The Best Walks in Yorkshire (that you need to try!)
Smack bang in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales National Park (NP), Peak District NP and North York Moors…’Gods Own Country’ (Yorkshire) is certainly not short of a host of amazing trails and walking paths to navigate!
The endless choice of walking routes can be actually pretty overwhelming for those new to the area…but worry not! We have compiled the following list for you, highlighting the best of the best...leaving you to just put your boots on, head out and enjoy!
Malham Cove, Gordale Scar & Janet’s Foss Walk.
This walk is one of the most amazing in Yorkshire (well, at least according to us anyway!) for its varied landscape: from gushing waterfalls and jagged cliffs to stunning woodland and…even Peregrine Falcons! What more could you ask for?
Malham Cove has been a favourite spot for walkers for many years and it has not lost any of its famed beauty as the years have gone by!
This is a circular walk with ‘stops’ at Gordale Scar, Malham Tarn, Janet’s Foss and Malham Cove, so you can follow it all the way around and is certainly one you will never forget.
Aysgarth Falls.
This walk is perfect for those who are looking for a short and easy walk, but still want to take in plenty of nature’s beauty. Taking around one and a half hours to complete, this walk will take you through lush meadows and gorgeous woodland, the route will lead you past the three tiers of this amazing waterfall on the River Ure.
Photo credit: www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/places/aysgarth_falls_national_park_centre/
Ilkley Moor and the Twelve Apostles.
With heather-coated countryside stretching as far as the eye can see, Ilkley Moor is blessed with show-stopping panoramic views across some of the most beautiful landscapes in Yorkshire.
One of the most fascinating parts of this walk is the circle of 12 standing stones which has become known as the 12 Apostles. This site provides a great backdrop for your Instagram snaps!
Top Tip: to avoid the big crowds that often flock to the Moor, return to West View through Rocky Valley for a pretty and peaceful return trip (you are welcome).
Photo credit: www.thesummitisoptional.com/portfolio/twelve-apostles-ilkley-moor/
Brontë Country.
Brontë Country is a large area of impressive moors and deep valleys, which spans the West Yorkshire and East Lancashire Pennines in North of England. It is famous for its beauty as well as being the backdrop for many classic works of the famous Brontë sisters.
Be sure to take the time to explore the quiet network of country roads or the paths across the brooding moorland. You can undertake the Brontë Way, a marked trail linking the key locations associated with the famous sisters or undertake some of the shorter walks starting out from Haworth.
Top Tip: whilst you are there don’t miss the Brontë Parsonage Museum and the Keighley Worth Valley Railway as well as array of independent shops and art galleries with many places to eat and drink!
Photo credit: @joe_creative
Sutton Bank and The White Horse of Kilburn.
One of the best walks in Yorkshire, Sutton Bank offers you some of Yorkshire’s most spectacular views. There are several walks you can do here, with one of the most popular starting in the Sutton Bank National Park Centre.
The trail, loops around the Roulston Scar up to the White Horse of Kilburn, which is quite literally a figure of a horse…that has been carved into the hillside. What a great photo opportunity!
Photo credit: www.yorkshire.com
Langsett Reservoir.
Start your circular walk in the village of Langsett and keep going along footpaths that snake through the woodland and moorland that surrounds the Reservoir. This route is a particular favourite with dog walkers, and we can see why. Who wouldn’t want unparalleled views of the Peak District while taking their pup on its daily walk?
Photo credit: @findyourfootstep
Holme Valley.
Holme lies on the boundary of the Peak District and is just a couple of miles southwest of the famous town of Holmfirth.
There is Holme Valley circular walk along the heights around the Holme Valley, it takes in Castle Hill, the villages of Farnley Tyas, Thurstonland, Hepworth, Netherthong and Honley. There is a variety of beautiful scenery including many breath-taking viewpoints. The Holme Valley Hills and Hamlets Walk (9 miles) combines a route linking Holmfirth and Netherthong with various sites of interest and in parts is coincident with the Holme Valley Circular Walk. The Holme Valley Circular Challenge Walk is 24 miles long involves almost 4000ft of ascent and in parts is coincident with the main route.
Photo credit: Garden designer Liz Rawlinson @lizrawlinsondesign
Castle Hill.
Victoria Tower atop Castle Hill overlooks Huddersfield and is, for the us, the icon of Kirklees, like Pleasure Beach Tower is to Blackpool!
You can climb the tower (for a symbolic fee) and enjoy the wonderful panoramas looking out across the farmland and moorland all around. There are several short walks that can be followed, however for 6 mile route start from the car park and climb the steps up to the Tower.
Photo credit: www.yorkshire.com
Trans Pennine Trail.
The Trans Pennine Trail is the first long distance multi-user trail in the UK. Stretching the breadth of Northern England, from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, it is a journey of 215 miles (346km).
Added to this are the north/south route options, between Leeds, York, and Chesterfield, making around 350 miles (560km) of signed route to follow along a mixture of well surfaced canal and railway paths, tracks and bridleways, footpaths, cycle lanes and minor roads.
Photo credit: www.wikipedia.org
Ribblehead Viaduct.
The superb dark skies of the Yorkshire Dales National Park are one of the things that make it such a special place. Our winter skies are a stargazer’s paradise, and it is most certainly an activity the whole family can enjoy together. On a clear night you could see as many as 2,000 stars, the Milky Way, planets, the northern lights and shooting stars – and not forgetting our Moon.
Wrap up very warm, bring a flask, a pair of binoculars (if you have them) and something to sit on, and head out to the National Park. All you have to do is look up and enjoy nature’s Christmas sparkle.
There are four Dark Sky Discovery Sites around the National Park, which are a great place to start your stargazing adventure. These locations are open to the public, provide parking and other facilities, and are accessible to people of all abilities: Malham National Park Centre (BD23 4DA), Buckden National Park Car Park (BD23 5JA), Hawes National Park Centre (DL8 3NT) and Tan Hill Inn (DL11 6ED).
Photo credit: @variationghost
Yorkshire Wolds Way Walk – East Riding of Yorkshire.
The Yorkshire Wolds Way is an impressive 79-mile-long walk, featuring unbelievable views of the surrounding landscape. You can create your own walk of any distance you want and there are options to suit each walker. The walk is also best-known for featuring the banks of the immense Humber estuary, leading visitors along wooded slopes, through tranquil, picturesque dry valleys before climbing onto the fresh tops of rolling hills, where on clear days (granted we’re not gifted with many of them) individuals claim that they ‘can see on infinitely’.
photo credit: www.visiteastyorkshire.co.uk
www.yorkshirefoodguide.co.uk/blog/yorkshire-walks/
Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Take a walk into a world of giant statues, human/rabbit hybrids and musical park benches at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park just outside of Wakefield. Set on 500 acres of beautiful Yorkshire countryside, it’s a place where both kids and imaginations can run wild!
Photo credit: @lockdownwalks
Top Tip: We also recommend all visitors to check the MILES WITHOUT STILES website before planning your walking adventure. This resource highlights all routes that are suitable for those in wheelchairs, buggies or even walking your four legged friends who can’t negotiate stiles easily. Another bonus is that the trails are under 2 miles long.