The Herriot Way

6 Days & 5 Nights 4.5 Read 4 reviews

Walk through James Herriot's Yorkshire, of "All Creatures Great and Small" fame
The lush green rolling valleys of Wensleydale and Swaledale
Hawes, a pretty market town and home of Wensleydale Cheese
Take in views across Yorkshire from the summit of Great Shunner Fell
Enjoy a pint of real ale and a Yorkshire roast dinner in a cosy Dales pub

A circular walk through James Herriot's Yorkshire, a land of rolling dales and heather-clad moorland, immortalised in the well-known books and TV series "All Creatures Great and Small". Leading you through classic Dales landscapes, the route heads from one pretty Yorkshire village to the next, starting and finishing in the attractive town of Aysgarth, with its famous triple waterfalls. Discover Hawes, the home of Wensleydale Cheese, and climb to the top of Great Shunner Fell for amazing views over the Yorkshire countryside. This delightful walk captures the essence of "Gods Own Country" wonderfully.

What To Expect

Travel restrictions and resources, to and from any destination

This is the perfect trip for you if you are looking to experience classic Yorkshire and a great introduction to a multi-day walking tour. The daily walks are between 12 and 14 miles, with up to 850m of ascent on the toughest day (the others involve around 200 and 600m ascent) on varied terrain. You will overnight in small B&B's, guesthouses or small hotels in traditional Dales villages.

Tour Type:

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers

As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 12 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Long-Distance Trails
Off the Beaten Track

Activity Level & Terrain

This tour is graded as moderate overall. Daily walks are between 11 and 14 miles and involve ascents of between 120m and 728m (on Day 3 when you walk up Great Shunner Fell). You will cross a variety of terrain including well-defined paths and tracks through meadows, open fells and heather moorlands. There are some sections which can become wet and boggy during bad weather.

Navigation

Whilst the Herriot Way is not a waymarked path, it overlaps with a couple of other signposted trails including the Pennine Way and the Coast to Coast. We also provide comprehensive route notes, maps and GPS tracks through our smartphone app, so you shouldn’t have any problem finding your way.

Accommodations

You will stay in a mixture of carefully chosen B&B’s, guest houses or small hotels.

Single Rooms & Solo Walkers

If you require single rooms we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable.

We welcome solo walkers on this trip although you should, of course, take extra care in the outdoors when walking solo.

Included

5 Nights in B&B's, guesthouses or small hotels
5 Breakfasts
Daily baggage transfers
Transfer from Garsdale Train Station to Aysgarth
Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
All your trip documents provided digitally through your online Macs “My Account”
24/7 Emergency telephone support from our UK office

Excluded

Travel to/from Garsdale
Dinners and lunches
Drinks and snacks
Personal equipment
Travel insurance

Extras

Additional nights before or after the holiday

When To Go

You can start this tour on any day of the week from April through to September. It is also possible to travel in March and October if you wish but there will be a small additional charge for luggage transfers during these months.

The best months for walking are in the spring, summer and autumn when the weather is fairer. Spring is great as the wild flowers will be in bloom. The hay meadows around Swaledale are in full bloom in June and this is when you will see them at their most colourful. September is when the heather is in full bloom on the moors and the autumn months also tend to be a bit quieter. By October the Yorkshire Dales are covered in lovely orange hues as the leaves start to fall.

Getting to the Start

By Rail - The nearest train station to Aysgarth is Garsdale. Trains run from London to Garsdale (via Leeds) and take approx 4.5hrs or it is also possible to travel from Manchester (3.5h). From Garsdale it is a 15 minute taxi journey to Aysgarth which is included in the cost of your tour.

By Car - It is a 4hr drive from London to Aysgarth or 1.5h from Manchester. Please let us know if you do plan to drive as we will need to let your accommodation know you plan to leave your car there.

By Air - The closest airports are Leeds Bradford or Manchester. From either of these airports, you can take the train via Leeds to Garsdale.

For more information on train times and schedules please visit the Traveline or National Rail websites.

Luggage Transfer

Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.

Equipment

Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Aysgarth Day 2 Aysgarth to Hawes 12 miles / 19 km

Your first day's walk on the Herriot Way leads you out of Aysgarth to follow the River Ure through green meadows and along an old railway track to the little village of Askrigg. This picturesque village was where "All Creatures Great and Small" was filmed and you can see the front of Skeldale House which featured as the vets surgery. Climb gently through lush fields high above the river to another famous waterfall at Hardraw, and then finally on to Hawes. This charming Yorkshire town is the highest market town in England and a lovely place to stop for the evening. If you have time, it is also well worth visiting Wensleydale Creamery, home to the extremely tasty Wensleydale Cheese.

Ascent/Descent: 121m/108m

Overnight Hawes

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Herriott’s | Bed and breakfast

The 300-year old ‘quirky’ Herriot building on the main cobbled street that runs through Hawes comprises of Herriot’s Guest House, Herriot’s Kitchen and The Herriot Gallery, an ideal location to browse local artwork, enjoy fresh home-made produce, and relax and become guests of Glenn & Liz. They offer six en-suite bedrooms, all of which benefit from the expected home comforts. All of their rooms have been refurbished over the last few winters and have new bathrooms throughout.

Wensleydale House | Bed and breakfast

Wensleydale House offers guests comfortably furnished spacious ensuite bedrooms, guest lounge and a separate breakfast room overlooking farmer's field and 'our' beck (small stream). The house is centrally heated and on cooler nights guests can enjoy an open fire in the lounge room. For breakfast they offer a choice of full English, continental or vegetarian. All ingredients are sourced from local suppliers featuring local produce wherever possible.

Check in is 3pm – 6pm

Cockett’s Hotel | Hotel

Cockett's Hotel and Restaurant dates back to 1668 and was originally a Quaker Temperance Hotel. Today all 11 bedrooms have en-suite facilities, TV, coffee and tea facilities and either views across the Yorkshire Dales or onto the Market Place of Hawes. You are invited to take advantage of the resident's lounge or enjoy a drink in the bar. The restaurant is open every night except Tuesday, serving a wide choice of home-cooked dishes. The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of the town centre providing easy access to local attractions and shops.

Day 3 Hawes to Keld 12.5 miles / 20 km

After enjoying a hearty breakfast, get ready for the most challenging day of the Herriot Way, as you enjoy an energising but straightforward climb to the summit of Great Shunner Fell, the third highest mountain in Yorkshire. A long, steady ascent brings you to the summit shelter, where it is possible to enjoy panoramic views across Yorkshire. Drop down into the tranquil valley of Swaledale filled with pretty wildflowers, and the village of Thwaite, where a lovely tearoom is a great place to stop for refreshments. Continue through Swaledale to Keld, a typical little Dales village.

Ascent/Descent: 728m/654m

Overnight Keld

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Butt House | Bed and breakfast

Butt House pride themselves on warmly welcoming walkers after a long day's trekking. They provide drying and laundry facilities, packed lunches, home cooked food, along with a fully licensed bar. All rooms have TVs, hairdryers, tea & coffee making facilities and fabulous views of the area. On the ground floor there is a drying area for boots and coats, a lounge with open fire, dining room, and bar/reception area, where, in the height of the season, you can enjoy a pint of Black Sheep Ale, available on tap.

Keld Lodge | Lodge

A warm welcome awaits you at Keld Lodge. This former shooting lodge is now a comfortable hotel and restaurant. You can enjoy the amazing views from the conservatory dining room, lounge, and many of the bedrooms. They place an emphasis on doing the simple things well.

Frith Lodge | Bed and breakfast

Frith Lodge is a 300-year-old Swaledale farmhouse which has been lovingly restored and refurbished. They have 3 doubles and 2 twin bedrooms which are all en-suite, have tea and coffee making facilities include fresh milk and homemade biscuits and each bedroom has FreeSat TV, hairdryer, welcome guide and breathtaking views from every window. Their guest lounge has stunning views and is the perfect place to rest and relax after a day walking.

Day 4 Keld to Reeth 11 miles / 18 km

You have a choice of two routes today. The first is a higher level option using an old mining track, taking you onto Melbecks Moor, a lovely heather-clad landscape before dropping down past old ruined mining buildings to follow riverside paths into Reeth. The other option is a slightly longer but easier route which mostly follows the River Swale all the way to Reeth, passing Gunnerside with its lovely tearooms and pubs. This village was once the "capital" of Swaledale's rich mining heritage.

High Level Route: 11m/18km, Ascent 529m, Descent 649m

Low Level Route: 12m/19km, Ascent 294m, Descent 403m

Overnight Reeth

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Ivy Cottage | Bed and breakfast

Ivy Cottage is a stylish B&B situated in a lovely position overlooking the renowned Green in the centre of Reeth. All of their rooms have comfortable beds, tea and coffee making facilities, hairdryers, colour TV, complimentary WiFi and central heating.

Cambridge House | Guest House

The owners extend a warm welcome, and are wholly dedicated to providing a high level of service with a distinctly personal edge. Their 5 bedrooms are all extensively equipped and benefit from breath-taking, south-facing views of the expansive Swaledale countryside.

The Kings Arms Hotel | Hotel

This traditional village inn dates back to 1734 and is affectionately named the "Middle House" because of its position overlooking the village green. This family friendly inn is renowned for its locally sourced seasonal food, traditional cask ales, roaring log inglenook fire, and comfortable en-suite rooms. All food from The Kings Arms Hotel's extensive menu is freshly prepared and cooked to order. Guests will benefit from a warm, and welcoming atmosphere. The olde-worlde Inglenook Bar and Dining Room provide a popular meeting place for great breakfasts, lunches, and evening meals.