Dales Way
A self-guided walking holiday from Ilkley to Windermere through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
7 to 10 nights
79 miles
Easy / Moderate to Demanding
From £650 per person
Dales Way
Explore the Dales Way at your own pace on a full-length self-guided walking holiday, with accommodation, luggage transfer and custom holiday pack included.
Dales Way
https://www.contours.co.uk/dales-way
A self-guided walking holiday from Ilkley to Windermere through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
From £650 per person
This holiday option takes in all 77 miles of the iconic Dales Way walking trail, showcasing some of the finest scenery the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District have to offer.
Admire the impressive ruins of Bolton Priory, meander through the peaceful Wharfedale Valley and visit many welcoming settlements on this magical walking holiday through two beautiful National Parks.
Crossing two national parks of the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District and enjoying the contrasting scenery of both areas.
Admiring the iconic dry stone walls and enclosed rolling fields of the Yorkshire Dales.
Exploring the wealth of interesting history along the walk, including the romantic ruins of Bolton Priory.
| Code | Tour | Duration | Price per person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DW1 | From Ilkley to Bowness-On-Windermere | 6 days walking | £650 | |
| DW2 | From Ilkley to Bowness-On-Windermere | 7 days walking | £740 | |
| DW3 | From Ilkley to Bowness-On-Windermere | 8 days walking | £835 | |
| DW4 | From Ilkley to Bowness-On-Windermere | 9 days walking | £925 |
Travel to Ilkley where your first night's accommodation has been booked
Ilkley to Burnsall. 13 miles (20.5km) / 988 ft (301 m) ascent
Burnsall to Buckden(L). 13.5 miles (21.5km) / 1142 ft (348 m) ascent
Buckden(L) to Lea Yeat(L). 17 miles (27.5km) / 1654 ft (504 m) ascent
Lea Yeat(L) to Sedbergh. 9 miles (14.5km) / 581 ft (177 m) ascent
Sedbergh to Patton Bridge(L). 12.5 miles (20km) / 1083 ft (330 m) ascent
Patton Bridge(L) to Bowness-On-Windermere. 13.5 miles (21.5km) / 1234 ft (376 m) ascent
Depart from Bowness-On-Windermere after breakfast
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; 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 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:
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:
“Surprisingly, my first ever visit to the Yorkshire Dales. A lovely, not-too-strenuous walk through rolling hills and along pretty river banks, often staying in characterful pubs with excellent food.”Mr Julyan, UK
“Every vista was as beautiful as the last. Every lodging we stayed in was different, historic and interesting. I loved the remote feel to our daily walking, and we met so many nice people as we walked.”Ms Danforth, USA
“Very impressed with Contours, will definitely use again. This was my first trip with you. Walk was lovely, particularly first 5 days.”Mr Griffiths, UK
“Fantastic holiday, overnight stays excellent.”Mr McInnes, UK
“Excellent week. Great landscape to walk through, excellent weather as well as very good accommodation and everything running smoothly.”Mr Chilvers, UK
“I knew I would enjoy the Dales Way and working with Contours helped us know everything was taken care of.”Ms Cox, USA
“Lovely walk. Not too challenging with beautiful scenery. We were lucky with the weather but much of the walk is along rivers so even in bad weather it would have been lovely. No hitches with logistics. Luggage arrived at the right place. Accommodation easy to find.”Dr Stafford, UK
“It was amazing -one of the best holidays we have taken! We enjoyed the walking, going through endless stiles, seeing hundreds of sheep and cows, walking along beautiful rivers, crossing over historic bridges, crossing under viaducts, and stopping in small towns to eat and sleep. The directions and our luggage delivery were perfect. We'll definitely use Contours again and recommend you to our American friends. Most of our friends had not heard of this type of experience and thought it sounded fun. Thanks for arranging an unforgettable vacation!”Ms Lewellen, USA
“Wonderful route, varied accommodation, good food, and very well organised throughout.”Mrs Tumelty, UK
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Dog friendly