self-guided walking holiday through wensleydale and swaledale
Explore the famous green pastures of bucolic Wensleydale and its beautiful tributary valleys before crossing one of Yorkshire’s highest mountains to reach the more remote valley of Swaledale, full of dry stone walls, field barns, waterfalls and sweeping views. Much of this route takes in classic ‘Herriot Country’ and is our take on the well-known ‘Herriot Way’.
summary
Number of nights: 5+ (see extension options below)
Price: From £645 per person (based on two people sharing a double or twin room)
Difficulty Level: 8/10 (fairly challenging)
Amount of walking: 4 days of hotel to hotel walking of 11 miles (18km, ascent 646m), 10.5 miles (17.5km, ascent 479m), 12 miles (19km, ascent 820m) and 9 miles (15km, ascent 638m), plus optional circular day walks.
Terrain: A wide range including gentle riverside paths, classic farmland, rugged moorland, pretty villages and one of the Dales’ highest mountains!
Accommodation: A charming townhouse hotel on the square in lively Middleham (night 1); a country inn and hotel, with excellent restaurant and large beer garden with views across Wensleydale, a short stroll from famous Aysgarth Falls (night 2); a small country house hotel in a gorgeous setting, not far from the market town of Hawes (night 3); a former shooting lodge at the head of Swaledale above the remote little village of Keld (night 4); and a 17th century inn in the heart of Swaledale with well-preserved original features combined with a contemporary feel (night 5). For full details of the accommodation included on each of our routes see our accommodation page.
Contact us to book this trip or find out more
itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive at your base in the small market town of Middleham and settle into a lovely townhouse hotel on the square. Spend any extra time exploring the village, spotting racehorses and visiting the impressive ruins of Middleham Castle. If you want to stretch your legs, try a short circuit down to the River Cover and along pretty ‘Cover Banks’.
Day 2 - Your first full day’s walking takes you first along the quiet paths of Coverdale. Stop for a well-earned lunch in the community pub in Carlton-in-Coverdale before heading over heather covered Carlton Moor, dropping into the dead-end valley of Walden and on to the picture-perfect village of West Burton in Bishopdale. A short final stretch takes you to your base for the night in a popular inn close to famously beautiful Aysgarth Falls.
Day 3 - Continue your journey along Wensleydale, spending much of the day following the route of the River Ure upstream. As well as surprisingly quiet stretches along the banks of the river, you will take in the former Wensleydale railway line, the popular village of Askrigg (with several good lunch options!) and the beautiful Mill Gill and Whitfield Gill waterfalls. The final stretch of the route takes you across classic farming country (complete with plenty of stiles through dry stone walls!) offering gorgeous views up and down Wensleydale, before arriving at a pretty country house hotel for the night.
Day 4 - Head for the nearby village of Hardraw, where you can make a short detour to visit England’s highest single drop waterfall, before following the Pennine Way over Great Shunner Fell, Yorkshire’s third highest mountain. Drop down into the little village of Thwaite in Swaledale and get your first taste of the classic field barns and dry stone walls of upper Swaledale on the last section of your route to Keld.
Day 5 - Your last full day’s walking is a real classic. Begin with the only climb of the day, up Kisdon Hill, which offers wonderful views down Swaledale as you descend into the pretty village of Muker. From here, the route tracks the upper reaches of the River Swale down the valley, through traditional hay meadows and charming villages before arriving at your base for your last night in a fantastic country pub with excellent food in the tiny village of Low Row.
Day 6 - Enjoy a last full breakfast at your inn before taking a taxi back to Middleham to collect your car and head home (or travelling back to the train station to catch your train).
what’s included
Five nights’ accommodation on a B&B basis;
Luggage transfer;
Transport from your last hotel to your first hotel to collect your car (if travelling by train, contact us to discuss options);
Detailed walking notes;
A route-marked OS map; and
The ‘Muddy Boots Survival Pack’ including our guide to places to visit and eat and drink on your route.
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Room or hotel upgrades.
Packed lunches (or order these the night before at your accommodation).
Additional nights accommodation.
A personal guide for some or all of your trip.
If you would like a longer holiday, this trip can easily be extended by adding another linear route between Low Row and Langthwaite in Arkengarthdale, or adding in circular walks in between the ‘hotel-to-hotel’ walking - consider a second night in Aysgarth for a great walk to Bolton Castle or a second night in Low Row to head into the moors of Swaledale and explore the area’s fascinating mining remains. Get in touch to discuss options.