Bracken Way (Dales)

(85 miles, 8 days)

General Overview

“A multi day walk passing through the main valleys in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales”

To fully enjoy the Yorkshire Dales and in particular to appreciate the variety and character of the individual dales takes time. However in a week this can be comfortably achieved on foot. I have put together a long distance route that covers the best places to visit in the area and called it the Bracken Way (after our old collie who would have loved it). Whilst the Dales Way cuts right through the heart of the dales but spends its 2nd half up in Cumbria the Bracken Way sticks to the main dales of Yorkshire and is in my opinion better for it.

The days can be quite long (roughly 15 miles a day) but is almost exclusively on good paths or bridleways (some tarmac but on the quieter roads) so the miles pass quickly and, as I have indicated in the itinerary below, there are options and places off route to visit which will only enhance the enjoyment of the walk. I have also added a map of the route.

It is all about lovely soft landscapes, pretty villages and a working community largely unchanged by tourism.

To book a Walking Break on to the Bracken Way click here

Day 1 Settle to Malham 7 miles

Highlights: Settle, limestone scenery and Malham Cove

Day 2. Malham to Kettlewell 14 miles

Highlights: Either

  • Kilnsey Crag, Mastiles Lane and a limestone walk over to Kettlewell
  • Gordale Scar, Malham Tarn & Littondale

Day 3. Kettlewell to West Burton 15 miles

Highlights: Buckden Pike, Walden vale, West Burton

Day 4. West Burton to Hawes 16 miles

Highlights: Castle Bolton, Aysgarth Falls, Askrigg, Hardraw Falls, Hawes

Day 5 Rest Day in Hawes

Optional visit to Semer Water (8 miles round trip)

Day 6 Hawes to Dent 17.5 miles

Highlights: Dent Station, Cowgill, Dent village

Day 7 Dent to Ingleton 15.5  miles

Highlights: Whernside, Twisleton Scar, Ingleton waterfalls

Day 8 Ingleton to Settle 15.5 miles

Highlights: Clapham, Austwick, limestone scenery. Option for Ingleborough

2 Day Optional Extension to Swaledale

From Hawes: remote moorland, pretty Swaledale villages

Map

Places to Stay

We have listed some of the best places to stay on the Bracken Way

Settle: The Eldon Country House is a few miles distance but has great character

Malham: Listers country inn lies in the centre of Malham

Littondale: Queen’s Arms recently renovated in the centre of Litton

Kettlewell: Lynburn is a quiet B & B en route.

West Burton: The Fox & Hounds is a traditional pub in the centre of the village

Hawes: The Stone House is beautiful but a mile or so outside the village, Herriots is on the spot

Dent: George & Dragon, another pub and has excellent local beer!

Ingleton: Halsteads Barn is a lovely B & B with a restaurant

Swaledale: Rowleth End is our choice if you take the Swaledale extension

Useful Links

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Personal Journey

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Day-by-day

Day 1.
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