Independent Trails: Fact File 3DW
Following old packhorse tracks, unpaved cattle drovers roads, riverside paths and moorland tracks, the Three Dales Walk explores the spectacular limestone scenery of Wharfedale, Littondale and Malhamdale in the southern Yorkshire Dales. Gradients and terrain are fairly easy, but the paths may be muddy underfoot during wet weather. There are also many 'squeeze stiles' to negotiate. On the final day there is a short, easy scramble in Goredale Scar, a dramatic gorge formed by the collapse of gigantic cave system. For the less agile there is an alternative route avoiding the scramble.
Total
distance: 32 miles (51km)
Duration:
4 nights, 3 days walking
Minimum/maximum
daily distances: 10 miles (16km)/11 miles (17.5 km)
Season:
All year
Starting
point of holiday: Burnsall
End
of holiday: Burnsall
Holiday
code: 3DW
Day 1: Travel to Burnsall where your first nights accommodation has been booked. Either explore Burnsall or take one of the short walks provided to the village of Appletreewick, with its three halls, two inns and delightful cottages, Dibble's Bridge and Langerton Hill, a fine viewpoint. Burnsall has an idyllic setting; heather covered hills look down upon a village green complete with maypole bordering the River Wharfe, a sturdy bridge with massive breakwaters, an inn, church, school and ancient mullioned windowed cottages. St Wilfrid's church has many fascinating features; a tapsel gate - a lychgate with a revolving 'turnstile' entrance, a medieval Adoration of the Magi, a Norman inscribed font and Viking 'hog-backed' gravestones. The school next door was one of the countries earliest grammar schools.
Day 2: Burnsall to Kettlewell. 11 miles (17.5km). From Burnsall the Three Dales Walk heads upstream on riverside paths past Loup Scar Gorge and Linton Falls to Grassington. Grassington is a delightful village, with ancient cottages, inns and shops surrounding a cobbled market square. From this centre, a number of alleyways or folds lead off invitingly. After exploring the village, the route crosses the upland pastures of Lea Green, past medieval enclosures, old ridge ploughing terraces or lynchets and lime kilns, with far-reaching views across Wharfedale and into Littondale, before descending to Kettlewell. Kettlewell is another attractive village, with miners' cottages lining the banks of the stream trickling through the village, a church, shops and no less than three inns reflecting its former importance as a river crossing on the old Wharfedale coach road.
Day 3: Kettlewell to Malham. 11 miles (17.5km). After Kettlewell, the route follows an old packhorse track over Old Cote Moor to the sleepy farming hamlet of Hawkswick, which provides superb views over Wharfedale, and then continues up Littondale through wildflower meadows dotted with stone barns to Arncliffe. Arncliffe is a lovely village; it's houses, cottages, inn, farms and porched barns face inwards to a spacious green and outwards to steep green hillsides etched with gleaming white limestone scars. The inn is a lovely old Dales pub with flagged floors, wooden settles and beer served straight from the barrel. An old packhorse track, the Monk's Road, is taken over Arncliffe Moor past the shimmering waters of Malham Tarn to Malham Cove. The views from the limestone pavement above Malham cove are stunning. The route then descends to explore Malham Cove, before continuing into the bustling village of Malham.
Day 4: Malham to Burnsall. 10 miles (16km). From Malham the route heads upstream through woodland beside Goredale Beck to picturesque Janet's Foss waterfall and Goredale Scar, a dramatic gorge formed from a collapsed cave system. From here an old cattle drovers way is taken over the upland pastures of Malham Moor through the village of Linton to Burnsall. Linton is full of interest, with an inn and groups of houses informally set around a large irregular green, dominated by Fountaine Hospital and the old Hall. A stream splits the village, crossed by a clapper bridge, a packhorse bridge, a road bridge, stepping-stones, fords and Little Emily's Bridge.
Day 5: Another chance to explore Burnsall before departure.
Travel Information
Detailed instructions on how to get to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you on booking. A summary is given below.
Most convenient major city and International airport: Manchester Airport. 2 hours to Ilkley railway station via Leeds
Outward journey from London to Ilkley: Train from London King's Cross to Leeds, then change trains for Ilkley (31/2 hours). The first night's accommodation in Burnsall is a short bus or taxi ride from Ilkley railway station.
Return journey to London at the end of the holiday: Bus or taxi to Ilkley railway station, then train to London King's Cross (change trains at Leeds).