The Dales Way was established in the 1960’s, offering a wonderful walk which starts in the vibrant town of Ilkley and takes you through the valleys of the Dales and into Cumbria, arriving at the scenic Lake Windermere – linking two major national parks, the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District.
Stage One traverses Wharfedale, arguably the most appealing of the Yorkshire Dales, taking in the popular spa town of Ilkley and following the River Wharf past Bolton Abbey/Priory before arriving in Burnsall. The trail between Burnsall and Buckden is full of delights, including Loup Scar, Linton Falls, Grassington and Conistone Pie. This itinerary is a great adventure in the Yorkshire Dales that can fit comfortably in a long weekend.
This is a great walk for a first time middle- to long-distance walker as it is well signposted, and you are never too far from civilisation. Adverse weather can be a challenge over exposed ground, however with the correct gear and preparation, this is an experience not to be missed!
Spring, with air of a new beginning and autumn with the palette of colour, are great times to take the trip.
We take the stress out of your trip with expert local knowledge, hand-picked accommodation, luggage and transfers and detailed support to help you find your way. You will need full walking kit including a waterproof jacket and trousers, a small day sack and comfortable walking boots. You will receive a more detailed kit list upon booking. This trip is based on 2 people sharing, so if you are a solo traveller, please contact us for further details and we will be happy to help.
Inclusions
- 2 nights’ accommodation in good quality B&Bs or hotels with ensuite or private bathroom and breakfast
- Luggage transfers each walking day (1 x bag per person, max. weight limit 20kg)
- Map and guide book plus detailed directions to your accommodation from the trail
- Expert local knowledge and 24 hour emergency assistance during your trip
- Professional event organisation
Exclusions
- Travel to the start and finish points of the trip
- Lunches and evening meals
- Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects)
- Guiding (please contact us if you would like this trip to be guided)
Optional extras
- Single room supplement £90 per person per night (subject to availability)
- Solo traveller supplement £90 per person per night
- Odd number group supplement £90 per group per night may apply if a single room is required
- Extra night prior to the start (single room) £180 per person
- Extra night prior to the start (twin room, needs 2 people) £95 per person
- Extra night at the end of the event (single room) £180 per person
- Extra night at the end of the event (twin room, needs 2 people) £95 per person
Please select from Optional Extras at checkout.
Getting there and back
Getting There
By road: Routes from the north & west: M6, A65.
By public transport: The closest train station is Ilkley, which allows passengers to connect from Leeds and Bradford (via Shipley). You can connect to mainline services from Leeds or York, via a couple of changes.
By air: The nearest airport is Manchester.
Getting Away
By road: Routes along the B6160, to Skipton, then the A59 to the M6 in the west or the A1M in the East.
By public transport: The closest train station is Ilkley, which allows passengers to connect from Leeds and Bradford (via Shipley). You can connect to mainline services from Leeds or York, via a couple of changes.
By air: The nearest airport is Manchester.
Evening meals and lunches
You can purchase evening meals either at the accommodation or nearby. When our event planners send you the schedule with your itinerary you could prearrange directly with the accommodation or during the walk.
For lunches we would suggest bringing some of your own favourite snack bars and then asking the accommodation for a packed lunch for the following day and also supplementing that at stops en-route.
Accommodation
Accommodation is generally at B&B, guest houses and small hotels. Once booked in, your event planner will send you a list of your booked accommodation. It is possible to adjust according to preference at this stage so please mention it if you wish to change.
Dog-friendly
If you would like to bring your four legged friend, then we will do our best to source dog friendly accommodation. It is usually possible but if it were not, then we would suggest a change of date to enable it or offer a refund. There may be a small surcharge for the overnight stays. Therefore, once booked in, please alert your event planner that you would like to bring your dog and we can proceed from there.
Need a guide?
If you would prefer to have a guide for your walk, even just for one day, then we are happy to help. We can provide a qualified leader (also first aid qualified) to lead your trek or on just one of the sections. Just ask us.
A guide can not only take the stress out of navigation, but you will also find them a great asset in terms of providing an insight into all things environment and nature.
Dates and prices
For available dates please see the ‘book now’ option on the left hand side on desktops or at the bottom on mobiles. You can reserve your space via this route.
After you book
After placing your booking with us, you will in the first instance receive an automated email from our system confirming receipt of your reservation. If you don’t receive it, it is worth checking your spam/clutter folder.
In the process of placing your booking, you will generally set up an access password to our online gateway where you can review the details of the booking.
Your personal event planner will then be in touch with you to start to confirm the details. This contact will usually be taken up in the working day after receipt of your booking, but may, in busy times, take a little longer. The event planner will then liaise with you regarding the details of the course. If you have any specific requirements, please do mention it at this stage.
At the end of your trip
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end at some point and when you arrive at the end of the trail, you have one of several options. If you have not booked an additional night’s stay then we can transfer your luggage to a location of your choice. From there you may have onward travel arranged as per the ‘Getting There and Back’ tab above.
Some people like to treat themselves to a night’s stay at the end. And why not? You’ve earned it. You can arrange this as an optional add on with your event planner.
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