Southern Yorkshire Dales Self-Guided Walking Tour 2024

You’re welcome to check in from 4pm onwards. 

Accommodation: Newfield Hall (D)

Check out the Discovery Point Library at the country house – stocked with maps, walks and local area information. 

For stays of 3 nights, you will have 2 days at your choice.

For stays of 4 nights, you will have 3 days at your choice.

For stays of 7 nights, you will have 6 days at your choice.

Accommodation: Newfield Hall (B, L, D)

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home. (B)

Our easiest routes allow plenty of time to savour the magnificent Dales’ landscapes. All our walk notes suggest the best places to stop, great pubs, and tea rooms.

• Malham Cove – 2 miles
• Bolton Abbey – 2 miles
• Kirkby Malham – 3 miles
• Ingleborough Cave – 3 miles
• Gordale Scar – 4 miles
• Around Airton – 4 miles

Some longer walks, including some stretches along the Pennine Way. Experience the true flavour of the Yorkshire Dales as you follow these varied routes.

• Classic Malham circuit – 5 miles
• Aire Valley & Haw Crag – 5 miles
• Bolton Abbey & The Strid – 6 miles
• Gaping Gill – 6 miles
• Exploring Malhamdale – 7 miles
• Exploring Wharfedale – 7 miles
• Malham’s Limestone Highlights – 7 miles
• Ribblesdale & Catrigg Force – 7 miles

For those who enjoy striding out, or reaching the top of famous peaks. The classic summits of Pen-y-Ghent, Ingleborough and Great Whernside are among the region’s highlights.

• Great Whernside – 7 miles
• Along the Pennine Way to Malham – 8 miles
• Pen-y-Ghent from Horton in Ribblesdale – 7 miles
• Settle & Scalebar Force – 7 miles
• Simon’s Seat – 9 miles
• Malham, Gordale & Malham Tarn – 10 miles
• Buckden Pike Circular – 11 miles
• Ingleborough & Gaping Gill – 11 miles

The Yorkshire Dales contains the quintessential landscape of Northern England. Enjoy the surrounding scenery of green patchwork fields, drystone walls and wild moorland hills.

Newfield Hall sits in rolling open countryside. The nearest village with facilities is Gargrave where there is a pub and shop. The market town of Skipton is about seven miles away. Here you’ll find a full range of facilities including supermarkets, shops, banks, chemists, pubs and cafes.

Just 10 to 15 minutes’ drive from Newfield Hall is the dramatic natural amphitheatre-like rock face of Malham Cove, just one of the iconic limestone sights of the Yorkshire Dales. If you are not already visiting the cove as part of your holiday, it’s well worth walking there along the Pennine Way from Newfield Hall (the walk takes around 1.5 hours in either direction).

The market town of Skipton – about 20 minutes’ drive from Newfield Hall – is a vibrant place to visit. Dominating the the town is its well-preserved medieval Skipton Castle.

Visit the parsonage in Haworth, the home of authors Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë. Many of their most famous works were written here, including Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and the Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Haworth is around 45 minutes’ drive from Newfield Hall.

This heritage steam railway runs from the centre of Keighley to Oxenhope via the ‘Brontë’ village of Haworth. The line is still well-known as the setting for the 1970 film ‘the Railway Children’ and boasts an impressive selection of steam locomotives. Keighley station is around 35 minutes’ drive from Newfield Hall.

Ride England’s most scenic railway through the Yorkshire Dales from Hellifield or Settle station. Heading north over the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct you could head to the small market town of Appleby, or the border city of Carlisle.

This impressive World Heritage Site contains the dramatic ruins of Fountains Abbey, the largest monastic ruins in the country. There is an exhibition of life in the medieval Abbey. Adjacent to the abbey is Studley Royal water garden – England’s most spectacular Georgian water garden. Both sites are managed by the National Trust.

Located near the village of Ingleton, about 40 minutes’ drive from Newfield Hall, White Scar is Britain’s longest show cave. The underground tour reveals spectacular caverns, waterfalls and stalactites.

See the curious formations of Brimham Rocks above the valley of Nidderdale, around an hour’s drive from Newfield Hall.

Situated near Harrogate, about 50 minutes’ from Newfield Hall, are the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens at Harlow Carr. The gardens have been planted to suit the challenging growing conditions of the north. Wander and enjoy the tranquil surroundings.

The spa town of Harrogate has fabulous shopping, fine cuisine and glorious gardens. Visit the Turkish Baths & Health Spa, Royal Pump Room Museum, the English Heritage Grade II listed Valley Gardens and Betty’s Tearooms.

Set in 175 acres of parkland near Ripon, just over an hour’s drive away, Lightwater Valley has big thrill rides including the ‘Ultimate’, the longest rollercoaster in Europe at 1.5 miles long. The park has over 40 rides and is fantastic fun for all the family.

One of Britain’s most attractive historic cities, York is about a 1½ hours’ drive from Newfield Hall. Attractions include the York City Walls Trail, York Minster, National Railway Museum, and Yorvik Viking Centre.