Best trails in Yorkshire Dales National Park

This is a beautiful, scenic, and very popular trail taking in riverside paths, waterfalls, sweeping views, and fascinating geology as you make your way around. This trail includes very rough, steep, and rocky terrain along cliff edges, so good footing and a head for heights are required. Starting at the pay and display car park in Malham, the trail heads over the farm fields and beside Goredale Beck to Janet's Foss, a picturesque pool and waterfall, and the legendary home of the Fairy Queen....

The Yorkshire Three Peaks trail covers the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough offering a great challenge. Every year thousands take on the effort of ascending these peaks within the 12 hour challenge cutoff. However, due to the steep terrain this trail can take a lot longer to complete. This trail will require careful planning, a good level of fitness, appropriate footwear, warm and waterproof layers, plenty of food and water, sun protection, and a printed map and compass with...

This is a beautiful trail offering views over the surrounding hills, moorland, and the famous Ribblehead Viaduct. With 24 32m arches, this feat of engineering is an iconic sight to behold. The trail is straightforward to follow with beautiful scenery all the way up and around Whernside. There is a good spot for a picnic lunch at the summit and the views from the top are well worth the climb. Once back, there is a pub at the bottom where you can enjoy some refreshments. Near the trailhead...

Enjoy beautiful views over the farmlands and moorlands and explore the interesting geological features of this famous area as you make your way round. Starting in Malham (pay and display), the trail begins with a climb up to Pikedaw and Grizedales descending through the crags and past the top of Malham Cove to the less steep paths of the farm fields. The rock formations above Malham Cove will be familiar to Harry Potter fans as scenes from Deathly Hallows were filmed here. The trail then...

This is a tough but wonderful circular route in the Yorkshire Dales National Park that begins in Horton-in-Ribblesdale and visits the summit of Pen-y-ghent and the interesting site of Hull Pot. The climb up Pen-y-ghent, one of the three highest peak in the area, is a steep and rough path with some scrambling required so care is needed with footing on the rocky terrain. Once up you efforts are rewarded with great views over the area on a clear day. Hull Pot is a large collapsed cavern that...

Enjoy this beautiful trail around the stunning and very popular Ingleton Waterfalls with scenic paths through the trees and along the river. Due to its popularity, parking can fill up quickly so an early start is advised. Keep an eye out for wildlife on the water and in the woodlands and enjoy the views of the waterfalls. There are lots of uneven steps and it can also be quite slippery, especially in wetter and muddy conditions, so you should take extra care and wear appropriate footwear...

This is the lowest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks but certainly should not be underestimated. With steep climbs and rocky terrain, this trail will test your fitness but reward your efforts with great views on a clear day. Starting in Horton-in-Ribblesdale, the trail begins with the steep and rocky climb to the top of Pen-y-ghent. Here you can regain your breath and enjoy the sweeping views before descending past Hunt Pot and Tarn Bar, and returning to the start. Take care on the rougher and...

This is a gorgeous circular route in the Yorkshire Dales National Park that visits Bolton Abbey, The Valley of Desolation, Simon's Seat, and Barden Bridge with lovely views and scenic paths. There is a wonderful mix of sights including historic buildings, waterfalls, forest, and rolling hills as you make your way from the car park (fee required), climb up beside Sheepshaw Beck to Simon's Seat, drop steeply down to Howgill, and return to the start along the River Wharfe. Take care on the...

Ingleborough is the second highest peak in the Yorkshire Dales, and the highest of the infamous Three Peaks. The mountain has cavernous sinkholes, rivers, and limestone landscapes with a number of interesting sites along the path to the top. You will soon pass Clapham Falls once departing the village of Clapham. Continue following the stream up to Ingleborough Cave - this is one of the many hallows carved out of the limestone. It is open to the public for a fee. Beyond the cave, the trail...

This trail takes in the beautiful and intriguing geological formation of Malham Cove, a 70 m high curved limestone cliff formed by ice and water erosion over millennia. Although many years ago a waterfall would once have flowed over the edge of this cliff, today the river runs beneath the rock as water and time worked away at the limestone. This cliff offers a great challenge to rock climbers and you might see them tackling this popular crag. Please be mindful and keep well back from the...