Dales High Way

Dales High Way

A walk through the Yorkshire Dales from the village of Saltaire to the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland.

4 to 10 nights
49-90 miles
Moderate to Demanding / Strenuous

From £520 per person

Find your holiday

About the trail

Enjoy a walking holiday along the Dales High Way, following ancient drovers' ways, packhorse tracks and green lanes through the Yorkshire Dales and taking in some of the most beautiful scenery the region has to offer. The trail traverses rolling dales, quiet moors, secluded valleys and mighty peaks, the latter offering breath-taking views over the surrounding countryside.

Not only does this walk showcase the wonderful geology of the Yorkshire Dales, including limestone crags and cascading waterfalls, but it also boasts plenty of interesting history to uncover, with landmarks of note including Neolithic stone carvings, Skipton Castle and the famous Ribblehead Viaduct.

We offer multiple holiday options along this trail. If you wish to experience the entire trail, simply select the first option from the list below.

Choose your route

  • Dales High Way
  • Dales High Way Highlights

About this route

6 to 10 nights
90 miles
Moderate to Demanding / Strenuous
2nd January to 24th December

From £765 per person

Dales High Way

This holiday option explores all 90 miles of the Dales High Way, showcasing some of the finest scenery the Yorkshire Dales National Park has to offer.

The rolling hills and mighty fells offer incredible views across the English countryside, while the many wonderful settlements along the way all offer warm welcomes and have plenty of interesting stories to share. This walking trail is a great adventure through the pleasant, green landscapes for which this corner of England is famous.

Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
DHW1 From Saltaire/Shipley to Appleby 6 nights, 5 days walking Demanding / Strenuous £765
DHW2 From Saltaire/Shipley to Appleby 7 nights, 6 days walking Demanding £885
DHW3 From Saltaire/Shipley to Appleby 8 nights, 7 days walking Moderate / Demanding £1005
DHW4 From Saltaire/Shipley to Appleby 9 nights, 8 days walking Moderate / Demanding £1130
DHW5 From Saltaire/Shipley to Appleby 10 nights, 9 days walking Moderate £1245

Dales High Way 6 nights, 5 days walking

£NNN per person
  • Itinerary
  • What's included?
  • Extra nights?
  • Tour facts
  • Route profile
  • Travel info
  • Weather
  • Holiday Highlights

Important information

Please note that during early June, one of the oldest fairs in Europe takes place. The Appleby Horse Fair is visited by travellers who come to trade their horses. It attracts thousands of visitors and as a result, the area becomes very busy and can have an impact on availability of accommodations and the ease of luggage transfers.

If you are considering walking during this time, please telephone or email us to discuss your options.

 

Start

Travel to Saltaire/Shipley where your first night's accommodation will be booked

Day 1

Saltaire/Shipley to Skipton. 18 miles (29km) / 2264 ft (690 m) ascent

Day 2

Skipton to Settle. 18.5 miles (29.5km) / 3009 ft (917 m) ascent

Day 3

Settle to Chapel-le-Dale(L). 14.5 miles (23km) / 2533 ft (772 m) ascent

Day 4

Chapel-le-Dale(L) to Sedbergh(L). 15.5 miles (25km) / 1716 ft (523 m) ascent

Day 5

Sedbergh(L) to Appleby. 23.5 miles (37.5km) / 3077 ft (938 m) ascent

Finish

Depart from Appleby after breakfast

Your Itinerary

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.

Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.

The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation in most cases; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard if practical. A very limited number of stops will require you to travel on foot up to two miles off the trail, however these instances will be clearly communicated to you if applicable.

Further transfers may also be required due to some accommodations having a two-night minimum booking policy, especially at weekends.

Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:

A note about transfers
Solo Traveller Supplement
£60.00 per person / per night
Single Supplement
£50.00 per person / per night


You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night
Extra night (Sedbergh(L))
£75.00 per person / per night
Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays Dales High Way map
Saltaire/Shipley to Appleby-in-Westmorland
90 miles (144 km)
2nd January to 24th December

Holiday highlights

Discovering the legacy of Lady Anne Clifford as you explore the castles at Skipton and Appleby.

Walking over Rombalds Moor and searching for the intriguing stone engravings.

Admiring the views from the top of Malham Cove and the amazing limestone scenery around Ing Scar and Attermire Scar.

What's included?

  • 6 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms (where available) in selected B&B’s, hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail, or a short distance away via taxi provided at our expense.
  • Breakfast each day.
  • Door to door luggage transfer.
  • Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook or route notes describing the trail.
  • An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night and a kit list.
  • Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.

Extra Nights & Rest Days

Taking an extra night is the perfect way to extend your holiday and give yourself extra time to explore the beautiful countryside of the Yorkshire Dales.

The World Heritage Site of Saltaire is a great choice for an extra night. Don't miss Salt's Mill, which was the biggest factory in the world when built in 1853. Its 1200 looms produced 30,000 yards of cloth a day. The mill now houses the 1853 Gallery and the entire floor of the old spinning shed is given over to the world?s largest retrospective collection of the works of David Hockney. Other buildings of note include the Congregational Church, Former Grammar School, Victoria Hall and the almshouses.

Skipton is a very good choice for a rest day. It is a bustling little town, especially on one of its four weekly market days. Skipton Castle, at the top of the High Street, is the most complete and best-preserved medieval castle in England, thanks to the efforts of Lady Anne Clifford who repaired the damage caused during a 3-year siege during the English Civil War. Lady Anne Clifford also restored the Church of the Holy Trinity, which stands in front of the castle. It has a magnificent 15th century bossed roof, a beautiful chancel screen and a 12th century font with a wooden Jacobean cover.

Settle is a lovely little town with a typical 17th century market square complete with a split-level arcaded shambles. The town has plenty of shops, several cafes and a handful of welcoming inns. As it stands on the Settle-Carlisle railway line, trips to Horton-in-Ribblesdale (to climb Pen-y-Ghent) or Ribblehead (to climb Whernside) or Carlisle (for Hadrian?s Wall) can easily be accomplished.

Sedbergh, England?s book town, is a popular choice for a rest day amongst bibliophiles. The town also boasts a fine Norman church, which dates from 1130. The east window is a large stained glass picture depicting the call of Christ to Andrew and Peter. It is unusual in that the single large picture occupies the full width of the five-light window.

Appleby is one of the most picturesque towns in the north of England. The town is surrounded on three sides by a loop in the River Eden. The fourth side was defended by Appleby Castle, which was also restored by Lady Anne Clifford. It consists of a 12th-century keep and a mansion house. These, together with their associated buildings, are set in a courtyard surrounded by curtain walls. Lady Anne also built the almshouses on the wide, tree-lined main street, the Boroughgate - which runs from High Cross, former site of the cheese market outside the castle, to Low Cross, the former site of the butter market. St Lawrence's Church, at Low Cross, holds the tomb of Lady Anne Clifford.

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night
Extra night (Sedbergh(L))
£75.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 90 miles (144 km)
Duration: 6 nights, 5 days walking
Minimum daily distance: 14.5 miles (23 km)
Maximum daily distance: 23.5 miles (37.5 km)
Code: DHW1 Grade: Demanding / Strenuous
Season: 2nd January - 24th December
Start of holiday: Saltaire/Shipley
End of holiday: Appleby

Route Profile

Dales High Way Route Profile

Travel Information

Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:

By Air - The most convenient major city and international airports are Leeds Bradford and Manchester.

By Rail - There is a rail station at the start of the trail (Saltaire/Shipley) and also at the end of the trail (Appleby-in-Westmorland).

By Bus - Various bus services run to Saltaire/Shipley and from Appleby-in-Westmorland.

From London - Trains run from London Kings Cross station to Saltaire/Shipley.

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail, is to take a train from Appleby-in-Westmorland to Saltaire/Shipley.

Weather Information

To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:

  • MetCheck - This website allows you to look up detailed weather information for specific locations as far as six months in advance.
  • Met Office - This website shows regional area forecasts a few days in advance, with a general UK forecast description of up to 30 days in advance.
  • Mountain Forecast - This website shows what the forecast is like up on specific hills and fells, and offers forecasts a few days in advance.
"The Howgills from Dentdale" by Ray Hind (2023) "The Howgills from Dentdale" by Ray Hind (2023)
"Malham Cove" by Ray Hind (2023) "Malham Cove" by Ray Hind (2023)
"Stainforth Force" by Ray Hind (2023) "Stainforth Force" by Ray Hind (2023)
"Pen-y-Ghent from Lower Staniforth" by Robert Evans (2023) "Pen-y-Ghent from Lower Staniforth" by Robert Evans (2023)
"View over Addingham from Addingham High Moor" by Robert Evans (2023) "View over Addingham from Addingham High Moor" by Robert Evans (2023)
"Ingleborough Descent to Chapel-le-Dale" by Robert Evans (2023) "Ingleborough Descent to Chapel-le-Dale" by Robert Evans (2023)
"The Howgills from Ravenstonedale Moor" by Robert Evans (2023) "The Howgills from Ravenstonedale Moor" by Robert Evans (2023)
"Heading up to Ingleborough" by Jay Mirro (2023) "Heading up to Ingleborough" by Jay Mirro (2023)
"Looking back towards Ingleborough" by Jay Mirro (2023) "Looking back towards Ingleborough" by Jay Mirro (2023)
"Stone Wall near Skipton" by Jay Mirro (2023) "Stone Wall near Skipton" by Jay Mirro (2023)
"Near Stainforth" by Jay Mirro (2023) "Near Stainforth" by Jay Mirro (2023)
"Hetton Common" by Blais Brancheau (2022) "Hetton Common" by Blais Brancheau (2022)
"Leaving Sharp Haw" by Blais Brancheau (2022) "Leaving Sharp Haw" by Blais Brancheau (2022)
"Ilkley Crags" by Blais Brancheau (2022) "Ilkley Crags" by Blais Brancheau (2022)
"Ilkley Moor" by Blais Brancheau (2022) "Ilkley Moor" by Blais Brancheau (2022)
"Stockdale Lane" by Blais Brancheau (2022) "Stockdale Lane" by Blais Brancheau (2022)
"Ascending Calders in the Howgills" by Blais Brancheau (2022) "Ascending Calders in the Howgills" by Blais Brancheau (2022)
"Three Peaks, One Walker" by Blais Brancheau (2022) "Three Peaks, One Walker" by Blais Brancheau (2022)
"Crags between Malham and Settle" by Robert Johnson (2022) "Crags between Malham and Settle" by Robert Johnson (2022)
"Peace between Ribblehead and Dent" by Robert Johnson (2022) "Peace between Ribblehead and Dent" by Robert Johnson (2022)
"View from Malham Cove" by Gary Gimbel (2018) "View from Malham Cove" by Gary Gimbel (2018)
"Limestone Pavement" by Gary Gimbel (2017) "Limestone Pavement" by Gary Gimbel (2017)
"Stone Circle on Ilkley Moor" by Gary Gimbel (2017) "Stone Circle on Ilkley Moor" by Gary Gimbel (2017)
"Howgills" by Gary Gimbel (2017) "Howgills" by Gary Gimbel (2017)
"View of Pen-y-Ghent from Ingleborough" by Gary Gimbel (2017) "View of Pen-y-Ghent from Ingleborough" by Gary Gimbel (2017)
"Howgills North" by Gary Gimbel (2017) "Howgills North" by Gary Gimbel (2017)

Customer reviews from the Dales High Way

“Very well organised and a lovely walk. I enjoyed all the days in their own way, but the 3rd day over Ingleborough was particularly enjoyable.”
Dr Hutt, UK
“It went very smoothly and all the arrangements worked well.”
Mr Stone, UK
“Overall, very good standard of accommodation and good walking instructions. Maps and walking books excellent. Overall, holiday very good indeed.”
Mrs Matts, UK
“This was our seventh long distance walk planned for us by Contours - a very enjoyable and peaceful walk. Thank you! Wonderful countryside, great accommodation, weather very good for September! A good variety of walking - a mixture of gentle sections and more challenging ascents and descents. Looking forward to the eighth next year!”
Dr Roberts, UK
“The walk involved a route of hillwalking during the day, with occasional descents into the dales, with lodging in the dales at night. The countryside varied from rural to wild to small-town civilization. It was a delightful mix. We are researching and planning our next holiday already.”
Mr Brancheau, USA
“Extremely friendly staff whenever I had to telephone about the holiday.”
Miss Walker, UK
“Great and varied scenery helped by excellent weather.”
Dr Latham, UK
“We had a wonderful time! Challenging but not too taxing, beautiful scenery even in wet days. Our first experience of a self-guided walking holiday definitely won't be the last. I have already recommended Contour to friends. We were impressed by the whole process, from enquiry to booking and during our holiday.”
Mrs McKenna, UK
“We were blessed with great weather, guide book excellent, high standard of B&B's, easy to find and all in all, fabulous week. Too difficult to pick the best bits .. all different and all superb!!”
Mr Needham, UK
Find your holiday