Trailblazer Guide Books

'These human-scale books, written and published by people who genuinely know and love their subject, are perfect for travel's post-pandemic recovery.'
 — The Guardian, March 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Dales Way

How difficult is the Dales Way? 11

How long do you need? 12 – When to go 13

 

PART 1: PLANNING YOUR WALK

Practical information for the walker

Route finding 17 – GPS 17 – Accommodation 18 – Food and

drink 22 – Information for foreign visitors 24 – Money 26 – Internet access 26 – Other services 26 – Walking companies 27 – Walking with a dog 28 – Disabled access 28

Budgeting 29

Itineraries

Which direction? 30 – Suggested itineraries 31 – Town and village facilities 32 – The best day and weekend walks 33

What to take

Travelling light 35 – How to carry it 35 – Footwear 36

Clothes 37 – Toiletries 37 – First-aid kit 38 – General items 38

Money 38 – Maps 39 – Recommended reading, listening and

viewing 40 – Sources of further information 42

Getting to and from the Dales Way

National transport 43 – Getting to Britain 44 – Public transport

map 47 – Bus services table 48 – Local public transport services 50

 

PART 2: MINIMUM IMPACT & OUTDOOR SAFETY

Minimum-impact walking

Environmental impact 51 – Access 53

Outdoor safety

Avoidance of hazards 55 – Weather forecasts 56 – Blisters 56

Hypothermia, hyperthermia & sunburn 57 – Collapse of morale 58

Map key 58

 

PART 3: THE ENVIRONMENT & NATURE

Conserving the Dales Way

Government agencies and schemes 59

Campaigning and conservation organisations 61

Flora and fauna

Trees 62 – Plants and flowers 63 – Insects 64 – Mammals 65

Birds 67

 

PART 4: THE LINK ROUTES

Harrogate link 72 – Bradford link 74 – Leeds link 74

 

PART 5: ROUTE GUIDE AND MAPS

Using this guide

Trail maps 75 – Accommodation 76

The route guide

Ilkley 77

Stage 1: Ilkley to Burnsall 81 (Addingham 82, Bolton Abbey 87, Barden Bridge 90, Appletreewick 92, Burnsall 94)

Stage 2: Burnsall to Buckden via Grassington 96

(Hebden 97, Grassington 101, Conistone & Kilnsey 106, Kettlewell 106, Starbotton 111, Buckden 114)

Stage 3: Buckden to Cowgill 114 (Hubberholme 116, Alternative High Level Route 126, Far Gearstones & Ribblehead 130, Cowgill & Lea Yeat 130)

Stage 4: Cowgill to Millthrop (for Sedbergh) 134 (Dent 136, Sedbergh 140)

Stage 5: Millthrop (for Sedbergh) to Burneside (for Kendal) 146 (Burneside 154, Kendal 156)

Stage 6: Burneside to Bowness-on-Windermere 160

(Staveley 160, Bowness-on-Windermere 165)

 

APPENDICES

A: GPS waypoints 169

B: Walking with a dog 170

 

INDEX 

172

OVERVIEW MAPS & PROFILES 

178

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