From the moors to the dales, the coast to the wolds, you’re spoiled for walking choice in Yorkshire. And with new campaigns to encourage you to get outdoors this year, it’s also the perfect place for a summer adventure.
Starting this month, the Ramblers are encouraging everyone to Walk Your Way, with a series of free, downloadable inspiration packs for every area of the country.
Each has a series of three mini challenges, as well as facts, tips and a sample walking route to get you started, whether you’re an experienced rambler or absolute beginner looking for a gentle amble around the countryside.
And each week, the campaign will focus on a different region of the country on social media, sharing more hidden gems and tips, using the hashtag #WalkYourWay.
For added inspiration, Welcome to Yorkshire is also celebrating Walkshire throughout 2021 with a Yorkshire walk for every day of the year, ranging from urban cultural tours to family-friendly options during the summer holidays, right up to the 3 Peaks Challenge for those looking for a bigger adventure.
Get inspired
Start your summer adventure with a taste of the Ramblers’ walking inspiration pack for Yorkshire and The Humber.
Challenge yourself
1. The Yorkshire Dales has Three Peaks — Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent. How many can you reach?
2. The Pennine Way has 204 bridges. How many bridges can you cross on your walk?
3. The Yorkshire Moors contains one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom. What plants can you spot on your walk?
Did you know?
The Pennine Way was the brainchild of former Ramblers Secretary Tom Stephenson and offers the ultimate long-distance walking challenge. It’s often described as a walk that everyone should do once in their lifetime. In 1965 it became Britain’s first long-distance path, and a key symbol in the fight to open up the private shooting moors and estates of northern England.
Five Yorkshire walks
If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve picked five Ramblers Routes from across Yorkshire to persuade you to get out and walking. Click for the full details or visit ramblers.org.uk/go-walking and click Ramblers Routes, which are searchable by route name.
Follow the Corpse Road — Crackpot Hall, North Yorkshire
Distance: 7 miles
Walking time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Difficulty: moderate
This beautiful, circular walk takes you through the tranquil landscape of the Yorkshire Dales. Beginning in the tiny village of Muker, follow the banks of the Swale through the picturesque town of Keld to the spectacular and dramatic waterfall at Kisdon Force.
The route follows the course of an older path which was historically used to transport dead bodies to the nearest consecrated ground — hence its chilling name, the ‘Corpse Road’.
Wheeldale Roman Road, North Yorkshire
Distance: 11.1 miles
Walking time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Difficulty: leisurely
This circular walk from Goathland takes you along Wheeldale Roman Road and past Mallyan Spout waterfall. Along the way, you’ll see the Simon Howe Bronze Age burial site before crossing Wheeldale Beck at the ford and later the stepping stones (these can be submerged and potentially treacherous after heavy rain; if they are flooded, you can continue along the Roman road crossing at the footbridge).
Did you know? Long thought to be part of a Roman road to the coast, the mile-long stone track known locally as ‘Wade’s Causeway’ may actually be the remains of a Bronze Age boundary wall. Depending on who you ask, it could also be the work of medieval bishops or a Norse giant called Wade.
Simon’s Seat and Troller’s Gill from Appletreewick
Distance: 8.4 miles
Walking time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Difficulty: moderate
This walk features a brief stroll along the River Wharfe before a short, sharp climb up to Simon’s Seat. The descent leads to the sinister little ravine of Troller’s Gill before a pleasant walk back across Appletreewick Pasture.
From Appletreewick, head west out of the village and you’ll reach a walled path that leads to the River Wharfe, continuing on to the Dales Way and climbing Barden Fell. Keep an eye out for grouse that roam the fell once you reach the rocky outcrop of Simon’s Seat.
Passing becks and fields, you’ll come to the path up Troller’s Gill: legend has it that this narrow limestone gorge is the haunt of the Barquest or Barguest, a terrifying spectral hounds which may have helped inspire The Hound of the Baskervilles. There are a series of disused mine workings as well as natural caves, including the ominously named Hell Hole, before returning towards Appletreewick.
- As a shorter and easier route to explore a similar area, try the five-mile walk linking four of the Dales’ most picturesque villages: Grassington, Threshfield, Thorpe and Linton. Along the way, there are some spectacular views over Wharfedale from Thorpe Hill, as well as stopping to discover how stolen maypoles sparked a feud between Thorpe and Burnsall, and crossing a 14th century packhorse bridge.
Tea housing in Limestone Country - Settle to Clapham
Distance: 8.1 miles (with options for a shorter route)
Walking time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Difficulty: moderate
Starting and finishing in a tea room, this route takes you on a wander from Settle, along the river to a waterfall, then through glorious limestone country to Clapham.
Along the way, look out for the Settle Station Water Tower; now a private house, it once stored up to 43,000 gallons of water for steam locomotives, while horses were once stabled underneath. Constructed in stone, mortar, cast iron and glass it was built to last.
The route leads you through historic Settle, passing under a railway viaduct, and on to the Stainforth Force Waterfall, where you can spot salmon leaping up the cascades in autumn, as they journey to their spawning grounds.
You’ll also see a 17th century packhorse bridge over the River Ribble, once part of the main route through the dales between York and Lancaster, as well as woodland designated as a site of Special Scientific Interest. And if you fancy a shorter walk, there are several options to take a bus back to Settle along the way.
Journey to Hidden Places
Distance: 4.8 miles
Walking time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Difficulty: leisurely
There’s no reason to miss out on a good walk if you’re based in or around a city, such as this route from Sheffield, exploring Firth Park and Wincobank, and passing works of art created during the Journeys to Hidden Places creative arts project in 2011. The walk also climbs up to Hinde Common Wood and Wincobank Hill, descends to Woolley Wood and back up to Concord Park.
Along the way you can spot a Giant Foot, Enchanted Chairs, Posh Pillar and her daughters and The Star Crossed Queen, just some of the artworks designed to add a touch of magic to the area.
There are some great views of the city and wildflower meadow as you walk too, as well as several other sculptures to spot as you stroll — a fun option if you’re looking for a family-friendly walk as well as if you’re looking for an urban option.
Where to stay
New four-star hotel Sandburn Hall is opening this year, the first major new hotel development in the region for more than 20 years. Set on a 1,000-acre estate, the 40-room hotel is next door to beautiful Castle Howard, 15 minutes from York and 40 minutes from the North York Moor.
The hotel has its own 18-hole championship golf course too, plus cycling and walking trails to help you explore the region.
If you prefer to get closer to nature, there’s also new five-star luxury glamping near Ackham on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds. The Private Hill has four geodesic domes on the site, with en-suite toilets and showers, along with a private chef to prepare a candlelit dinner, and a firepit to sit around as you star-gaze.
In the daytime, you can also take a private tour of the countryside with alpacas Perseus, Renoir and Ziggy.
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