Best Walks in the Yorkshire Dales

The Yorkshire Dales is the UK’s great limestone playground — a landscape of sweeping moorland, hidden gorges, dramatic potholes, and the sharpest, most characterful mountains in the north of England. It’s where the Pennine Way begins and where the Yorkshire Three Peaks test thousands of walkers every year.

These are the routes that define the Dales — the Three Peaks themselves, each with its own distinct character, plus the world-class geology of the Malham loop. Steep limestone, gritstone ridges, dry valleys carved by meltwater, and summit panoramas that stretch across four counties.

Whether you’re training for the Three Peaks, want a compact mountain day, or are after the most dramatic scenery in northern England, this is the place to start.

The Best Walks in the Yorkshire Dales

Three Peaks

Pen-y-ghent Walk

The most characterful of the Three Peaks — steep, compact, and scenic, with a short scrambly section on the south ridge.

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Ingleborough Walk

The most dramatic of the Three Peaks — Trow Gill, Gaping Gill and a panoramic summit plateau via the classic Clapham line.

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Whernside Walk

The highest of the Three Peaks — a long, elegant ridge from Ribblehead Viaduct, with a steep descent into Deepdale.

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Malham Cove & the Malham Loop

A geological showcase — the limestone amphitheatre, its pavement, Malham Tarn, Watlowes, Gordale Scar and Janet's Foss.

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The Yorkshire Three Peaks

Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough are the three peaks that share a single, iconic circuit — 24.7 miles, roughly 1,585 metres of ascent, and a rite of passage for UK walkers. Each has its own page above; the full challenge, with the classic Horton-in-Ribblesdale route and a route map, lives on the challenge page.

Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge

When to Walk in the Yorkshire Dales

The classic walking season runs April to October, with late spring and early autumn the sweet spots — settled weather, long daylight, and the peaks at their best without the summer crowds. June to August is warmest but busiest, especially around Horton, Ribblehead and Malham.

Winter transforms the Dales into a serious mountain environment — snow, ice and short days make the scrambly sections (Pen-y-ghent's south ridge) and the high summits real winter objectives. Always check the MWIS forecast and the mountain weather guide before you set out.

Getting There & Practical Notes

By car: The A65 runs along the southern Dales; Horton and Ribblehead are reached via the B6479, Malham via the B6265. Parking is limited at Ribblehead and Horton on busy days — arrive early.
By train: The Settle–Carlisle line stops at Horton-in-Ribblesdale and Ribblehead (request stop). Settle is the nearest main station for Clapham and Malham.
Start points: Horton-in-Ribblesdale (Pen-y-ghent, Three Peaks), Clapham (Ingleborough), Ribblehead (Whernside), Malham village (Malham loop).
Terrain: Limestone pavements and steps can be slick when wet — take care on the Cove steps, the pavement's grikes, and the scrambly south ridge of Pen-y-ghent.
Navigation: The broad summits and pavements cloud over fast. Map, compass, and the ability to use them are essential. See the map reading guide.