Dales Way

A one-way point-to-point long-distance walk from Ilkley to Bowness-on-Windermere, officially 80 miles (128 km). The mapped GPS line comes out closer to 78.3 miles, which is just rounding and mapping differences, not a shortcut. Most people walk it south to north, starting at the signed Start of the Dales Way at Ilkley Old Bridge and finishing at the terminus bench above Lake Windermere.

• River Wharfe out of Ilkley through riverside meadows to Bolton Abbey Estate and Strid Woods
• Barden Bridge, Burnsall, then Grassington and the higher limestone pastures and terraces
• Kettlewell, Buckden, Hubberholme, Yockenthwaite, Beckermonds and Oughtershaw up Langstrothdale
• Cam Fell and the North Sea/Irish Sea watershed, the wildest stretch, then down past Gearstones into upper Ribblesdale
• Dentdale and Dent, across Pennine Fault country to Sedbergh under the Howgill Fells
• Upper Lunesdale, Crook of Lune Bridge and the Lune Gorge, then Burneside, the River Kent, Staveley and the low Lakeland foothills
• Final descent to the Dales Way terminus in Bowness-on-Windermere

April to October is the recommended window for milder weather and long enough days to cover the big stages. Winter is walkable but wet, muddy and much harder work with short daylight. Early light works well in the wooded Wharfe sections where the sun struggles to reach the water later in the day, and low evening light suits the Howgills and the Lune Gorge. Save some battery for the final descent above Bowness.

Both ends are reachable by public transport, with Ilkley station near the start and Windermere station and bus service near the finish. Because it is point-to-point, sort accommodation and any luggage transfer in advance rather than improvising. Dogs are generally fine since the route follows public rights of way, but you are crossing working farmland: keep them under close control, on a short lead around livestock, and follow lead advice during ground-nesting bird season. Check for current route updates before you set out, since permissive paths and diversions do change.

There is real road and lane walking mixed in, and the field paths can be a slog of gates and mud after wet spells. The high crossing between Langstrothdale and Ribblesdale is the section that catches people out on a poor day. If you want a shorter taste rather than the full commitment, the Wharfedale half from Ilkley to Buckden gives you the best of the river and limestone scenery in two or three days.