Welcome to the Yorkshire Dales, an outstanding place to explore!
The Yorkshire Dales has many moods; it can be wild and windswept or quietly tranquil with valleys full of hay meadows, drystone walls and barns. There’s always something to do in the Dales. Whether you’re coming for the day or staying longer.
We’ve put this information together to help you get started in planning your visit. We hope you enjoy your time here in the Yorkshire Dales.
You can download a detailed map showing all of the Yorkshire Dales National Park here.
Before you travel – Check the latest covid restrictions (updated 23 December 2021).
- We recommend you check the latest Government guidance in relation to Coronavirus. It’s good to know what you can and can’t do and it can change quickly.
- We also have a dedicated Covid-19 information page if you’re planning a visit in the coming days and weeks. It’s definitely worth checking before you travel.
- National Park Visitor Centres and Dales Countryside Museum are operating as normal but do check their seasonal opening hours.
- National Park Authority car parks and toilets are open.
- Finally, the safety of communities throughout the National Park remains our number one priority, so we would ask everyone to follow the guidance and to respect the land, respect the community and to respect each other. Thank you.
Our car parks
- Aysgarth Falls – ///acquaint.fairly.qualify
- Buckden – ///inhabited.gullible.trend
- Clapham – ///outnumber.swim.bravest
- Grassington – ///extend.paving.protected
- Hawes (Dales Countryside Museum) – ///bespoke.handrail.gripes
- Horton-in-Ribblesdale – ///limelight.sharp.pelting
- Kettlewell – ///control.handed.encodes
- Linton Falls – ///stooping.communal.wide
- Malham – ///strumming.offers.selects
- Stainforth – ///tribes.hardly.pounces
As a rule, our Malham, Horton-in-Ribblesdale and Aysgarth Falls carparks tend to be the busiest. Have a back up plan in case you get there and it’s too busy and you can’t park. Our other car parks are less busy.
All of our car parks now have electric car charge points. Each site has a podpoint dual, 7kw rapid charger. We have app enabled chargers – https://pod-point.com/guides/driver/how-to-access-public-ev-charging. Please note that if using the charge points you must purchase an appropriate parking ticket to cover the time whilst charging.
There are other carparks run by local authorities, see more about other amenities here.
New to visiting the Yorkshire Dales National Park?
If you’re visiting the Yorkshire Dales National Park for the first time you’re very welcome and we are looking forward to seeing you! Yorkshire Dales is a working environment and can have hazards so to keep you safe and ensure you make the most of your trip we’ve put together a few tips and some handy maps that can help you find your way around. Take a look at our resources for new visitors here.
Things to do
We have beautiful valleys, towns and villages. Find attractions, events, places to eat and drink and where to stay along with things to do with the kids in the great outdoors.
Be sure that you check ahead to make sure that the places we’ve listed are open and what they are offering. Remember that some businesses may still require you to wear a facemask so make sure you bring one with you.
Walking in the Yorkshire Dales
Many people come to the Yorkshire Dales to walk. A walk in the Yorkshire Dales National Park is good for both your physical and mental wellbeing. There are walks for all abilities;
- Miles without stiles walks; if you find walking a challenge or your group includes someone who’s using a wheelchair or pushing a push chair then take a look at our ‘Miles Without Stiles Walks‘ here and find out more in our Access for all area.
- Here are some short walk suggestions leaving and returning to our National Park car parks.
- There are around 60 short walk suggestions for people of all ages and ability on our short walks page. Each walk comes with a detailed map and some walks have an audio guide.
Need some inspiration? Check out these different walks.
You could come for a wander around Aysgarth Falls!
You could come for a Semerwater Alpaca Amble
Or you could come for a mindfulness walk, taking time out to relax and destress.
Or come with friends and tackle a Peak or two… or three!
Water Safety
Waterfalls, rivers and lakes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park are popular places for people to picnic beside, to paddle in and to swim. They’re popular venues for a variety of watersports including kayaking, canoeing, sailing and windsurfing.
If you’re planning to spend time by water or in the water it’s important to understand how quickly water conditions can change, how cold our water can be and the dangers of unseen hazards and fast flowing currents.
Read the guidance on our water safety and swimming page here.
Accessibility
Everyone has the right to access to the countryside in the Yorkshire National Park and improving access on appropriate public rights of way and permissive routes in the National Park is one of the objectives agreed by the Authority and a wide range of local partner organisations in the National Park Management Plan 2019-24.
Choose from our Miles without Stiles downloadable routes perfect for wheelchairs, pushchairs and a post-pub-lunch amble. You can also buy route cards at National Park Visitor Centres. To see where the routes can be found in the National Park have a look at the interactive map and check out our access for all page here.
The Countryside Code
The National Park is a place where farmers and landowners work and people live; if you can follow these tips below you’ll stay safe during your visit and the communities of the Dales will stay safe. Thank you.
If you’re a business or community member in the Yorkshire Dales download a version of the graphic for your use.
From now until July there will be lambs and other livestock in fields and on moorland along with nesting birds on the ground; please keep your dog on a short lead at this time.
While you’re out and about in the countryside it’s important to respect the Countryside Code. You can download a version of the Countryside Code to take with you.
And wherever you walk or picnic, please take all your litter home with you and no BBQs. Please, leave no trace.
Finally, if you’re planning to fly a drone for recreation purposes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park you’ll need to be compliant with a number of CAA regulations and secure landowner permission. All the information you need is here about drones is here.
Other essential information
Want to know about bringing your dog, different walks, travel information, and what equipment to bring with you? Find out more essential tips and information to help you take care here.
The Three Peaks
Finally, if you’re considering doing the Three Peaks challenge, we have lots of information to help you here. The Three Peaks challenge is a popular activity, and it’s important that social distancing is maintained on the hills.
Survey
How was your visit? We’d love to know how you felt about your visit to the Yorkshire Dales National Park. You might even win a prize!
