Top tips for things to do in Grassington and the surrounding area
- Download our popular free walking app with walks in Grassington and Wharfedale as well as other parts of the National Park.
- Don’t leave without exploring the village’s cobbled square and ginnels (narrow passageways between buildings).
- Make sure you visit the old lead mining remains at Yarnbury and see if you can recognise part of the landscape from the Harry Potter films.
- You must call in at Linton’s waterside medieval church near stepping stones over the River Wharfe.
- And finally do wander down to Linton Falls from the Grassington National Park Visitor Centre.
- From Grassington, you can further explore the villages of Appletreewick, Burnsall, Coniston, Hebden, Kettlewell, Kilnsey and the Dales of Malhamdale, Littondale, Bishopdale, and Bolton Abbey.
- A visit to Kilnsey Park with its fishing, pony rides and nature trails (you may spot a red squirrel!) and butterflies, plus a cosy cafe and shop is always time well spent.
Walks in Grassington and the surrounding area of Wharfedale
Popular trails include the Dales Way along the River Wharfe, Grass Wood, and the fascinating lead mining remains on Grassington Moor, where their story is brought to life through a series of interpretation panels.
A walk linking two lovely villages – Buckden and Starbotton, going along the valley side and back along the river.
- Features: Low-level route (mostly valleys)
- Location: Wharfedale
A walk through the meadows above the Wharfedale town of Grassington.
- Features: Low-level route (mostly valleys)
- Location: Wharfedale
A classic walk along the River Wharfe, taking in Linton Falls, Ghaistrill’s Strid and the lovely Grass Woods.
- Features: Low-level route (mostly valleys)
- Location: Wharfedale
A short circular walk between Grassington and a lovely Dales village, Hebden.
- Features: Low-level route (mostly valleys)
- Location: Wharfedale
Walk – Buckden, Cray and Hubberholme
A longer walk taking in a lovely high traverse in upper Wharfedale.
- Features: High-level route (visits fellsides)
- Location: Langstrothdale; Wharfedale
Walk – Kettlewell to Starbotton
A wonderful Wharfedale circuit high along the valley and then back along the river.
- Features: High-level route (visits fellsides)
- Location: Wharfedale
This audio trail will take you on a voyage of discovery through 10,000 years of history around Grassington. The walk takes you through farmland which is being carefully managed for its historic features and wildlife.
You will pass through Lea Green Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which is designated for its species-rich limestone grassland flora and limestone pavement. The farmer is sensitively managing this field to allow the limestone-loving wildflowers and grasses to flower and set seed during the summer months.
Bastow Wood is also a SSSI managed to provide a fine balance between allowing the natural regeneration of tree species to occur and maintaining the open grassland areas.
You can download the audio here.
- Location: Wharfedale
Linear walk – Kettlewell to Grassington
Ride the bus to Kettlewell in style before embarking on a seven mile return walk to Grassington, through meadows and over ancient pastures offering fine views across the Wharfedale. For public transport details see Traveline Yorkshire.
- Features: Low-level route (mostly valleys)
- Location: Wharfedale
Linear walk – Bolton Abbey to Grassington
Try something a little different with this nine mile one-way walk along riverside pastures to Grassington. You can then catch the bus back to Bolton Abbey. For public transport details see Traveline Yorkshire.
- Features: Low-level route (mostly valleys)
- Location: Wharfedale
Miles without stiles walks in and around Grassington
Walk – Burnsall – a miles without stiles walk
An easy access route starting in Burnsall and following the River Wharfe. A 700m length of a popular section of the Dales Way runs between the village of Burnsall and Loup Scar. The route is well-surfaced and level. There are two kissing gates along its length which can be difficult for scooters.
Whilst walking along the river, look out for pied and grey wagtail, dipper, common sandpiper and oystercatcher.
- Features: Accessible route
- Location: Wharfedale
Walk – Buckden – a miles without stiles walk
Follow the steep footpath out of the car park. Cross the road and carry on down the unsurfaced track to reach Dubbs Lane. From here follow the road across the river. The two routes start on either side of the road once over the bridge.
Walking south, this 1km level footpath runs alongside the River Wharfe. The surface is constructed of a mixture of stone flags, aggregate and grass with a general width of 1m. Walking north, the footpath is a mixture of grass and compact aggregate.
Whilst walking beside the River Wharfe, look out for kingfisher, oystercatcher, dipper and sand martin.
- Features: Accessible route
- Location: Wharfedale
Walk – Grassington – a miles without stiles walk
An easy access walk by the River Wharfe close to the lovely village of Grassington.
A gate at the lower end of the car park gives access to a walled lane. The route here is well-surfaced with some gradients reaching a 1:7. Follow the river to the right along an unsurfaced route. From here, turn right onto the main road into Grassington where the first 50m are a 1:6 gradient.
Take a moment to look at Linton Falls when by the river. The falls mark the line of the North Craven Fault.
- Features: Accessible route
- Location: Wharfedale
Walk – Bolton Abbey – a miles without stiles walk
An easy access walk at the delightful Bolton Abbey alongside the River Wharfe.
For the first 1.8km of the route, the surface is compact stone at a width of at least 200cm. There are passing places and accessible benches along the full length of the route. Most of the route is flat with some areas having a gradient up to 1:10. From here, the route is unsurfaced with some gradients reaching 1:6.
- Features: Accessible route
- Location: Wharfedale
Walk – Grimwith – a miles without stiles walk
An easy access walk around Grimwith Reservoir high in the Yorkshire Dales.
The route to the east follows a well-surfaced track to a width of at least 200cm. There are some gradients reaching 1:8 to access the water’s edge but most of the route is relatively flat. The first section of the route to the west passes over the dam and is unsurfaced. From here, the track is surfaced with some gradients reaching a 1:6.
Grimwith Reservoir is one of the best places to see wildfowl in the Yorkshire Dales so take along your binoculars and you might see wigeon, teal, greylag and Canada geese on the water.
- Features: Accessible route
- Location: Wharfedale
Find other miles without stiles walks across the National Park
Long-distance walks in and around the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Find walks in other areas of the Yorkshire Dales National Park here and don’t forget to get these walks on our FREE Yorkshire Dales National Park walking which has 35 walks on it.
Want to find more inspiration?
- Our top ten things to see and do in the National Park.
- Events listings from businesses and other organisations in and around the National Park.
- Places to go; other dales, landscape features, towns and villages, experiences and places to eat and drink.
- Our longstanding and much-loved annual guide to the Yorkshire Dales National Park is packed full of features.
- Our month by month and seasonal guides for things to do in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.