Lady Anne's Way

A walk through Wharfedale and Wensleydale, following in the footsteps of Lady Anne Clifford.

6 to 10 nights
100 miles
Moderate to Demanding / Strenuous

From £515 per person

Discover the available tours

About this route

Lady Anne's Way is a deeply historic walk in the Yorkshire Dales, visiting all of the important buildings associated with the story of Lady Anne Clifford, who lived in the 17th century. The trail runs from Skipton Castle, where Lady Anne was born, to Brougham Castle where she died. It meanders through Wharfedale and Wensleydale, following an ancient green lane known as Lady Anne's Highway through Mallerstang and the Eden Valley. 

Along the way it visits attractive villages and market towns, each offering their own insightful history. In addition to the many castles along the route, the walk passes other sites of historic interest including Nappa Hall, Hell Gill and Brougham Hall.

Dog friendly tours available

Dog friendly itineraries are available for this route. Look for the pawprint icon when choosing your itinerary. Please note that dog friendly walks may require more transfers than standard tours.

Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays Lady Anne's Way map
Skipton to Penrith
100 miles (160 km)
24th March to 31st October

Holiday Highlights

Admiring the impressive castles restored to their former glory by Lady Anne Clifford, including Skipton Castle, Pendragon Castle and Brougham Castle.

Following in the footsteps of Lady Anne Clifford as she travelled between her homes in the fine old castles of the Yorkshire Dales.

Absorbing the idyllic atmosphere as you pass through Wharfedale, Wensleydale and the rugged Mallerstang valley in the Vale of Eden.

Available tours

CodeTourDurationDifficultyPrice per person
LAW0 From Skipton to Penrith 6 nights, 5 days walking Demanding / Strenuous£515
LAW1 From Skipton to Penrith 7 nights, 6 days walking Demanding / Strenuous£600
LAW2 From Skipton to Penrith 8 nights, 7 days walking Demanding£685
LAW3 From Skipton to Penrith 9 nights, 8 days walking Moderate / Demanding£770
LAW4 From Skipton to Penrith 10 nights, 9 days walking Moderate£855

Lady Anne's Way 6 nights, 5 days walking

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

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 us to discuss your options.

Start

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

Day 1

Skipton to Kettlewell. 23 miles (37km)

Day 2

Kettlewell to Hawes. 23 miles (37km)

Day 3

Hawes to Kirkby Stephen. 17.5 miles (28km)

Day 4

Kirkby Stephen to Appleby. 17 miles (27km)

Day 5

Appleby to Penrith. 19.5 miles (31km)

Finish

Depart from Penrith 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
£30.00 per person / per night

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

Extra night (Standard)
£50.00 per person / per night

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

An extra night can be the perfect way to extend your holiday. Whether you spend it exploring some of the fantastic attractions along the trail, writing postcards or simply relaxing and browsing through shops, a rest day is a wonderful addition to your walking holiday.

Kettlewell is a good choice for a rest day. It is an attractive village with miners' cottages lining the banks of the stream trickling through the village. There is a church, shops and no less than three inns, reflecting its former importance as a river crossing on the old Wharfedale coach road.

The bustling town of Hawes offers a range of craft shops and cafes, as well as England's highest, single-drop waterfall, Hardraw Force.

The old market town of Kirkby Stephen is also a good place to take an extra night. Don't miss the unusual 'Bound Devil', a figure of Satan chained and horned in the ancient church of St. Stephen.

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

Extra night (Standard)
£50.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 100 miles (160 km)
Duration: 6 nights, 5 days walking
Minimum daily distance: 17 miles (27 km)
Maximum daily distance: 23 miles (37 km)
Code: LAW0 Grade: Demanding / Strenuous
Season: 24th March - 31st October
Start of holiday: Skipton
End of holiday: Penrith

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 Manchester and Leeds Bradford.

By Rail - There is a rail station at the start of the trail (Skipton) and at the end of the trail (Penrith).

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

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 catch the train from Penrith 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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