Yorkshire Dales National Park
Dry Stone Walls & Waterfalls
The Yorkshire Dales has many moods; it can be wild and windswept or quietly tranquil with valleys full of hay meadows, dry stone walls and barns.
Spectacular waterfalls and ancient woodlands contrast with the scattered remains of rural industries. Together, nature and people created a special landscape of immense beauty and character – one of the most picturesque places in the country.
Key activities
Walking
Grab your boots and come and walk the Dales. There are walks to suit all ages and experience, including ‘miles without stiles’ accessible walks, hill and meadow walks.
Waterfalls
You’ll find some of the finest limestone scenery in the UK. From pavements to caves to cascading waterfalls that plummet down dramatic cliff faces. There are dozens to visit.
Food & Drink
The Dales is perfect for foodies. There are cheese festivals, farmer markets, micro-breweries, and the world-famous Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes. Make sure you come hungry.
Special qualities
10 reasons why the Yorkshire Dales is a special place…
Ancient dry-stone walls and field barns are defining features of the Dales landscape – shaped over thousands of years by people and nature. The iconic pattern of barns and walls in Upper Swaledale is recognised as being one of the most distinctive agricultural landscapes in Western Europe.
There are dozens of spectacular waterfalls such as Hardraw Force – the longest unbroken drop in England – Ingleton Falls, Janet’s Foss and the world famous Aysgarth Falls which featured alongside Hardraw Force in the hit movie ‘Robin Hood Prince of Thieves’.
The Yorkshire Dales has some of the most spectacular peaks in England, and the famous Yorkshire Three Peaks of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent are amongst the highest in the county, providing an inspiring challenge to walkers from around the world.
Yorkshire is the home of cycling thanks to the 2014 Tour de France ‘Grand Depart’ and Le Tour de Yorkshire. The Dales offers some of the best cycling the country – from gentle routes in the valleys to challenging climbs over the moorland that separates them; including the iconic Buttertubs pass. Check out cyclethedales.org.uk
Over a quarter of England’s flower-rich upland hay meadows and pastures are here – outstanding examples can be found in Swaledale and Langstrothdale – and keep an eye out for nationally important populations of birds like curlew, lapwing, and black grouse.
Some of the best examples of classic limestone scenery can be found the Yorkshire Dales. With its scars such as those at Gordale and Attermire and limestone pavements such as those at Great Asby Scar and Malham Cove, which featured in ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part two’.
The most extensive caving area in the UK is here, including the longest cave system – the Three Counties System – and one of the largest caverns and the highest unbroken underground waterfall at Gaping Gill.
The stunning dark sky of the Yorkshire Dales National Park is one of its very special qualities, and each year we support a special festival to celebrate it. The Dark Sky Festival is all about discovering, learning and enjoying the galaxies and stars you don’t normally get to see.
Around 42% of the area of the National Park is moorland, which is internationally important for wildlife, plant species and the carbon they store as peat.
Livestock farming – with distinct sheep breeds like Wensleydale and Swaledale and a strong tradition of upland cattle rearing, that is still deeply interwoven into local life and made famous through local cheese making. Livestock sales and agricultural shows play an important part in the lives of local people.
Did you know?
Enjoying the Yorkshire Dales
There are many ways to enjoy the Yorkshire Dales! Whether you’re coming by car, train, bike or on foot, whether you’re coming for the day or staying for longer.
One of the best ways in which you can enjoy the Dales is by walking; there are over 60 varied short walks you can take to enjoy the wonderful scenery. If you fancy more of a challenge, there are longer distance options which include the Pennine Way, Coast to Coast, Pennine Bridleway, and the famous Three Peaks, where the aim is to walk 24 miles, covering all three summits, Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, in 12 hours!
Other ways to access the Dales are cycling and mountain biking – a great way to take in the landscape and observe the wildlife. We have a network of 900km of bridleways, by-ways and green lanes available for you to use, or try some of the Tour de France and Tour de Yorkshire routes. There are plenty of picture postcard towns and villages to stop off for refreshments!
Take a heritage train journey on the iconic Settle – Carlisle line which cuts through the heart of the Dales, providing stunning views of the landscape and taking in famous features such as the Ribblehead viaduct and the Westmorland fells or take the Wensleydale Railway from Leaming to Redmire.
Stay a while, there are hundreds of cosy B&B’s and holiday cottages to suit everyone. Bring friends, bring families, and enjoy everything the Yorkshire Dales has to offer.
Getting around
The Yorkshire Dales National Park is very accessible by road, but there are lots of alternative, greener ways to get about including walking, cycling and taking the train or bus.
The excellent DalesBus network through the Yorkshire Dales National Park offers wonderful opportunities for sightseeing and walking. And in the north of the Park, the community run Little White bus links Garsdale station to Hawes, and there are services from Richmond, Leyburn and Reeth.
Getting there
If you’re coming by car, the M6 skirts the National Park to the west, the A66 to the north, the A1 to the east and the A65 and A59 to the south.
By train you can access the Dales from Northallerton, or Darlington on the East Coast mainline with bus connections into places like Leyburn, Hawes and Reeth. Or you can travel directly into the heart of the Dales on one of the scheduled services from Leeds to Carlisle using the iconic Settle – Carlisle line. Services stop in Settle, Horton in Ribblesdale, Ribblehead, Garsdale and Kirkby Stephen.
Taking the bus is an excellent way of enjoying the views without having to worry about keeping your eyes on the road. It helps reduce congestion and parking problems. Visit www.dalesbus.org or www.traveline.info
☀️Summer can unfold quietly in nature across our National Parks.
In @pembscoast it’s happening right now.
Wildflowers brighten the clifftops, from sea pinks and oxeye daisies. These colourful blooms don’t just look beautiful - they are also provide a vital food source for butterflies and bees. 🐝
These simple seasonal moments are a gentle reminder to slow down, take a closer look, and notice the quieter side of summer in nature. 🌼
#ParkSpotlight #Summer #UKNature
💚 It’s Love Parks Week! Share this with someone who loves the National Parks, or add it to your story to show others that you do too.
There’s so much to love about our National Parks. They’re not just great places to visit, they’re places that protect habitats, restore nature, support local families and businesses, and bring communities together.
We all have our own reasons for why these places are so special to us.
#LoveParksWeek #NationalParksUK
🦋 Some of the UK’s rarest butterflies find a home in our National Parks. Here are just a few.
From flower-rich meadows to ancient woodlands and heathlands, many of our landscapes provide the ideal conditions that butterflies need to thrive.
Every butterfly is a reminder of why these places matter and how we can all play a part in protecting them.
The Big Butterfly Count is happening now. If you’re out exploring this summer, take part and help build a picture of how our butterflies are doing 👉 bigbutterflycount.org
Photography 📸
@lloydlanephotography
Tammy Andrews
Lloyd Lane
Neil Hulme
#BigButterflyCount #ButterflyConservation #UKNature
There’s something truly magical about the craft and skill of dry stone walling. 🪨
These remarkable walls still zigzag for more than 5,000 miles across the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
They’re a lasting reminder of the generations of craftsmanship that have shaped our landscapes, and of the traditional skills that continue to thrive across the UK’s National Parks.
🎥 Yorkshire Dales National Park
#ParkSpotlight #YorkshireDales
History doesn’t only live in museums.
It’s woven into the landscapes of our National Parks. From hillforts and castles to ancient pathways and drystone walls - these are places where heritage isn’t just protected - it’s still part of everyday life. 💚
When we protect these landscapes, we also protect the stories, traditions and history within them.
📍Dartmoor National Park
#NationalParksUK #UKHistory
There`s more to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park than lochs. 🌳
It`s also home to The Great Trossachs Forest – one of the UK`s largest woodland restoration projects.
So far, more than 2 million native trees have been planted, creating richer habitats for wildlife and helping shape healthier landscapes for the future.
And speaking of growing... today the National Park celebrates 24 years of protecting people, places and nature.
Happy Birthday @Lomondtrossachs! 🎉
#ParkSpotlight #UKForests
POV: One of those perfect July evenings.
🌾 Some of the best moments outdoors are the simple ones.
National Parks aren’t just places to visit on holiday. They’re where we connect with nature and ourselves, everyday.
Where’s your favourite place for a summer stroll? 💚
#Wellbeing #UKCountrySide #NationalParksUK
Wales is famous for its waterfalls 💧
Across UK National Parks, rivers have shaped the landscape over thousands of years, creating some of the UK’s most spectacular waterfalls.
From the force of the water to the life and habitats these rivers support, they’re a powerful reminder of the remarkable landscapes our National Parks protect.
📍Bannau Brycheiniog National Park
#ParkSpotlight #UKWaterfalls #BannauBrycheiniog
