West Riding - The Dales Way Footpath
This walking trail is a true test of Yorkshire grit!
The Dales Way is a long distance footpath of about 80 miles (128 km) in the north of England, which runs from Ilkley all the way to Bowness-on-Windermere. This much-loved long-distance path runs right across the Yorkshire Dales National Park and is a fantastic way to experience its rugged beauty.
You can choose whether to do a short route or a longer one starting at any point on the trail.
The full Dales Way route officially starts at Ilkley. It does, however, have links from Leeds, Bradford and Harrogate, which lead from the centre of the major cities of Bradford and Leeds and from Harrogate to the start of the Dales Way at Ilkley. These open up the appealing challenge of walking from largest conurbation in England (the West Yorkshire cities) to its largest lake (Windermere).
From Ilkley however, 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. You'll then climb out onto the roof of England, crossing the great Pennine watershed with impressive views of the Three Peaks before you head for Lakeland.
