Dales High Way Highlights

A walk through the countryside of the Yorkshire Dales National Park from Skipton to Sedbergh.

4 to 6 nights
49 miles
Moderate to Demanding

From £370 per person

Discover the available tours

About this route

The Dales High Way Highlights holiday begins beneath the walls of the impressive Skipton Castle. From here the route heads over Weets Top to Malhamdale, boasting dramatic limestone scenery. Next it visits the traditional Dales town of Settle, explores tranquil Crummockdale and meanders through beautiful Dentdale to Sedbergh, Englands book town.

The walk showcases a range of spectacular cliffs, caverns, coves and waterfalls, as well as boasting far-reaching views from Weets Top, Ingleborough and World’s End, making this a spectacular walk filled with memorable sights.

Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays Dales High Way Highlights map
Skipton to Sedbergh
49 miles (78 km)
24th March to 12th October

Holiday highlights

Visiting the quaint towns and villages of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, including Settle and Sedbergh, England's Book Town.

Sampling a range of traditional Yorkshire ales in the many welcoming village pubs along the trail.

Walking through Malhamdale and encountering the spectacular scenery of Malham Cove.

Available tours

CodeTourDurationDifficultyPrice per person
HDHW1 From Skipton to Sedbergh 4 nights, 3 days walking Demanding£370
HDHW2 From Skipton to Sedbergh 5 nights, 4 days walking Moderate / Demanding£460
HDHW3 From Skipton to Sedbergh 6 nights, 5 days walking Moderate£550

Dales High Way Highlights 4 nights, 3 days walking

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

Travel to Skipton where your first night's accommodation has been booked

Day 1

Skipton to Settle. 18.5 miles (29.5km)

Day 2

Settle to Chapel-le-Dale. 14.5 miles (23km)

Day 3

Chapel-le-Dale to Sedbergh. 15.5 miles (25km)

Finish

Depart from Sedbergh 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.

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 walk more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard.

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 walking on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Walker or Single Supplements apply respectively:

A note about transfers
Solo Walker Supplement
£45.00 per person / per night
Single Supplement
£35.00 per person / per night

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

Extra night (Standard)
£55.00 per person / per night

What's included?

  • 4 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.

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.

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

Extra night (Standard)
£55.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 48.5 miles (77.5 km)
Duration: 4 nights, 3 days walking
Minimum daily distance: 14.5 miles (23 km)
Maximum daily distance: 18.5 miles (29.5 km)
Code: HDHW1 Grade: Demanding
Season: 24th March - 12th October
Start of holiday: Skipton
End of holiday: Sedbergh

Route Profile

Dales High Way Highlights 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 (Skipton). The nearest rail stations to the end of the trail (Sedbergh) are either Oxenholme (10 miles away), Kendal (11 miles away) or Kirkby Stephen (13 miles away).

By Bus - Various bus services run to Skipton and from Sedbergh.

From London - Trains run from London Kings Cross station to Skipton.

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail, is to take a bus/taxi to Kirkby Stephen rail station. From there trains run to Skipton.

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.

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From £540 per person
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