Walking the Dales Way

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Guidebook to walking the Dales Way. This picturesque 79 mile route through the Yorkshire Dales between Ilkley and Bowness-on-Windermere is one of the gentlest long-distance walks in Britain. The route is described in both directions, passing through Wharfedale, Dentdale and the eastern fringe of the Lake District. With 1:25K OS map booklet.

Cicerone says

A fully waymarked trail from Ilkley to Bowness-on-Windermere, the Dales Way links two of England’s most celebrated national parks, the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District. Well served for accommodation and facilities, and with easy walking on riverside paths, it is one of the gentlest multi-day walks in Britain and therefore an ideal introduction to long-distance walking. It can be comfortably completed in 6-8 days.

The guide offers comprehensive notes on local points of interest, as well as an overview of Dales geology, history, plants and wildlife to enhance the walking experience. The practical information is all there too, including when to go, how to get there and what to take, making for an ideal companion to enjoying this delightful route.

Presented in six daily stages of 7-19 miles (with suggestions for alternative schedules), this guide describes the Way in both directions, with the main route description running from south to north. Step-by-step route description is accompanied by 1:100,000 mapping, and a trek planner, showing where facilities are available, is included to facilitate planning. Accommodation listings and useful contacts can be found in the appendices. A separate, conveniently sized map booklet located in the back-cover sleeve provides all the OS 1:25,000 mapping needed to complete the trail.

Our Verdict

For nearly 50 years Cicerone have been producing guidebooks on recognised treks, regions, areas and general tips for hikers.

We have used them countless times and they’ve always provided excellent insight and knowledge that you only get through experience, giving you the edge to make your trip a success and more enjoyable too.

If you’re a gram counter you can easily remove sections of the book to take with you making your own ultra-lightweight guidebook with only the essential sections that you require.

– Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear

Features

• Seasons: The walk is scenically at its best in Spring and Autumn (April-June and September-October), but is an all-year round walk for suitably equipped walkers.
• Centres: Ilkley, Grassington, Hawes, Sedbergh, Bowness-on-Windermere
• Difficulty: This is an ideal route for anyone wanted to attempt multi-day walking for the first time. There are no significant physical difficulties beyond the basic need to walk a certain distance each day.
• Must See: Historic buildings, roads, bridges, etc. Landscape, flowers and wildlife. Bolton Abbey, Dent, Dales villages. The scenery is outstanding throughout, and a string of communities line the route but without detracting from the sense of freedom.

Specifications

• Weight: 264g
• Published: 15 Sep 2021
• Edition: Fourth
• Number of pages: 176
• Size: 17.2 x 11.6 x 1.1cm

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction
About the Dales Way
Planning the walk
Suggested itineraries
When to go
Getting there… and back
Public transport
First and last nights
Accommodation
Facilities en route
Pack-carrying services (baggage transfer)
Cash management
Equipment
Dogs
Planning day-by-day
Using this guide
Maps
Weather
Waymarking and paths
Health, safety and emergencies
Phones and Wi-Fi
All about the region
Geography
Geology
Plants and wildlife
History and culture
The Dales Way: Ilkley to Bowness
Wharfedale
Stage 1 Ilkley to Burnsall
Stage 2 Burnsall to Buckden
Langstrothdale and Dentdale
Stage 3 Buckden to Cowgill (Lea Yeat)
Stage 3A The Watershed Alternative
Stage 4 Cowgill (Lea Yeat) to Millthrop (Sedbergh)
Lonsdale and the Lakeland Fringe
Stage 5 Millthrop (Sedbergh) to Staveley
Into Lakeland
Stage 6 Staveley to Bowness-on-Windermere

Appendix A Useful contacts
Appendix B Accommodation along the route
Appendix C Further reading