Dales Way

Dales Way

A self-guided walking holiday through the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District National Park.

3 to 10 nights
22-79 miles
Easy / Moderate to Demanding

From £410 per person

Find your holiday

About the trail

The Dales Way meanders through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales to the shores of Windermere in the Lake District. On a self-guided holiday along the Dales Way, you’ll enjoy a vast range of beautiful Yorkshire landscapes, including colourful moorland, tranquil riversides, rugged fells and quiet valleys.

The walk explores a range of pretty towns and villages and offers glimpses into the region’s past, including the ruins of Bolton Priory and Barden Tower. The trail then leaves the Yorkshire Dales and heads towards Windermere, passing through rolling farmland framed by the impressive mountains of the Lake District, providing a satisfying end to a remarkable trail.

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 Way
  • Dales Way Highlights
  • Dales Way Short Break

Trail running tours available

We also organise trail running holidays along this route. Find out more.

About this route

7 to 10 nights
79 miles
Easy / Moderate to Demanding
2nd January to 24th December

From £905 per person

Dales Way

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.

Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
DW1 From Ilkley to Bowness-On-Windermere 7 nights, 6 days walking Demanding £905
DW2 From Ilkley to Bowness-On-Windermere 8 nights, 7 days walking Moderate £1025
DW3 From Ilkley to Bowness-On-Windermere 9 nights, 8 days walking Moderate £1150
DW4 From Ilkley to Bowness-On-Windermere 10 nights, 9 days walking Easy / Moderate £1275

Short breaks

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
DWSB From Ilkley to Kettlewell 3 nights, 2 days walking Moderate £410
"Between Grassington and Buckden" by Rebecca Harro (2024) "Between Grassington and Buckden" by Rebecca Harro (2024)
"Cowgill" by Robert Hincks (2023) "Cowgill" by Robert Hincks (2023)
"Sedburgh" by Robert Hincks (2023) "Sedburgh" by Robert Hincks (2023)
"Walled Path" by Robert Hincks (2023) "Walled Path" by Robert Hincks (2023)
"Into Kettlewell" by Carolyn Hutton (2023) "Into Kettlewell" by Carolyn Hutton (2023)
"Signpost near Buckden" by Carolyn Hutton (2023) "Signpost near Buckden" by Carolyn Hutton (2023)
"Crook of Lune Bridge" by Sheila Maltby (2023) "Crook of Lune Bridge" by Sheila Maltby (2023)
"Pen-y-Ghent from Blea Moor" by Desmond Maltby (2023) "Pen-y-Ghent from Blea Moor" by Desmond Maltby (2023)
"The Strid Gorge" by Desmond Maltby (2023) "The Strid Gorge" by Desmond Maltby (2023)
"Cam High Road" by Desmond Maltby (2023) "Cam High Road" by Desmond Maltby (2023)
"Between Appletreewick and Burnsall" by Jacqueline Stratton (2022) "Between Appletreewick and Burnsall" by Jacqueline Stratton (2022)
"Leaving Buckden" by Jacqueline Stratton (2022) "Leaving Buckden" by Jacqueline Stratton (2022)
"On the Way into Grassington" by Jacqueline Stratton (2022) "On the Way into Grassington" by Jacqueline Stratton (2022)
"Mother Swan and her Babies" by Jacqueline Stratton (2022) "Mother Swan and her Babies" by Jacqueline Stratton (2022)
"Out of Yokenthwaite" by Jacqueline Stratton (2022) "Out of Yokenthwaite" by Jacqueline Stratton (2022)
"Outside Kettlewell" by Marion Knight (2021) "Outside Kettlewell" by Marion Knight (2021)
"Dent Viaduct" by Marion Knight (2021) "Dent Viaduct" by Marion Knight (2021)
"At Bolton Abbey" by Marion Knight (2021) "At Bolton Abbey" by Marion Knight (2021)
"River Wharfe between Kettlewell and Hubberholme" Ann Hooley (2020) "River Wharfe between Kettlewell and Hubberholme" Ann Hooley (2020)
"Cheeky Chickens" by John Hooley (2020) "Cheeky Chickens" by John Hooley (2020)
"Bolton Abbey" by Helen Anderson (2019) "Bolton Abbey" by Helen Anderson (2019)
"Where the Dales Way meets the Pennine Way" by John Lonergan (2019) "Where the Dales Way meets the Pennine Way" by John Lonergan (2019)
"Dent Head Viaduct near Cowgill" by John Lonergan (2019) "Dent Head Viaduct near Cowgill" by John Lonergan (2019)
"Dales Way into Sedburgh" by John Lonergan (2019) "Dales Way into Sedburgh" by John Lonergan (2019)
"Strid Wood" by Valerie Ball (2019) "Strid Wood" by Valerie Ball (2019)
"Bolton Priory" by Valerie Ball (2019) "Bolton Priory" by Valerie Ball (2019)
"River Wharfe between Ilkley and Burnsall" by David Raynor (2018) "River Wharfe between Ilkley and Burnsall" by David Raynor (2018)
"River Wharfe at Burnsall" by David Raynor (2018) "River Wharfe at Burnsall" by David Raynor (2018)
"Bridge over River Wharfe" by David Raynor (2018) "Bridge over River Wharfe" by David Raynor (2018)
"Meadow and Sky between Buckden and Hubberholme" by Else Carriere (2017) "Meadow and Sky between Buckden and Hubberholme" by Else Carriere (2017)
"Suspension Bridge over River Wharfe" by Else Carriere (2017) "Suspension Bridge over River Wharfe" by Else Carriere (2017)
Meadow between Buckden and Hubberholme
Meadow between Buckden and Hubberholme" by Else Carriere (2017) Meadow between Buckden and Hubberholme" by Else Carriere (2017)
"Stream near Cowgill" by Lanny Swallow (2017) "Stream near Cowgill" by Lanny Swallow (2017)
"Outside of Ilkey" by Lanny Swallow (2017) "Outside of Ilkey" by Lanny Swallow (2017)
"Rapids outside of Grassington" by Lanny Swallow (2017) "Rapids outside of Grassington" by Lanny Swallow (2017)

Customer reviews from the Dales Way

“Beautiful scenery, walks well signposted, especially in the Yorkshire part of the route, great variability. Would definitely recommend you to others.”
Mrs Scheurer, Netherlands
“I would have no hesitation in recommending your company to my friends who would be interested in doing this walk. The landscape was delightful, so green. We thoroughly enjoyed the 7 days rambling through the Yorkshire countryside. I loved it all really. I loved that we were walking along a river a lot of the way. Always pleasant to be near water. I loved that I got to walk across stepping stones in the River Wharfe. Always wanted to do that.”
Mrs Thompson, Australia
“Thank you Contours for a wonderful holiday.”
Mrs Mitchell, UK
“The scenery was great. The organisation was excellent. We are very pleased to have completed the walk. But it was hard going on some days! Everything went very smoothly.”
Mrs Rosser, UK
“Very well organised by Contours, thank you.”
Mrs Walkland, UK
“We had a lovely holiday. The weather was excellent and the walk was pure pleasure. I had wondered if the walk would be tedious as it follows a river most of the way but each day was different and stunningly beautiful in a gentle, pastoral way. Really well organized!”
Mrs Sutherland, USA
“We were lucky with the weather, but the stunning scenery and views were completely unexpected, despite myself being a Yorkshire lass.”
Ms Louden, UK
“I would describe this one as a happy walk - all very informal + easy going at the accommodations + on the trail. Felt relaxed at all times (good weather helped.)”
Mr Garlick, UK
“Excellent week. Great landscape to walk through, excellent weather as well as very good accommodation and everything running smoothly.”
Mr Chilvers, UK
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