walk back down to the river at Kettlewell for your overnight.
Day 4: Kettlewell to Oughtershaw 13 miles
Still in Wharfedale, today’s walking on the Dales Way takes you through the delightful villages of Starbottom, Buckden and Hubberholme. Then you continue up Langstrothdale to Oughtershaw for the overnight.
Day 5: Oughtershaw to Ribblehead 5.5 miles
Today’s walking takes you along Oughtershaw Beck where the Dales Way reaches its highest point at 1705ft (520m) and joins up briefly with the Pennine Way and crosses the Richmond Way. The overnight stop is at Ribblehead passing on the way the imposing structure of the Ribblehead Viaduct.
Day 6: Ribblehead to Dent 11 miles
The Dales Way moves into Dentdale today and you walk beside the River Dee through the small villages of Stone House, Cowgill to Dent, passing several waterfalls on the way. Dent is a very attractive town with whitewashed cottages and cobbled streets which was the hub of a hand-knitting industry in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Optional Day in Dent:
Relax and enjoy this historic little village of Dent.
Day 7: Dent to Howgill 9 miles
Continuing along the River Dee from Dent your walk on the Dales Way takes you through Sedbergh and on to the River Lune in Lunedale. Your stop for the night is at Howgill.
Day 8: Howgill to Burneside 12 miles
You continue walking alongside the River Lune to the Crook of Lune Bridge moving out of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and into Cumbria and Lakeland. The Lakeland Fells can be glimpsed on the horizon.
Day 9: Burneside to Bowness on Windermere 10 miles
On leaving Burneside the Dales Way follows the River Kent to Staveley, then heads through grassy knolls, rocky hillocks and pastureland until you finally see Lake Windermere and you head down to Bowness on Windermere.
Optional Day in Bowness on Windermere:
Relax and enjoy Lake Windermere and perhaps take a boat trip on the Lake. Or explore the historic lake district town of Bowness on Windermere.
Day 10: Depart after breakfast
Depart after Breakfast or extend your holiday walking and spend some time exploring The Lake District.
We can transfer you to your car or station.
Ilkley to Bowness on Windermere
in England UK
10 day itinerary
8 days walking and 9 nights
Suggested Itinerary
| Day 1: | arrive Ilkley | |
| Optional Day: | optional extra day in Ilkley | |
| Day 2: | Ilkley to Appletreewick | 11 miles |
| Day 3: | Appletreewick to Kettlewell | 11 miles |
| Day 4: | Kettlewell to Oughtershaw | 13 miles |
| Day 5: | Oughtershaw to Ribblehead | 5.5 miles |
| Day 6: | Ribblehead to Dent | 11 miles |
| Optional Day: | optional extra day in Dent | |
| Day 7: | Dent to Howgill | 9 miles |
| Day 8: | Howgill to Burneside | 12 miles |
| Day 9: | Burneside to Bowness on Windermere | 10 miles |
| Optional Day: | optional extra day in Bowness on Windermere | |
| Day 10: | depart Bowness on Windermere |
10 day itinerary 9 nights
| Double or Twin Occupancy | Single Occupancy travelling with others | Solo Traveller |
|
| 2025 | £1,170 | £1,881 | £2,061 |
All prices subject to change
Extra nights from £64.00 per person
depending on location
Optional Accommodation Upgrades for
Dales Way
Can be added when booking online
Subject to availability Supplement per person per night
Ilkley
Craiglands Hotel
double/twin
£11.00
Single
please ask
Kettlewell
Kings Head Hotel
double/twin
£18.00
Single
please ask
Racehorses Hotel
£22.00
please ask
Bowness on Windermere
double/twin
Single
Belsfield Hotel
£109.00
please ask
Old English Hotel
£187.00
please ask
What’s included
in your UK Dales Way walking holiday in Yorkshire and The Lake District in Northern England
- accommodation at high quality guest houses, inns or small hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
- room with en-suite or private bathroom, tea and coffee making facilities
- daily luggage transfer
- support should there be any problems on route
- detailed itineraries
- OS 1:25,000 map
- guide book to The Dales Way
Optional Extras
for your UK Dales Way walking holiday in Yorkshire and The Lake District in Northern England
- upgrade to the region’s most elegant, prestigious and famous hotels, where available
- transfers back to car or station
- parking facilities
- rest days
- inn to inn walks
What’s not included
in your UK Dales Way walking holiday in Yorkshire and The Lake District in Northern England
- lunches and dinners
- travel insurance
Lunches and Dinners
These are not included.
Evening meals
These are available at overnight locations, either at your accommodation or in the town/village.
Packed lunches
These can be provided by your accommodation or can be obtained from a local store, or cafe or inn along the route.
Holiday Travel Insurance
We require that you take out holiday insurance as Let’s Go Biking Ltd accepts no liability for the following:
cancellation, personal accident, illness, loss/theft of personal possessions and/or money, and any unforeseen circumstances, especially travel delays.
This is in addition to our existing
booking conditions.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Our telephone Lines are open 7 days a week.
UK +44 (0)1837 880075
or +44 (0)207 193 1252
March to September 9am to 9pm
October to February 9am to 5pm
US +1 (646) 233-1541
New York 5 hours behind UK time:
March to September 4am to 4pm EST
October to February 4am to 12noon EST
AUS +61 (02) 8006 0182
Sydney 10 hours ahead of UK time:
March to September 7pm to 7am EADT
October to February 7pm to 3am EADT
CAN +1 (647) 4786251
Toronto 5 hours behind UK time:
March to September 4am to 4pm EST
October to February 4am to 12noon EST
or
Dales Way Walking Holiday:
How to get there
- By Plane to Leeds Bradford or Manchester where we can arrange transfer to Ilkley
- By Car to Ilkley where parking is available
- By Train / Bus to Ilkley
We have moorland walking holidays in the UK in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Ireland.
This is one of our categories of walking holidays.
- Cleveland Way
- Coleridge Way in Somerset
- Copper Trail in Cornwall
- Cumbria Way passes through the Lake District
- Dales Way
- Dartmoor Way in Devon
- Glens of Antrim on the Moyle Way in Northern Ireland
- Glyndwrs Way in Wales
- Hadrians Wall Path
- Hebridean Way in Scotland
- Herriot Way
- Isle of Man Coastal and Moorland Footpath
- Macmillan Way West
- Mourne Way in Northern Ireland
- Richmond Way
- Tarka Trail in Devon
- Two Moors Way in Devon
- West Highland Way in Scotland
- Wicklow Way in Ireland
- Yorkshire Wolds Way
- Cleveland Way
- Cumbria Way
- Cumbria Coastal Way, part of the England Coast Path
- Dales Way
- England Coast Path
- Hadrians Wall Path
- Herriot Way
- Isle of Man Coastal Path
- Leeds and Liverpool Canal Towpath
- Nidderdale Way
- Northumberland Coast Path, part of the England Coast Path
- Richmond Way
- St Cuthberts Way
- St Oswalds Way
- Teesdale Way
- Yorkshire Coast Path, part of the England Coast Path
- Yorkshire Wolds Way
