Recreation in the Yorkshire Dales

Walking

More and more people are discovering the pleasures of country walking, and this is definitely the best way to experience the Dales. Up hill, down dale, and alongside rivers and streams, the Dales provides some of the best scenic walking in the country. The finest long-distance walks also pass through the Dales, including the Pennine Way, Coast to Coast Walk, the Dales Way and the Ribble Way.

Cycling

A network of byways and bridleways and other routes allow cyclists to enjoy traffic-free pedalling. The Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria Cycleways utilise quiet roads throughout the region.

Climbing

The limestone scars and grindstone crags provide a challenge to climbers of all abilities.

Potholing

The limestone regions of the Dales are riddled with intricate systems of underground caverns and passages, which are accessible to experienced cavers. Others can safely investigate the show caves of Ingleborough, White Scar and Stump Cross.

Fishing

The Wharfe, Nidd, Swale, Ure and Ribble are just a few of the rivers that provide excellent sport for anglers. Day and week tickets are available for many stretches of water.

Wildlife

From the traditional wild-flower meadows of Swaledale to the windswept moor-tops, there is a wide variety of wildlife habitats. What the Dales have to offer in abundance is peace and quiet, so visitors can forget the bustle of the city and adapt to the less hurried pace of country life.

Museums

Throughout the region are a number of local museums which reveal, through their fascinating and extensive collections, what life in the Dales was like in by-gone days.