Best Day Hikes in the Yorkshire Dales for Beginners

19 January 2026 By Down to Hike 5 min read

The Yorkshire Dales National Park covers around 850 square miles of limestone upland, green dale, and moorland in North Yorkshire and Cumbria. It is one of the most walker-friendly landscapes in England: the paths are well-maintained, the waymarking is generally clear, and the scenery rewards both the short valley stroll and the full-day fell walk.

For beginners, the Dales offer something that can be harder to find in more dramatic mountain landscapes: routes that are accessible and enjoyable without requiring significant navigation skills or high fitness levels, while still feeling genuinely rewarding. The following routes are a starting point.

Malham Cove and Gordale Scar Circular

Distance: 8 miles / 13km Ascent: Approximately 280m Time: 4 to 5 hours Start: Malham village car park (SD 900 627) Difficulty: Moderate (some steep sections near the cove)

This is the Dales’ most popular walk and for good reason. Malham Cove is a natural limestone amphitheatre, a 260-foot curved cliff formed at the end of the last ice age by a meltwater waterfall. The scale of it is startling when you first arrive at its base.

The route climbs above the cove to the limestone pavement on top, one of the finest examples in England, where the clints (slabs) and grykes (fissures) create a strange, otherworldly surface. Continue across the plateau to Malham Tarn, one of the UK’s highest natural lakes, before looping back via Gordale Scar, a deep limestone gorge with a waterfall that requires a short scramble if you want to climb out through the waterfall route (an easy scramble but hands-on).

The path back to Malham via Janet’s Foss, a small wooded waterfall, is a gentle finish to a varied day.

What to expect: The limestone pavement is uneven underfoot. Boots are essential. The Gordale Scar scramble is optional (you can bypass it), but if conditions are dry it is accessible to most walkers. The route is well-signposted throughout.

Aysgarth Falls and Wensleydale

Distance: 5 miles / 8km Ascent: Approximately 100m Time: 2.5 to 3.5 hours Start: Aysgarth Falls National Park car park (SE 011 887) Difficulty: Easy (excellent paths, minimal elevation)

Aysgarth Falls is a series of three spectacular waterfalls on the River Ure in Wensleydale. The upper, middle, and lower falls are all accessible from the car park via well-maintained paths through mixed woodland. The falls are most impressive after rain, when the Ure fills the wide limestone shelves with fast white water.

The walk can be extended into Wensleydale itself, crossing the river and following the dale bottom east toward Castle Bolton, a ruined medieval castle with views over the dale. The full extension adds roughly two miles each way and is rewarding in clear weather.

What to expect: This is an easy, family-friendly walk with excellent facilities at the car park including a National Park visitor centre. The paths near the falls can be slippery. An extended walk toward Castle Bolton is on good paths throughout.

Pen-y-ghent from Horton in Ribblesdale

Distance: 8 miles / 13km Ascent: Approximately 470m Time: 4 to 5 hours Start: Horton in Ribblesdale car park (SD 808 725) Difficulty: Moderate to challenging (rocky summit section)

Pen-y-ghent is the smallest of the Three Peaks but has the most distinctive profile: a stepped, flat-topped hill with a rocky summit tier that is visible from much of the surrounding dale. At 694 metres, it sits just below the highest ground in the Dales.

The route from Horton follows the Pennine Way south before turning east to climb the south ridge. The lower section is on good path; the upper section involves a short but straightforward rocky scramble (hands needed in places) to reach the summit plateau. The descent follows the eastern ridge back to Horton via Hunt Pot and Hull Pot, two impressive natural limestone potholes.

What to expect: The summit scramble is not technical but requires comfortable use of hands and feet. Do not attempt in icy conditions or if you have a significant fear of heights. The Pennine Way section can be very boggy after extended rain. Strong walking boots essential.

Grassington and Upper Wharfedale

Distance: 6 miles / 10km Ascent: Approximately 150m Time: 3 to 4 hours Start: Grassington main car park (SE 002 637) Difficulty: Easy

Grassington is a market village at the gateway to Upper Wharfedale, and the surrounding limestone landscape makes for excellent easy walking. This circular route from the village takes in the dry stone wall-divided fields above the village, the limestone scars to the north, and returns via the riverside path along the Wharfe.

The valley floor section along the river is excellent at any time of year, with the Wharfe clear and fast over its limestone bed and often visible trout holding in the pools. The upper section through the dale-side fields has wide views over the valley.

What to expect: This is a straightforward walk suitable for most fitness levels. Good waymarking throughout. Grassington village has cafes, pubs, and parking, making it a good base for a full day out in Wharfedale.

General Dales Walking Notes

Limestone and wet weather: Limestone becomes polished and extremely slippery when wet. Take extra care on any exposed limestone sections, pavement, and rocky paths after rain. Microspikes are useful in winter when limestone pavements can ice over.

Mobile signal: Signal can be patchy in valley bottoms and absent on higher ground. Download your route offline and tell someone your plans before heading out on longer routes.

Facilities: The main Dales villages (Malham, Grassington, Hawes, Horton in Ribblesdale, Aysgarth) all have parking, toilets, and food. More remote starting points may have none of these. Plan accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

: The Dales walk well year-round, but late spring (May to June) and early autumn (September to October) are the most reliable months for good conditions and manageable crowds. Summer brings more visitors but reliable long daylight hours. Winter walking in the Dales can be excellent in settled cold weather but some higher routes become challenging with ice on limestone pavements and poor visibility on the fells. The Dales are generally less committing than higher mountain areas like Snowdonia or the Lake District in winter.
: For the routes described here, waymarking is generally good and the terrain is relatively straightforward. However, an OS Explorer map (OL2 for the southern Dales, OL30 for the northern Dales) is strongly recommended for any walk where you leave the valley floor. The limestone plateau areas around Ingleborough and Malham can be disorientating in mist, and having a map provides an important safety net. The OS Maps app with offline tiles downloaded is a practical option.
: Several of the routes described here are suitable for families, particularly the Malham Cove circuit and the Aysgarth Falls walk. These have good paths, clear waymarking, and interesting features that engage children. Longer routes or those with significant altitude gain are better suited to children with some walking experience. Always factor in the pace and stamina of your youngest walker when planning.
: National Park car parks are available at most popular walking destinations: Malham, Grassington, Aysgarth, Hawes, and Horton in Ribblesdale all have car parks. These fill early on weekends and bank holidays in summer. Consider arriving before 9am on busy days or using public transport where possible. The Dales Bus service runs seasonal routes into the National Park from surrounding towns.
: Ankle-support walking boots with a waterproof membrane are recommended for almost all Dales walking. The limestone pavement sections around Malham and Ingleborough are uneven and can be slippery when wet. The valley floor paths around Wharfedale and Wensleydale are generally easier going but can be muddy after rain. Trail shoes are adequate for drier conditions on the valley routes but boots give better confidence on wet limestone.

Tags: yorkshire dales day hikes beginner walks uk hiking walking routes national park

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