The Dales Way is a long distance footpath of roughly 80 miles, usually starting in Ilkley, passing through many lovely and interesting dales and villages, to its end on the shores of Lake Windermere at Bowness, in the Lake District.  Along the way, it follows Wharfedale, passing the ancient priory at Bolton Abbey, and continues at a predominantly low level as it follows the valleys of the Rivers Wharfe, Dee, Lune, and Kent.  However, the weather and terrain should not be underestimated, as it does cross the Pennine moors at a high level, near Ribblehead, in the central section, which can often be shrouded in low cloud.

The route was originally planned as an official National Trail, though unfortunately, it has not yet achieved this status.  As far as possible, the Dales Way follows riverside tracks and offers a scenically attractive route from urban West Yorkshire to the Lake District. Any reasonably fit person can undertake the walk in a weeks holiday.

The Way is well way marked with signs, but you will need a guide book (recommend the Dales Way Route Guide, by Arthur Gemmell & Colin Speakman, price £4-00) and the appropriate O.S. maps, which usually have the Dales Way marked.

For this walk, we can arrange your accommodation on a Bed and Breakfast basis (evening meals are usually available locally) at local inns, hotels, or private residences, all of which have been satisfactorily tried and tested by us and our many clients in past years, and for your guidance, the following is a list of the usual stopovers, with the daily distances between each.

Note: The walk can be undertaken with either 6 or 7 overnight stays, the following programme of 6 night stays requiring either

Note:  You may wish to recuperate and rest here by spending your last night in Bowness, or return to Ilkley by our minibus service.  Ask for details of times and prices. and our arrangements for the free parking of your car.