This ever-popular walk follows the valleys of the Wharfe, Dee, Lune and Kent from Ilkley to Windermere, passing through the superb scenery of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Choose to complete the walk in one strenuous week, or at a more leisurely pace in two bite-sized sections.

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	The Complete Dales Way
	The Dales Way in two parts
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	Why not try...

The Complete Dales Way

A strenuous week of walking the 135km / 84 miles from Ilkley to Bowness-on-Windermere. This classic valley walk follows the rivers Wharfe, Dee, Lune and Kent before reaching Lake Windermere in the eastern Lake District. On the way we visit Burnsall, Kettlewell, Dent and Sedbergh. We walk in six stages of 11 to 15 miles each day, with some lengthy coach transfers.

The Dales Way scenery has quite rightly earned its place as our most popular long distance walk.

For a two-week easier option of completing the Dales Way click here.

	Detailed itinerary
	Dates and prices
	Where you'll stay

Detailed itinerary

84 miles with 12 to 15 miles and up to 1,300ft of ascent in a day.

ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival day

Day 2: llkley to Burnsall
Distance: 22½km (14 miles), 150m (500ft) of ascent
Commencing its 84 mile journey at the seventeeth century bridge in Ilkley, the Dales Way follows the Wharfe to skirt the village of Addingham. Beneath Beamsley Beacon the Way reaches Farfield Hall. A stretch of road leads to Bolton Bridge and the Yorkshire Dales National Park is entered as Bolton Priory comes into view. The river becomes a narrow torrent at the Strid, beyond which the path reaches the attractive seventeenth century bridge at Barden. It then continues along a pleasant stretch to Howgill, below Appletreewick and on to the delightful village of Burnsall.

Day 3: Burnsall to Buckden
Distance: 22½km (14 miles), 260m (850ft) of ascent
Passing a limestone escarpment at Loup Scar, the path stays close to the river to reach Grassington, the principal settlement of Upper Wharfedale. The Way then parts company with the river as it ascends above the valley floor. Scenic Wharfedale stretches before us as we continue towards the quaint village of Kettlewell. Keeping close to the floor of the valley once more, the Way continues past Starbotton to Buckden.

Day 4: Buckden to Gearstones
Distance: 22½km (14 miles), 330m (1,100ft) of ascent
The going gets tougher on today's walk. The start is easy enough as the river is followed along Langstrothdale to Hubberholme, Yockenthwaite and Deepdale before we join a metalled road for a short distance to Oughtershaw. From here the track changes to a moorland path which climbs to join the Pennine Way for a short stretch beyond Cam Houses. At over 1,600 feet, this wild moorland is the highest point of the walk. However, the Way soon descends to the main road above Far Gearstones where we rendezvous with our coach.

Day 5: Gearstones to Sedbergh
Distance: 24km (15 miles), 200m (650ft) of ascent
Today we sample the delights of Dentdale, access to which is gained by passing through a viaduct on the Carlisle to Settle railway. Largely following riverside paths by the Dee, the unspoilt village of Dent is reached. The Way continues Dillicar and joins an ancient bridleway to Millthrop with magnificent views over Sedbergh to the fells beyond.

Day 6: Sedbergh to the A6
Distance: 24km (15 miles), 400m (1,300ft) of ascent
Beyond Sedbergh the Dales Way crosses the A683 and proceeds to join the River Lune which it follows to Crook of Lune. Leaving the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the path then crosses the M6 motorway and the main westcoast railway line to meander through pastoral countryside to Patton Bridge, passing Black Moss and Skelsmergh Tarns, and emerging on the A6 just south of Garth Row.

Day 7: A6 to Bowness
Distance: 19km (12 miles), 335m (1,100ft) of ascent
The final stage is a fitting climax to the walk. Burneside is soon reached and the path follows the River Kent to Cowan Head and Hagg Foot and some craggy embankments must be negotiated before Staveley is reached. Now in the Lake District National Park, the Dales Way makes its way by tracks and lanes to Fell Plain before climbing to Crag House and Outrun Nook. Shortly the panorama of Windermere and the Lakeland Fells comes into view.

Day 8: Depart after breakfast

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Dates and prices

Premium single & twin room supplement: £5 per person, per night

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Where you'll stay

You'll be based for the entire week in our fine Country House accommodation, Newfield Hall, Malhamdale in the Yorkshire Dales. Each day you and your party will be taken to the day's starting point. No need to repack your bags each day.

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The Dales Way in two parts Part I Southern Section : Ilkley to Far Gearstones

We walk the Southern Section from Ilkley to Far Gearstones over five days.

	Detailed itinerary
	Dates and prices
	Where you'll stay

Detailed itinerary

41 miles with 7 to 10 miles and up to 750ft of ascent in a day.

llkley to Gearstones

Day 1: Arrival day

Day 2: llkley to Bolton Abbey
Distance: 7 ¾ miles with 300ft of ascent
The walk starts at the Cow and Calf Rocks, perched above the town of Ilkley with goo d views down Wharfedale. We walk down into the town and to the 17th -century Old Bridge where the re will be time for a photograph stop by the signpost at the start of the walk. . The Dales Way now follows the Wharfe , through a small hamlet, Low Mill, wh ose house s were for the wo r kers of the mill. We re a ch to the village of Addingham and a possible visit to the church. Passing through a carav a n site, the path keeps close to the Wharfe until we reach the main Addingham to Bolton Abbey road . A slight detour to visit the Fairfied Quaker Meeting House, one of the oldest, but un used now, will then take us along side the stretch of road lead ing to Bolton Bridge and the Yorkshire Dales National Park is entered as Bolton Priory comes into view.

Day 3: Bolton Abbey to Burnsall
Distance: 7¼ miles with 250ft of ascent
Looking around the priory before continu ing our walk , we rise above the W harfe as we walk through the woods leading to the Cavendish Pavillion, a good place for coffee. Walking though Bolton Abbey Woods we come to that part of t he river when it becomes a narrow torrent known as the ‘Strid', beyond which the path reaches the attractive 17th-century bridge and remains of the tower at Barden. It then continues along a pleasant stretch to Howgill, below Appletreewick and good views of Simon's Seat before reaching the delightful village of Burnsall..

Day 4: Burnsall to Kettlewell
Distance: 9½ miles with 550ft of ascent
Leaving Burnsall with its interesting church and lytch gate , we keep close to the Wharfe , p assing a limestone escarpment at Loup Scar . T he path then crosses the river via stepping stones or a s u spension bridge and we stay close to the river until reaching Grassington, the principal settlement of Upper Wharfedale. Walking up through the village , the river is now down below us , we come out onto a good path which takes us through a large limes t one area (and a limekiln) where the final scene of ‘ Calendar Girls ' was filmed. We can look down Littondale as well as Wharfedale and see the typical stone walls of the Dales stretch ing before us as we continue towards the quaint village of Kettlewell.

Day 5: Free day

Day 6: Kettlewell to Beckermonds
Distance: 9 ¼ miles with 250ft of ascent
Keeping close to the floor of the valley once more, the Way continues past Starbotton to Buckden. A short detour into the village of Buckden provides a toilet and café stop. There is also a display of farming in a renovated barn ( free NT). We follow the river along Langstrothdale to Hubberholme (with the church containing Robert Thomson's famous mouse), and the ‘ George ' pub, once the vicarage. The path continues along the side of the river, which is getting more shallow and rocky. The countryside is also becoming more isolated, as w e pass through the hamlets of Yockenthwaite and Deepdale before reaching Beckermonds.

Day 7: Beckermonds to Far Gearstones
Distance: 7 miles with 750ft of ascent
Setting out from Beckermonds we soon reach Oughtershaw , the last settlement of any size in Wharfedale . It is quite shelter e d despite its elevation of 1150 f ee t. The school, now a bunk house, was designed by John Ruskin. We walk on a good farm track until Swarthgill farm is reached and the path then becomes moorland ( boggy at times ) . Passing the watershed of the Wharfe just before Cam House farm , we finally reach the highest point of the walk at over 1,600 feet . We join the Pennine Way for a short stretch beyond Cam Houses. Walking down the old Roman Road to Far Gearstones, there are good views of the three peaks of Yorkshire : Whernside (2415 feet), Ingleborou gh (2372 feet) and Pen-y-Ghent (2277 feet) . Stre t c h ing ahead is the Ribblehead viaduct, which carries the
Settle-to-Carlisle railway . T he track descends to the main road above Gearstones where we rendezvous with our coach.

Day 8: Depart after breakfast

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Dates and prices

Premium single & twin room supplement: £5 per person, per night

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Where you'll stay

You'll be based for the entire week in our fine Country House accommodation, Newfield Hall, Malhamdale in the Yorkshire Dales. Each day you and your party will be taken to the day's starting point. No need to repack your bags each day.

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The Dales Way in two parts Part II Northern Section: Far Gearstones to Windermere

Staying at Thorns Hall in Sedbergh we walk the northern section of the Dales Way from Far Gearstones to Windermere over five days.

	Detailed itinerary
	Dates and prices
	Where you'll stay

Detailed itinerary

42 miles with 7 to 10 miles and up to 500ft of ascent in a day.

Gearstones to Bowness

Day 1: Arrival day

Day 2: Far Gearstones to Dent
Distance: 9½ miles with 500 feet of ascent
From Far Gearstones, once an old coaching inn, we take the moorland track which brings us out onto the road above the Dent Viaduct on the Carlisle-to-Settle railway. We now follow the river Dee along a road passing Cow Dubb and its pub, and Lea Yeat, with its old Quaker meeting house, now a private dwelling. Continuing along Dentdale with its many stiles, we follow the river until the unspoilt village of Dent is reached. Walking up through the cobbled street we view the monument to Adam Sedgwick and then possibly visit the church before taking the coach back to Thorns Hall.

Day 3: Dent to Lincoln's Inn Bridge
Distance: 8 ¼ miles with 250 feet of ascent
Leaving Dent we continue to follow the river and its stiles, which have gunmetal plaques attached to the gateposts. After a short walk along a quiet country lane we leave the River Dee and cross the Dent to Sedbergh road before rising over the hill, which gives us magnificent views of Sedbergh and the Howgills. We then descend down into the hamlet of Millthrop. Now, following the River Rawthey, we pass the confluence of the Dee and Rawthey just past the hamlet of Birks. As the Dales Way reaches the A683 there will be chance to divert to Briggflatts Quaker Meeting House before continuing along the the River Lune and finishing at Lincoln's Inn Bridge, another former inn serving the travellers and drovers bringing cattle down from Scotland.

Day 4: Lincoln's Inn Bridge to Grayrigg
Distance: 7 ¼ miles with 500 feet of ascent
Leaving the Bridge we are now following the Lune valley, with its viaducts which carried the Settle-to-Tebay railway. Arriving at the Crook of Lune, the bridge used to form the boundaries between the former West Riding and the now defunct county of Westmorland. A short road walk will take us under the last of the viaducts as we head towards the M6 motorway. Leaving the noise of the motorway we cross fields and stiles before reaching the west coast railway line (site of the train crash in 2006) and then rising to Grayrigg village.

Day 5: Free day

Day 7: Staveley to Bowness-on-Windermere
Distance: 7 miles with 500 feet of ascent
Leaving Staveley we are now in the Lake District National Park, and the Dales Way becomes more rugged but still continuing on well made tracks and lanes. Eventually the panorama of Windermere and the Lakeland Fells comes into view. A short detour past School Knott Tarn up onto School Knott will give a good lunch stop with excellent views of the surrounding hills and Lake Windermere. Continuing on good tracks we eventually reach the stone bench which marks the end of the Dales Way. From this vantage point there are excellent views across Windermere. Walk down into the town, and to get away from the madding crowds perhaps walk round to Cockshott Point and reflect on the walk you have just completed.

Day 8: Depart after breakfast

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Dates and prices

Premium single & twin room supplement: £5 per person, per night

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Where you'll stay

You'll be based in our fine Country House accommodation, Thorns Hall, located on the outskirts of the attractive small market town of Sedbergh in the Yorkshire Dales. Each day you and your party will be taken to the day's starting point. No need to repack your bags each day!

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Average temperatures

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Why not try...

A self-guided walking holiday along the Dales Way, click here for more information.

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