OnFoot

Distance Walking

Wild moors, rugged cliffs, rolling hills and a stunningly beautiful coastline pave the routes for walking across North Yorkshire. There are three world-famous National Parks to explore: the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors, and the Peak District, and there are even more wonderful walking areas to discover, like the Yorkshire Pennines, the chalk settings of the Yorkshire Wolds and the rugged coastal trails.

In between those, you’ll find miles and miles of charming country lanes, unspoilt villages, canal towpaths, lush valleys, archaeological sites, and wildflower meadows. Yorkshire’s varied landscape offers variety and activities for all abilities of walker. If you’re not in the mood for a long distance walk, you can enjoy shorter snatches of the long distance paths at your own pace. Wander circular walks, way-marked trails or take guided walks like Harrogate Town Trails or a Ghost Walk in York or Whitby. Or, just make your own exploration wherever and whenever you feel like it. Yorkshire can be as mild or as wild as you want!

Short walks and guided experiences
If you find walking a challenge or your group includes a wheelchair or buggy then have a look in our Accessible Adventure section.

There are endless short walks in Yorkshire, and countless guidebooks to help you explore the area.  As a start you can gain inspiration by clicking here and here:

Joining a guided walk is a great way of exploring if you prefer less challenging routes, with a touch of sociability.  There are many opportunities to do this around the region – walks are organised by the National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, as well as by other organisations such as the Friends of the Settle Carlisle Railway and Dales bus Ramblers. 

Find out more, and get this year’s programme

Long distance trails
Long distance trails are a great alternative for a break from home and enable you to explore even more of an area. Set yourself a personal challenge and grasp that fantastic sense of achievement that comes with tackling it. You can use one of a number of baggage handlers if you want to lighten your load, or do the route in stages by using public transport. Walkers and Cyclists Welcome schemes provide you with accommodation along the route which is tailored for the more adventurous holiday-maker and offers a perfect resting point.

National Trails
Four of Britain’s finest National Trails are here in Yorkshire. The Cleveland Way roller-coasts around the North York Moors from Ryedale to the sea; the Yorkshire Wolds Way rambles through peaceful fields and over gentle chalk-hills; the Pennine Way strides through the Yorkshire Dales on its mammoth journey from the Peak District to Scotland; and the Pennine Bridleway is a new purpose-built route for walkers, horse riders and cyclists.

The Cleveland Way
There is no better way to take the weight of the world off your shoulders than to take a walk along the Cleveland Way National Trail. This 110 mile/176 kilometre walking route follows the fantastic scenery of the North York Moors National Park, crossing stunning lengths of heather moorland and providing spectacular views of the North Yorkshire coastline.

The distance you walk is entirely up to you – maybe you’ll enjoy a few hours steady saunter, or maybe a few days trekking. For a real test of stamina, take aside nine days to walk the full length between Helmsley and Filey and enjoy coast and countryside.
Visit the Cleveland Way website for more details about the National Trail

The Yorkshire Wolds National Trail
The Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail is a National Trail to savour. Its 79 miles (128 km) is not too strenuous and offers a route where the peace and quiet of country life still dominate and the gentle charm of the Yorkshire Wolds leaves the walker refreshed in body and spirit. As well as being a National Trail, the Wolds Way National Trail forms part of the E2 European walking route. In 2007, the Yorkshire Wolds Way celebrated its 25th anniversary.

The Pennine Way
The Pennine Way has something to offer every long distance walker. This 270-mile walk takes you from the Peak District National Park along the Pennine ridge through the Yorkshire Dales and further.

There are plenty of historical and cultural interest sites along the way to be enjoyed too. Starting at the scene of the Kinder Scout mass trespasses of the 1930s, you walk through the Southern Pennines, cradle of the Industrial Revolution, pass Haworth, home of the Brönte sisters and certain literature heritage, across the limestone country of the Yorkshire Dales, and enter a huge Pennine area, renowned for its lead mining history. Finally you'll reach the Roman Wall and beyond that the territory of the Scottish Border rivers.

As with all walks, sound planning is important. There are sections of the route, especially at each end, which require careful thought about accommodation and advance booking is advisable at most times of the year.

The Pennine Way takes you into isolated country. Although that is part of the exhilaration, consideration must be made of the challenges and responsibilities such country brings with it. On a multi-day expedition such as this you are almost certain to experience a variety of British weather. In high and wild places this can include dangerous extremes. Pay close attention to detail in your choice of equipment. Brush up your navigation skills, carry the appropriate large-scale maps and know how to use them.
For more information visit the official Pennine Way website.

Try A Trail
To enjoy a National Trail you don't have to do the whole thing end-to-end. And you don't have to be hardy hiker.

Once you've sampled a few days on one of Yorkshire's National Trails, walking a route in its entirety will surely be your next aim. It may take a week or longer, but the sense of achievement is supreme, while close contact with the natural environment provides its own spiritual rewards - and it doesn't do the waistline any harm either.

The Yorkshire Wolds Way and part of the Cleveland Way form part of the British section of the European E2 walking route, while the coastal section of the Cleveland Way forms part of the North Sea Trail.

Further information on Rambling or North Sea Trail

Regional Routes

In addition to the National Trails there are a large number of other long distance routes that have been devised.

In the North York Moors National Park there are four Regional Routes:
• Esk Valley Walk
• Tabular Hills Walk
• Hambleton Hillside Mosaic Walk
• Newtondale Horse Trail

They have been designed by the National Park Authority for a short holiday under your own steam and are ideal for a long weekend. They aim to combine the best of the area's paths and tracks, avoiding roads wherever possible and link with local service providers to offer the perfect package to "get away from it all".

There are many other important and challenging routes in the region.

The Yorkshire Three Peaks
The Yorkshire Three Peaks walk is a famous challenge walk in the Yorkshire Dales. It takes in three of the highest summits in the area; Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. Each of these hills is worthy of spending a day on with many varied and interesting routes available.

Each year, however, many walkers attempt to walk all three peaks in one day with most starting from Horton-in-Ribblesdale. The route is 24.5 miles (39km) long and has over 5,000 feet (1600m) of ascent and descent and most people aim to complete it in less than 12 hours.

You can get more information from:
Pen-y-Ghent Cafe, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Settle, North Yorkhire, BD24 0HE
Tel:(01729) 860333 or email

The Dales Way
The Dales Way officially starts at Ilkley and covers a distance of around 80 miles (130km) which follows riverside paths as far as possible. There are also links from Leeds, Bradford and Harrogate enabling you to sample some of Yorkshire’s finest city life, and contast this to the quiet rural settings of most of the trails. From Ilkley you'll still have the satisfaction of walking the full length of Wharfedale, thought by many to be the most picturesque of the Yorkshire Dales, climbing out onto the roof of England, crossing the great Pennine watershed with impressive views of the Three Peaks then heading for the Lune valley and the Lake District.

For more information click here

The Coast to Coast
St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay 304km/190 miles
Devised by the late Alfred Wainwright in 1973 to link the Irish Sea and the North Sea via the hills, moors and valleys of northern England, this route crosses two of the regions National Parks: the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. An area of beautiful scenery and high-level settings, the route includes some fairly demanding upland stretches, and remains for the biggest part in highly remote areas.

The route is traditionally walked from west to east (St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay), so that the prevailing weather will be coming from behind, but you may wish to begin on the rugged Yorkshire coast, so as to have the Lake District section as the final stretch. Similarly, the walk can be as long or as short as you want - walk it in weekend sections, or walk it continuously, averaging between 10-14 days in total.

Scenery and terrain is varied with valleys and arable land making it more straightforward walking, but the hills are high and the gradients sometimes steep. Many stages are bare and exposed, such as the North York Moors, and help may not always be close to hand. Unless you are an experienced long-distance walker, it is advisable to take a companion. And before you set off, make sure you have the necessary map and compass skills, fitness and stamina, clothing and equipment.

The North Sea Trail
The North Sea Trail aims to develop walking opportunities around the coast of the North Sea Countries. In the North York Moors, the route follows the coastal section of the Cleveland Way National Trail.

Please click here for more details.

The Ribble Way
The Ribble Way is a 70 mile (117km) footpath following the river and its valley from the sea to its source. The footpath spans the counties of Lancashire and North Yorkshire and is divided into seven sections each approximately ten miles long.

The Ribble Way starts at Longton on the salt marshes of the estuary and passes through this flat estuarine environment to the west of Preston and onto the lush fertile plains between Preston and Clitheroe. The route then traverses the higher ground towards the county border and continues to its source in North Yorkshire.

The Ribble Valley has a fascinating history with evidence of Roman roads, ancient abbeys, 14th century halls and numerous landmarks from the industrial revolution, many of which have been incorporated into the route. The route is fully way-marked with the Ribble way logo making it easy to follow.

There are many other longer walks that also have a guide book or map and can take you to new parts of Yorkshire. These include the Lady Anne’s Way, the Inn Ways in the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and Peak District, and the Herriot Way. Further information can be found on the following websites:

Walking on Open Access Land
Following the introduction of open access land in 2005 you can now walk across miles of spectacular moorland that was previously out of bounds to the public. This area now has around 20,000 hectares of new Access Land (mainly high moor) added to the extremely good rights of way network it already enjoyed and additional access facilities allowed by the two major water companies there.

This land is available for such activities as walking, climbing, and running. This land represents an excellent opportunity to practice your navigation skills and to explore areas of the region that were previously 'out of bounds'.

Walking on open-access land can be challenging and dangerous, as you will often be a long way from recognised paths or even obvious landmarks. Stiles and gates may also be few and far between. As a large percentage of the access land is open moorland, good navigation skills and suitable clothing are required.

Can I take my dog?
Dogs are allowed on large areas of open access land, however, they must be kept under close control, and from 1 March to 31 July they must be kept on a lead to prevent disturbance to breeding birds and animals. In some areas, such as grouse moors, there are long-term restrictions in place meaning dogs are not allowed. To check for dog restrictions go to the Natural England website.

Is this land open all year?
Restrictions may be placed upon open access at any time of year for purposes such as preventing disturbance to breeding birds, land management or fire prevention. These restrictions may be enforced at short notice, so please check before you walk. The Natural England Restrictions Site is updated daily and shows all types of restrictions.

For more information on open access land in the National Parks please click here and here

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One of the best ways to get out and about in Yorkshire is to take part in one of the many festivals and events taking place throughout the year. They provide the opportunity to discover the delights that the region has to offer.

Rotherham Walking Festival, July
The well established Rotherham Walking Festival features a great range of guided walks plus special events, historical talks, brewery tours and other entertainment. Some examples of previous walks include: A walk around the beautiful picturesque Norman village of Letwell, Kimberworth Hill, Constitution Hill, Barkers Park and the Trans Pennine Trail, Silverwood and the magnificent yet tranquil wooded valley of Ravenfield Park, Treeton's ancient woodland - Hail Mary Hill wood and Falconer wood, From Thorpe Hesley around the beautiful area of Scholes and Wentworth
Rotherham Ring route from Swinton to Wentworth, From Harthill village a walk over fields and through woods to Chesterfield Canal, Five Churches Walk - rural splendour on a trail through unspoilt villages.

Black Sheep Boots and Beer Walking Festival 12-14 September 2008
What could be better than a weekend of great walks, beautiful countryside, fantastic beer and excellent entertainment?
Over the weekend, you can enjoy a choice of 14 walks ranging from easy to challenging, specially written by Mark Reid, author of ‘The Inn Way’ guidebooks. Walks start from Hawes, Askrigg or Aysgarth and there will be a free daytime shuttle bus linking the three registration desks. If you take part in the festival, you will also receive a superb goody bag and an exclusive Boots & Beer T-shirt as well as a Walker’s Tally Card which will include a Pub Trail Collector Card.
Click here for further information.

Richmond Walking Festival, September
You can take part in over 30 guided walks through Swaledale & Wensleydale, some on land that has rarely been walked on. Complete The Swaledale Chain - a series of five circular walks from Keld to Richmond and discover the historic delights of Richmond with its Norman Castle, Georgian Theatre, fast flowing river and spectacular setting and once you’ve worked up an appetite; you can sample local produce such as Richmond Ale, Swaledale Cheese and Altberg Boots.

Roses Walking Festival, October
This is a recent festival promoted by Bradford, Calderdale, and Rochdale District Councils plus Lancashire County Council and will cover all the Bradford and Calderdale Districts in Yorkshire, plus the Pennine parts of eastern Lancashire and Rochdale District - straddling the Pennine watershed. The Festival plans to offer well over 100 walks of various types and lengths spread across the Festival area. These will include everything from an hour's easy stroll near town, some fairly easy half-day walks, and right up through medium 7 to 10 mile walks, to 10 – 12 milers, and a few hard 14 mile+ walks.

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Geocaching is a great new way of having fun in the countryside and combining enjoyment with careful exploration. Hunt out carefully hidden caches using maps and satellite navigation devices called GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers. If you find a cache (and some are very hard to spot!) there are often trade items in them that you can swap and a log book for you to record your visit. Back home you can log your visit onto the internet.

To find out about caches in the Yorkshire Dales log onto the international geocaching website. Registration is free and then you are ready to start geocaching! You will first need to find out the coordinates and clues for your nearest caches, the quickest way is to enter a postcode. Choose which ones you want to bag and then download or enter the co-ordinates manually into your GPS receiver. Check out the best way to get to the site using an up-to-date Ordnance Survey map and then off you go!

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Orienteering means maps, varied terrain and adventure through running, cycling or walking - and it can all be done at your own pace. Orienteering is a sport where competitors navigate their way between control points marked on a specially drawn map. There are different forms of orienteering with competitions in the Dales taking place both on foot and mountain bike.

Visit the British Orienteering website for more information and a list of clubs and events for orienteering on foot.

For mountain bike orienteering events visit the Trailquest website.

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Fell running is a popular and well established activity in the Dales. There is a tremendous exhilaration to be gained from travelling fast and light on the fells that Yorkshire has to offer.

A sport that is very low cost, the only real requirement being a decent pair of running shoes, so you can splash out on something else whilst here – why not enjoy a good home-cooked meal at one of the restaurants or sample the museums and attractions of your nearest city. There is a large calendar of events with something happening most weekends, and nearly every show in the Dales has an accompanying fell race. These are often shorter and less strenuous events for which entries on the day are accepted, and they include classic short races such as Burnsall and Kilnsey

The premier race in the Dales is the Three Peaks fell race which takes place every April and traverses the famous Yorkshire Dales Mountains of Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside. This is one of the oldest, most famous and best organised fell races in Britain. First run in 1954, the race covers 24 miles of the most rugged and spectacular countryside in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, taking competitors to a height of 2,500 feet above sea level. The course record is held by English international Andy Peace of Bingley Harriers, who completed this gruelling challenge in 2 hours 46 min. 03 sec. The women's record of 3hours 16min 17sec is held by another English international Sarah Rowell.

This year, the annual Three Peaks Race will be run as the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge, a prestigious international event which will attract over 100 overseas competitors as well as the best runners from the UK.

More information on the Race, the area in which it is held and the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge, is available in the booklet, Three Peaks of the Yorkshire Dales: Welcomes the 2008 World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge.

The Fell Runners Association is the controlling organisation of the sport and joining provides a comprehensive calendar of all fell races as well as information about safety and equipment. For more information visit the Fell Runners Association website.

The Three Peaks Race website also contains more information 

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