Yorkshire is home to some of the most picturesque countryside in England, centered on Yorkshire Dales National Park. It is a place of quaint villages, hedge rows, heather and wildflowers and secluded river and creek valleys. Two of the best long-distance trails in Britain are either entirely or mostly within the confines of the Yorkshire Dales, making hiking the best way to explore the dale country.
Yorkshire Wolds Way
The Yorkshire Wolds is a region of low hills laying across East Riding and North Yorkshire. The highest point is Bishop Wilton Wold at 807 feet. The trail begins at Hessle on the Humber River, enters the Wolds and runs over the spine of the hilly region before descending back down to the North Sea at Filey. Along its 79- mile route, the trail takes in green pasturage with baying flocks of sheep, tiny villages and Northern Moor country. Worth noting are the famed medieval ruins of the "ghost village" of Wharram Percy. It is a classic of British hiking and also is one of the trails that supports "inn trekking." The route winds through or near enough villages with hotels, hostels and inns that a hiker can choose to leave heavy camping gear behind and stay in a bed every night.
nationaltrail.co.uk/YorkshireWoldsWay
Yorkshire Three Peaks
Yorkshire Three Peaks is a short, but challenging, trail, encompassing all three of the highest hills in Yorkshire. Every year, a number of hikers attempt to complete the entire trail in the same day. Those three hills are Pen-y-Ghent (1,003 feet), Whernside (1,338 feet) and Ingleborough (1,400 feet). Going up and down those three hills means taking on more than 5,000 feet of total ascent and descent along the way. Each hill has its own dramatic views of Yorkshire and the Dales.
Pen-y-Ghent Cafe
Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Settle
North Yorkhire BD24 0HE
011 (+44) 01729860333
The Dales Way
The Dales Way is another of Britain's classic hiking trails. It runs from Ilkley to Bowness and Lake Windermere. Running a bit more than 76 miles, it follows rivers mostly. The first three-fourths of the trail cuts a path through Yorkshire Dales National Park and the heart of the lovely dale country. The final quarter crosses into Cumbria and the Lake District. It also is possible to plan this trail as an "inn trekking" trip.
thedalesway.co.uk
About The Author
Richard Thomas has been writing since earning his M.A. in international affairs in 1997, frequently writes about hiking and scuba diving for Trails.com, and also works as the Budget Travel topic manager for eHow and the senior travel editor for Associated Content. His 2009 work on Portuguese hiking and artisanal cheeses has also appeared in print.
