Walk the Bracken Way

“A week long multi day walk passing through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales”

The Bracken Way includes visits to Malham Cove, Aysgarth and Hardraw Falls, Askrigg (where James Herriott was filmed), Dent, Ingleton Falls and many more special places. This is a brand new long distance walk which passes through 6 major Dales with an option to include a 7th (Swaledale) on a 2 day extension.

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Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1 Settle to Malham 6 miles

An easy first day with a pleasant walk over the limestone scenery of the Settle Loop to Malham. There is plenty of time for the 1/2 mile walk to Malham Cove, often at its best in later evening light and a pint in one of the 2 delightful pubs.

Day 2. Malham to Kettlewell 13 miles

2 options, both of similar length and uphill. The choice is yours but personally I do love Littondale!

  • Join Mastile Lane to Kilnsey in Wharfedale. Visit Kilnsey Crag, pass through Conistone and join the Dales Way to Kettlewell
  • Pass over Gordale Scar to Malham Tarn. A high moor leads to Arncliffe in lovely Littondale, then a short final crossing leads directly to the village of Kettlewell.

Day 3. Kettlewell to West Burton 14 miles

Buckden Pike is in my view the best mountain in the Dales and the route passes a few hundred feet from its summit. (Climb it unless the weather is poor!). From Buckden Pike the route descends sharply into the lovely but rarely visited Walden Dale. The pretty village of West Burton awaits the tired walker at the end of the day.

Day 4. West Burton to Hawes 15 miles

The length of this day purely depends on how many places you want to visit. They come thick and fast as the route passes threough the heart of Wensleydale; Castle Bolton, Aysgarth Falls, Askrigg, Hardraw Falls before Hawes itself homes in to view. A long day but largely flat.

Day 5 Rest Day in Hawes

There is plenty to see and do in Hawes so is ideal for a rest day at the half way point of the Bracken Way. However if you do want a walk, take the 8 mile round trip to Semer Water, the largest natural inland lake in the Dales and a wildlife sanctuary…a genuinally peaceful spot.

Day 6 Hawes to Dent 16.5 miles

The Bracken Way to Dent passes through some remote country as it passes out of Yorkshire and in to Dentdale. Leaving Wensleydale the path passes the lower slopes of Great Knowberry before passing Dent Station (the highest English train station) and meeting Dentdale at Cowgill. Cobbled streets greet the weary walker on arrival in the attractive village of Dent and the local micro brewery is very welcome.

Day 7 Dent to Ingleton 14.5  miles

From Dent the Bracken Way traverses the lower slopes of Great Coum, with cracking views of Dentdale, before dropping in to Kingsdale. Whernside (the highest peak in Yorkshire) is an option but it is a dreary ascent and most will be happy to follow Kingsdale before dropping into Ingleton via one arm of the famous Ingleton waterfalls.

Day 8 Ingleton to Settle 14.5 miles

This is a beautiful finish to the walk through wonderful limestone country. As with the previous day there is an option to climb Ingleborough, but this time on good paths. However either route passes through a collection of pretty Yorkshire villages (Clapham, Austwick, Feizor (cup of tea) before returning to your start point at Settle.

2 Day Optional Extension to Swaledale

Adding Swaledale to the itinerary certainly enhances the walk and increase knowledge of what makes the Yorkshire Dales so popular. Therefore we have added an option to the Bracken Way which is a 2 day/1 night extension in to Swaledale, staying in either Muker or Keld, 2 exquisite villages in Upper Swaledale. Because the moors are higher here the two walks from Hawes include some remote walking with one way passing along the Pennine Way over Great Shunner Fell whilst the other crosses the moors further east entering the valley near Gunnerside.

Our Bracken Way holiday offers the following

  • An accommodation booking service
  • 4 new maps (O/S 1.25,000) with the route marked and alternatives suggested
  • Extra information on key route finding decisions, what to look out for (often short detours off the route)
  • Emergency contact details
  • A baggage movement service (optional) where your bags are moved daily to your next accommodation