How to get to the Yorkshire Dales

Train

Major rail stations:

Cities on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales are all served by frequent express train services from most parts of the UK. Head for

Leeds
York
Lancaster

Cross Country Trains, East Coast and Grand Central provide services to York and Leeds

www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

www.eastcoast.co.uk

www.grandcentralrail.co.uk

Virgin Trains serves Lancaster via the West Coast Main Line

www.virgintrains.co.uk

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Local rail stations:

These stations are good jumping off points for bus travel into the heart of the Dales

Skipton
Darlington
Harrogate
Northallerton
Ilkley

www.northernrail.org

www.tpexpress.co.uk

For rail travel through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, ride the scenic Settle-Carlisle Railway line

www.settle-carlisle.co.uk

On Sundays from Easter to October, the Dalesrail service links Lancashire with the Yorkshire Dales

www.dalesrail.com

The 17-mile railway line from Leeming Bar to Bedale, Finghall, Leyburn and Redmire (on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park) has recently been re-opened by Wensleydale Railway

www.wensleydalerailway.com

Steam trains operate between Embsay and Bolton Abbey in the Dales

www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk

Bus

For travel to destinations in and around the Yorkshire Dales

National Express serves Lancaster, Skipton, Leeds, Harrogate, York, Ripon, Northallerton and Darlington

08705 808080
www.nationalexpress.com

Megabus

www.megabus.com

www.traveline.org.uk

Local buses

For comprehensive information on all bus services - including year round and extra summer services, plus Dales Rover Tickets, see

www.dalesbus.org

The Malham Tarn Shuttle service carries bikes on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays during the Easter and summer school holiday periods

www.dalesbus.org/malhamshuttle

Cycle

National Cycle Route 68 - The 355-mile Pennine Cycleway, passes through the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It enters the Park at Gargrave and runs through Settle to Clapham, then to Ingleton and Dent, before carrying on to Sedbergh and Appleby.

www.pennine-cycleway.co.uk

The Yorkshire Dales Cycleway is a circular route starting and finishing in Skipton which is divided into six sections ranging from 18 to 24 miles in length

www.cyclethedales.org.uk/ydcycleway

The West Yorkshire Cycle Route - This 150-mile circular route roughly follows the West Yorkshire County Boundary. It connects with the Yorkshire Dales at Ilkley and skirts around Skipton.

www.wakefield.gov.uk/wycycle

And the Lancashire Cycleway consists of two circular routes which meet in the historic village of Whalley in the Ribble Valley. It mainly follows minor roads and takes in the rugged Bowland Hills and West Pennine Moors plus the Fylde Plain and the coastal scenery at Silverdale

www.lancashire.gov.uk/cycleway

8 day rides - for more experienced riders

www.cyclethedales.org.uk/dayrides

9 family cycle rides - ranging from five miles to 19 miles in length

www.cyclethedales.org.uk/familyrides

Bike hire

Dales Bike Centre - Courses, mountain biking guided rides and tours

Parks Barn, Fremington, Richmond
01748 884908
www.dalesmountainbiking.co.uk

Kudu Bikes - Bike hire only

Raynes Court, Upper Wensleydale Business Park, Hawes
01969 666088
www.kudubikes.co.uk

Off the Rails - Bike hire

The Cycling Centre, Station Yard, Settle
01729 824419
www.offtherails.org.uk

Cycle Adventure - Bike hire, courses, guided rides and bike delivery
07518 373 007
www.cycle-adventure.co.uk

More information

For more information on cycling in the Dales area see

www.cyclethedales.org.uk

And for mountain biking ideas see

www.mtbthedales.org.uk

Walking

Long-distance routes in the Park

Pennine Way (270 miles in total)
Dales Way (80 miles)
Ribble Way (70 miles)
Lady Anne's Way (100 miles)
Coast to Coast (190 miles)

www.traveldales.org.uk/longdistancewalking

And also see the Long Distance Walkers Association

www.ldwa.org.uk

There are numerous walks accessible by bus and train including

The Rim of the Howgills
Dent to Ribblehead
Low Level Swaledale
Horton to Settle
Crummackdale
Over Bordley
Kettlewell to Grassington
Bolton Abbey to Grassington

For guided walks linked to public transport routes

www.traveldales.org.uk/stationwalks

To download route maps for short walks

www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/short_walks

And for free guided walks in the Dales see

www.dalesbusramblers.org.uk

Boat

Canoeing is popular in the rivers of the Dales with some challenging white water runs

Further information on access to rivers can be found via the River Information Service provided by the British Canoe Union.
Call 0115 982 1100 for information.

www.bcu.org.uk

The lake of Semer Water in Wensleydale, and the reservoirs at Embsay and Grimwith, offer opportunities for sailing

www.yorkshiredales.sc

For sailing at Embsay

www.cravensailingclub.org.uk