Bolton Abbey to Grassington Walk

This is a point-to-point section of the Dales Way, 10.0 miles one way from Bolton Abbey Riverside car park to Grassington Square. It is not a loop, and it stops at Grassington rather than continuing north along the Dales Way.

From Bolton Abbey you cross the River Wharfe and follow the river past Cavendish Pavilion and through woodland. The way then passes Barden Aqueduct and Barden Bridge, carries on through the Wharfedale villages, crosses Hebden Suspension Bridge, and reaches Linton Falls shortly before Grassington. Burnsall and Hebden both sit on the line of the walk, so the day breaks up naturally into river, woodland and village stretches rather than one long uniform slog.

Moderate, about 5/10, and the difficulty is the length rather than any climbing. This is a low-level valley route that stays close to the river corridor, broadly between about 120 and 200 metres in height. Underfoot you get riverside pasture and field paths, bridleways and tracks, footways, several bridges, and short sections of road. Do not expect the water to be at your shoulder the whole way; the line drifts away from the Wharfe in places.

Allow about 5 hours of walking, plus stops. Ten miles in one direction is a full outing for most people, so starting earlier in the day gives you slack for photos, a village pause and an unhurried finish in Grassington.

Because the walk is one way, the return is the thing to sort before you set off. Return travel from Grassington to Bolton Abbey can be made by bus.

Dogs are welcome under the national park's guidance. Keep them on a lead on public rights of way and wherever livestock is present, and on a short lead from March to July for ground-nesting birds. There is stock grazing along the pasture sections and plenty of water and bridge crossings, so close control matters here.

The walk starts from Bolton Abbey Riverside car park, on Welly Walk at Bolton Abbey, off the Dales Way near Skipton. It is managed by the Bolton Abbey Estate and the estate's admission arrangement applies. There are designated Blue Badge spaces and accessible public toilets at the car park.