Dales Way
8 Days & 7 Nights 4.6 Read 49 reviews- A long distance trail through rugged Yorkshire and the majestic Lake District.
- Lake Windermere, the largest natural lake in England.
- Diverse walking from remote moorland to the hills of Cumbria.
- Relax in cosy and friendly country inn’s.
- View the unfolding vistas through the eyes of Wordsworth and Ruskin.
The Dales Way crosses two national parks and takes you from the rugged magnificence of Yorkshire all the way to the majestic finery of the Lake District. This walk is full of diversity, beginning with lush meadowlands and black bordered moors of the Yorkshire Dales, and ending with the luminous waters of Windermere and the splendour of the Lake District.
The Dales Way is full of natural wonder and is one of the greenest walks you will ever take, with lush, emerald valleys, fields, crags and fells to accompany you every step of the way.
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
Ideal if you have an interest in:
- Long-Distance Trails
Activity Level & Terrain
This walk is graded moderate and the walking surface is on everything from good walking trails to forestry roads and rough hillsides. The daily distances are anywhere between 9 and 16 miles, therefore you will have a good fitness level in order to make the most out of your tour.
Navigation
This route is waymarked and much of it follows a well laid out path so you will not need to be a very experienced navigator with a map and compass. However, as with any self-guided walk, it would be very helpful to have at least some navigating experience.
Accommodations
One of the highlights of this tour is the high standard of the accommodation. We specifically choose the hotels, inns, guesthouses and B&B’s to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. They all offer a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious local food.
Accommodation Location
We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed in your itinerary. Occasionally, because of limited availability, there is the option to be accommodated at an alternative location. In the unlikely event that we have to accommodate you elsewhere we will advise you of this before confirming your booking.
Single Rooms
This independent walking vacation is available to solo walkers but as all our vacations are priced per person based on two sharing there is a single supplement payable to cover the additional costs we incur.
Meals
A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner are not included so you are free to choose from the available options. Most of your accommodations will more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or nearby pubs or restaurants.
- 7 Nights in B&B’s, guest houses, small hotels and country inn’s
- 7 Breakfasts
- Daily luggage transfers
- Dales Way guidebook and and map
- Information pack
- GPX tracks and access to the Macs Adventure Smartphone Navigation App
- 24/7 Telephone support from our UK office
- Travel insurance (required)
- Travel to Ilkley
- Travel from Bowness-on-Windermere
- Lunches & Dinners
- Drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- Additional Nights
When To Go
This trip is available to start on any day of the week from the beginning of April and end of October. You can start on any date that suits your travel plans, subject to availability.
In order to help with availability, we recommend avoiding finishing in Bowness at the weekend - all B&B's only accept 2 night bookings at the weekend in Bowness and if you do end up here at the weekend we will need to book 2 nights here and include return transfers between there and Burneside. These will be included at no extra charge. Alternatively you can add an extra night in Bowness which we highly recommend anyway!Â
Getting to the Start
By Air
The closest airport is Leeds Bradford and there are frequent bus links to Ilkley. Travel time from Leeds Bradford Airport via Leeds is approx. 1 hour. Manchester Airport is approx. 2 hours 30 minutes by public transport to IIkley via Leeds. London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted are probably the best options for those travelling from outside the UK. From the airport you would travel to Kings Cross, where trains leave approx. every half an hour to IIkley via Leeds.
By Rail
Ilkley is well serviced via Leeds (approx. 30 minutes) which connects with most major towns, trains leave every hour from Leeds. For more information check out the National Rail Enquiries web page.
Getting from the End
By Air
Manchester Airport is the closest airport to Bowness-on-Windermere and it takes approx. 2 hours 30 minutes to reach by train.
By Rail
Windermere is the closest train station which is a short 10 minute bus or taxi journey from Bowness-on-Windermere. From here you can connect to most major towns in the UK, including Manchester (2 hours), Newcastle (3 hours), Glasgow (3 hours) and London (4 hours).
Luggage Transfer
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight location. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person. Please ensure that you do not bring more than one bag of 20kg, as if this occurs, the luggage transfer company will ask you to pay an additional fee (approx. £8.50 per day, per bag). This additional payment, should it be necessary, needs to be made locally to the driver and in cash. Any additional bags need to labelled as if they are not labelled we cannot guarantee that they will reach you at the next accommodation.
If you are travelling from far afield and do have more than one bag it is possible to arrange for the extra luggage to be stored whilst you are on the tour for a fee of £25 per bag. These additional bags would be picked up at your accommodation at the start point (St Bees or Kirkby Stephen) and dropped off wherever you finish depending on the itinerary you choose to do. Please contact us if you are interested in this option.
General Information
The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. 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.
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.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Ilkley Day 2 Ilkley to Burnsall 13 miles / 21 km Day 3 Burnsall to Hubberholme - 15 miles, 24 km 15 miles / 24 km Day 4 Hubberholme to Dent Head (Cowgill) 17 miles / 27 km Day 5 Dent Head (Cowgill) to Sedbergh 9.5 miles / 15 km Day 6 Sedbergh to Burneside/Overnight Kendal 15.5 miles / 25 km Day 7 Burneside to Bowness-on-Windermere 9.5 miles / 15 km Day 8 Onward TravelThe Macs Way
-
Tried & Tested Adventures
-
Freedom
-
Book with Confidence
-
Expertise
-
Positive Impact
- Knowledgeable and helpful specialist trip planners
- Wide variety of tours to suit all interests and experience levels
- Start on any date that suits you
- Choose your ideal trip length and difficulty
- Range of accommodation comfort levels
- Choice of trip styles
- Choose your own travel companions
- Walk, cycle and explore at your own pace
- Make your own decisions
- Choose your own path
- Indulge your passions
- 18,000+ unbiased trip & service reviews
- Feefo Platinum Award 2023
- 25,000+ travelers trust us each year
- As featured in the Guardian, Times, Nat Geo Traveler
- Founder owned & operated since 2003
- 100+ passionate team members across the US, UK & Europe
- Carefully planned adventures
- Quality, hand-picked accommodations
- Seamless and reliable arrangements
- Comprehensive trip information & insider tips
- Detailed maps, route notes and mobile GPS app
- Helpful 24/7 support should you need it
- Travel responsibly
- Explore off the beaten track
- Support locally owned businesses
- Engage with local communities
- Minimize your impact
- Maximize the benefit of your travel
- Challenge yourself & grow