60 Things to do in the Dales

We have put together a fun list of 60 things to do in the dales. Enjoy them, we do. Remember, the warmest of welcomes awaits all visitors to the dales.

1. Book yourself a Yorkshire Trike Tour, we'll chauffeur you on a guided tour around the Dales. 
2. Take a trip down Gaping Gill, a huge cavern at the foot of Ingleborough, large enough to hold St Paul’s Cathedral. Bradford & Craven pothole clubs provide public access twice a year.
3. Discover the Edwardian Rock Garden at Aysgarth.
4. Climb a fell and enjoy hearing nothing but the wind.
5. Visit the underground cave at Stump Cross Caverns, in Wharfedale.
6. Take in the beautiful Cautley Spout waterfalls, east of Sedbergh, and keep an eye out for red squirrels and wild ponies.
7. Walk Cam High Road, Raydale to Cam Fell, an old roman road.
8. Visit the World War II memorial at the top of Buckden Pike and learn the story of the fox tracks that lead the airman to safety.
9. Walk along part of the famous Dalesway.
10. Follow the loop from Muker to Keld through meadows and along the ancient Corpse Way.
11. Picnic on the Buttertubs Pass.
12. Find & photograph Pendragon Castle in Mallerstang once owned by Luther Pendragon reputed to be Kings Arhur's father.
13. Visit Killington New Bridge Nature Reserve, west of Sedbergh and take a walk along the side of the River Lune.
14. Enjoy the White Scar Caves below Ingleborough.
15. Walk the famous Three Peaks, or any one of them.
16. Take a walk on the wild side on Snaizeholme Red Squirrel Trail. It starts & finishes at the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes.
17. Walk beside Stainforth Foss in October or November and watch the salmon leaping.
18. Sit where J.M.W Turner sat and painted ‘Simmerwater’
19. Stand on the edge of Semerwater and imagine what it must have been like thousands of years ago – then jump in for a bracing swim.
20. In a cosy village pub, drink some of the finest ales in the country that has been brewed locally.
21. Walk across the Stepping Stones at Bolton Abbey.
22. Visit and stroll through Bluebell Wood.
23. Visit Middle Falls at Aysgarth Falls.
24. Walk in Freeholders’ Wood, near Aysgarth Falls, try and spot the deer.
25. Play Poohsticks from one of the Dales many bridges, try the 14th century Little Emily’s Bridge at Linton Falls.
26. Take the Settle-Carlisle Railway over the Ribblehead Viaduct and through the Blea Tunnel.
27. Walk beside the Mill above Askrigg, follow the scent of wild garlic when they are in flower.
28. Visit Keld Heritage and Countryside Centre to discover Swaledale.
29. Walk to the top of Simon’s Seat and take a photograph of Appletreewick & Skyredale.
30. Cheese, Gromit. Visit Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes , which produces the tasty nibble loved by the cartoon pair in the Wallace & Gromit films.
31. Climb Gordale Scar and walk on the limestone pavement above Malham Cove, which some believe was the inspiration for Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.
32. Walk through a Muker hay meadow in summer, when they are in full flower.
33. Take a selfie in front of Malham Cove.
34. Stop in Clapham to visit Ingleborough Cave, picking up a leaflet on the Clapham Nature Trail on the way.
35. Drive or cycle over Fleet Moss from Buckden and enjoy the dramatic views of Wensleydale on the steep descent to Gayle.
36. Watch ropes being made at the Rope Makers in Hawes.
37. Hunt for mice in Hubberholme Church. The oak pews and chairs were hand carved by “the Mouseman of Kilburn,” Robert Thompson, and bear his famous mouse trademark,
38. Learn more about farming life in the Dales by visiting Hawes Auction Mart – there are livestock sales every Tuesday and visitors are welcome.
39. Walk through Bolton Abbey Woods and see the colourful Mandarin Ducks.
40. Visit the Forbidden Corner at Coverham, its rather special.
41. Skim stones on the River Cover at St Simon’s Chapel.
42. Spend some time in the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes.
43. Visit one of the many National Park’s famous agricultural shows and soak up the atmosphere.
44. Visit Askrigg – famous for the James Herriot TV series ‘All Creature Great & Small’ and see the famous Skeldale House, which was the Vets’ surgery.
45. Drive through Gill Gate watersplash, in the opening scene of ‘All Creatures Great & Small’
46. Look around St. Andrews Church in Grinton, known as the Cathedral of the Dales. Two miles away from Grinton Smeltmill – the best preserved in the National Park.
47. Visit the working blacksmiths at Malham.
48. Enjoy the beautiful-restored Reeth Community Orchard Garden and Gallery.
49. Walk along the access-for-all-path at Cotter Force and try to catch a glimpse of the resident kingfisher.
50. Try fish & chips from Ramsay’s Fish and Chip van, which travels through the Dales each week.
51. Stop off at Middleham Castle, childhood home of Richard III.
52. Visit West Burton, a beautiful Dales village, visited by the artist, J.M.W.Turner, in 1816 on his grand tour of Yorkshire.
53. Write a poem about the Dales unique scenery and how it makes you feel.
54. Try to spot the otters playing on the river side in Hawes.
55. Pinch your way through a squeeze stile and snuggle up close as you pass through a kissing .
56. Walk around Kettlewell and see where the Calendar Girls film, with Helen Mirren was made.
57. Photograph the Ribblehead Viaduct with a train crossing it.
58. Drive one of the three mountain climbs on the TDF14 Stage 1 route. Be King of the Mountains and get to wear the polka dot jersey.
59. Photograph the field barns in Swaledale.
60. Paddle in Malham Tarn.