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Exploring The Yorkshire Dales

Welcome to TheYorkshireDales.org and our Yorkshire Dales information, useful online links, local villages sections and holiday cottage sites for a relaxing stay in this wonderful part of the north of England. In this section we have a quick look at ways of exploring the Dales.

The Dales are a nature-lovers paradise. It's here that wild flowers, plants, birds, small animals, and insects thrive in their natural habitat. Visit the visitor information centres at Aysgarth Falls, Grassington, Hawes, Malham or Reeth for all the information you need.Railway enthusiasts will find the Settle and Carlisle Railways in the Dales, and the famous Ribblehead Viaduct is also here.

Walking, cycling or in the car, are all ways to enjoy the Dales. 'Just passing through', is part of the Pennine Way long distance walk. It enters the Dales at Gargrave, passes through Malham, takes in Malham Cove and Malham Tarn, over Pen-y-Ghent, round by Ribblesdale, over Dodd Fell to Hawes then through Hardraw and past Hardraw Force, over Great Shunner Pass, through Thwaite and Keld and finally leaves the Dales National Park to continue on its way to the Cheviots. The Yorkshire Dales also have The Dales Way, the Coast to Coast and the Pennine Bridleway long distance walks passing through. Cyclist are well catered for and there are several scenic cycleways.

Most of us have heard of the Yorkshire Dales. We are aware of whereabouts they are on a map, have perhaps visited nearby tourist places (for example York or Harrogate) and the names of some of the Dales are familiar. We eat Wensleydale Cheese; the railway passes through Ribblesdale, and so on, but it's perhaps surprising to find that there are quite a large number of Dales, and each has its own character. To the east you'll find Nidderdale, Coverdale and Wharfedale; to the west are Dentdale, Kingsdale, Ribblesdale, Malhamdale and Airedale; and to the north are Garsdale, Teesdale, Swaledale, Birkdale, Arkengarthdale, and Wenselydale. There are also quite a few more, smaller and less well known dales, for visitors to discover and enjoy.