The Yorkshire Dales are home. I live in Wensleydale, and they’re Callie’s favourite part of Yorkshire too. Think stone villages, waterfalls, limestone cliffs and miles of drystone walls. My favourite pub, the Green Dragon at Hardraw, has England’s highest single-drop waterfall behind it. And if I want to show a friend one view, I take them to Reeth.
The Yorkshire Dales at a Glance
- Where: a national park in the west of North Yorkshire, between Harrogate and the Lake District.
- From London: train to Leeds (around 2 hours 15 minutes), then on to Skipton, the southern gateway. Driving takes 4 to 5 hours.
- How long to stay: at least two or three nights.
- Do you need a car? It helps a lot. Buses are limited, though the Settle–Carlisle railway is a great way to see the western Dales.
- Where to base yourself: Skipton or Grassington in the south; Hawes, Leyburn or Reeth further north.
- Best time to visit: May to September. Autumn is quieter and just as pretty.
My Yorkshire Dales Guides
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Yorkshire Dales in Winter: A Local’s Guide (2026–27)
The Yorkshire Dales in winter, from someone who lives there: icy roads, cosy pubs, what’s open and closed in 2026–27, Christmas markets and dark skies.
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Yorkshire Dales Itinerary: 3 to 5 Days by Car, from a Local
A 3 to 5 day Yorkshire Dales itinerary by car from a Leyburn base: Wensleydale, Swaledale, Malham Cove, Ribblehead Viaduct and the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail.
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Where to Stay in the Yorkshire Dales: Best Bases, from a Local
Where to stay in the Yorkshire Dales: why Leyburn is the best base for a first visit, plus Hawes, Reeth, Grassington, Malham and Austwick, with places to stay in each.
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Yorkshire Dales Waterfalls: 8 of the Best, from a Local
The best Yorkshire Dales waterfalls, from Aysgarth Falls and Hardraw Force in Wensleydale to the Keld waterfalls, Janet’s Foss and the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail.
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Yorkshire Dales Villages: 11 of the Best, from a Local
The best Yorkshire Dales villages to visit, from Hawes, Aysgarth and Castle Bolton in Wensleydale to Reeth in Swaledale and Grassington, with tips from someone who lives there.
Explore More of Yorkshire
- York: the Minster, the Shambles and the city walls.
- North York Moors: heather moorland, steam trains and abbey ruins.
- Yorkshire Coast: Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay and Scarborough.
- Harrogate: my favourite town, with spas, gardens and Bettys.
- Plan your Yorkshire trip: getting here, getting around and how many days you need.
- Yorkshire itineraries and road trips: how to split your time.