8-day Dales Way itinerary

1. Day 1

   Ilkley to Appletreewick

   4–5 h 11.3 mi (18.1 km) ↑ 240 m (800 ft) ↓ 190 m (600 ft)

   A gentle start up the Wharfe, with buttercup meadows in early summer. The priory ruins at Bolton Abbey are worth slow time, and the tea rooms there suit a long lunch. Appletreewick is a pretty stone-built village with two pubs. The Craven Arms serves food from noon to 8pm, but the New Inn only on some days.

   Example stay New Inn Appletreewick (opens in a new tab)

2. Day 2

   Appletreewick to Grassington

   2–3 h 4.9 mi (7.8 km) ↑ 100 m (350 ft) ↓ 40 m (150 ft)

   A half day, short enough to stop as often as you like. Burnsall, an Anglo-Viking village, has a tea room. Just past it, at Loup Scar, the path crosses the Mid-Craven Fault and the rock turns to limestone. You reach Grassington by lunchtime, with a whole afternoon for its shops and cafés.

   Example stay Kelvin House Grassington (opens in a new tab)

3. Day 3

   Grassington to Buckden

   4–5 h 10.4 mi (16.8 km) ↑ 230 m (750 ft) ↓ 210 m (700 ft)

   The limestone day. The path climbs straight out of Grassington onto pavement cut with deep grooves, so watch your feet. Across the dale, Kilnsey Crag is a great rock face popular with climbers. Kettlewell has three pubs for lunch. The afternoon is an easy, level walk by the river to Buckden, with an inn, a shop and a café.

   Example stay The Buck Inn (opens in a new tab)

4. Day 4

   Buckden to Oughtershaw

   2–3 h 5.9 mi (9.6 km) ↑ 160 m (500 ft) ↓ 40 m (150 ft)

   A short day into the empty top of the dale. The path follows the young Wharfe to the small hamlets of Hubberholme and Yockenthwaite, where the George Inn makes an early lunch stop. Above them the valley climbs slowly through sheep fields to Oughtershaw. Buy supplies in Buckden, because Oughtershaw has no shop and no reliable phone signal.

   Example stay Nethergill Farm (opens in a new tab)

5. Day 5

   Oughtershaw to Cowgill

   4–5 h 10.7 mi (17.2 km) ↑ 350 m (1,150 ft) ↓ 450 m (1,500 ft)

   Cam Fell from a high start. Boggy moor and small streams lead up to the stony Cam High Road, an old Roman road with wide views. Ribblehead Viaduct sits in the distance, and Pen-y-ghent and Ingleborough rise to the south. Nothing is open at Cam Houses, so carry food. A steep descent brings you down into Dentdale.

   Example stay The Sportsman's Inn (opens in a new tab)

6. Day 6

   Cowgill to Sedbergh

   4–5 h 9.9 mi (15.9 km) ↑ 130 m (450 ft) ↓ 250 m (800 ft)

   A gentle valley walk after the moor. The official path crosses the Dee on the Brackensgill footbridge, and the river leads on through meadows to Dent. The Sun Inn and the George & Dragon are both good for lunch there. The last stretch is the uphill road into Sedbergh, the market town under the Howgill Fells.

   Example stay The Dalesman Country Inn (opens in a new tab)

7. Day 7

   Sedbergh to Patton Bridge

   5–6 h 11.6 mi (18.6 km) ↑ 380 m (1,250 ft) ↓ 360 m (1,200 ft)

   Farm country between the Dales and the Lakes. The path follows the Lune past its disused but spectacular viaduct, over rough ground with rocky outcrops. Then you cross the M6 and the main railway into hedged fields. There is almost nowhere to buy food, so carry lunch, and check whether Law Barn at Grayrigg is open.

   Example stay Shaw End Mansion (opens in a new tab)

8. Day 8 Longest

   Patton Bridge to Bowness-on-Windermere

   6–7 h 13.5 mi (21.8 km) ↑ 430 m (1,400 ft) ↓ 530 m (1,750 ft)

   The longest day, saved for last. Fields lead to Burneside, an old mill town on the Kent, and the river leads on to Staveley's café and Spar. Above the village a steep lane climbs into craggier country. From the top you get your first glimpse of Windermere, and the Dales Way Bench above Bowness marks the finish.

   Finish Dales Way Finish

Cross-check: Dales Way Association FAQ . The Association gives 80 miles (128 km) and about 5 to 7 days. Distances on the cards are measured along the trail. A walk off the path to a bed is extra.

8-day itinerary FAQ