Grade:

Comfort:

Start/Finish: /Bowness

Distance: 79 miles

Duration: 8 Days & 7 Nights

Availability: April —September

Website Code: WESDW1

A long distance footpath through and the majestic . Lake Windermere, the largest natural lake in . Diverse walking from remote moorland to the hills of . Relax in cosy and friendly country inn’s. View the unfolding vistas through the eyes of Wordsworth and Ruskin.

macsadventure.com

The crosses two national parks and takes you from the rugged magnificence of Yorkshire all the way to the majestic finery of the Lake District. The Dales Way is a remarkably beautiful walk This walk is full of diversity, beginning with lush meadowlands and black bordered through some of England’s finest scenery. The moors of the , to the luminous waters of Windermere and the walking is relatively gentle and provides you splendour of the Lake District. the time to take it a bit easier than most long 300 million years in the making, the Dales Way is formed in the east from great distance walks and really take in the geological slabs of limestone and to the west where landscapes were formed by the movement wonders that surrounds you. of the earths surface which pushed ancient rock to the surface creating the craggy hilltops, mountain tarns and glittering lakes of Cumbria.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Ilkley. Day 2: Walk to , 13 miles, 21 km. Day 3: Walk to , 15 miles, 24 km. Day 4: Walk to Dent Head (Cowgill), 17 miles, 27 km. Day 5: Walk to , 9.5 miles, 15 km. Day 6: Walk to /Grayrigg, 15.5 miles, 25 km. Day 7: Walk to Bowness-on-Windermere, 9.5 miles, 15 km. Day 8: Onward Travel

What’s Included 7 Nights in B&B’s, guest houses, small hotels and country inn’s • 7 Breakfasts • Daily luggage transfers • Dales Way guidebook and map • Information pack • GPX tracks and access to the Macs Adventure Smartphone Navigation App • 24/7 Telephone support from our UK office

Self Guided Walking & Cycling Tours—Call +44 (0)141 530 8886 or +1-844-312-6541

Day 4

Dent Head (Cowgill) to Sedbergh - 9.5 Day 1 miles, 15 km Accommodation Ilkley to Burnsall - 13 miles, 21 km After passing Scar Force and Dent Station One of the highlights of this tour is the high standard (England's highest railway station), you will wind of the accommodation. We specifically choose the Starting at the Old Bridge in Ilkley make your way through meadow and forest to a clearing where the hotels, inns, guesthouses and B&B’s to ensure that north on your walk up to Burnsall. After passing landscape proves its diversity from you enjoy every minute of your stay. They all offer a through lush meadowlands and Bolton Priory, you . The steep hills rise on both sides and warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and will come to Cavendish Pavillion. Pass through Strid the ominous Whernside looms some 2414ft above delicious local food. Wood where the river becomes feisty and the you. A short while after Dent, the river which had scenery more dramatic. We regularly use the following properties but may become more of a stream earlier today is back to its accommodate you elsewhere if these are not crashing glory and the bird life is in full flow again. The highlights continue endlessly with more available. stunning bridges and medieval settlements. Burnsall On this section, you will get the sense of leaving Bridge comes into view marking the end of the stage Burnsall: Manor House B&B & Red Lion Yorkshire and entering the Lake District however and The Red Lion pub provides great pub grub. this border is some way off yet. : Grassington Lodge Day 2 Day 5 Hubberholme: The George Inn Cowgill: Sportsman’s Inn Burnsall to Hubberholme - 15 miles, 24 km Sedbergh to Burneside/Overnight - As you leave Burnsall by a stony path behind the 15.5 miles, 25 km Sedburgh: The Dalesman Country Inn church, the river roars dramatically beneath Bowness on Windermere: Nagoya B&B More evidence of the impending lakes forms up limestone crags. You will begin to climb and the ahead as you pass through slat roofed villages and amazing views over Wharfedale will astound. Solo Walkers & Single Rooms amble across a beck romantically crammed full of One of the highlights of this section is Grassington - fallen rocks and falls. A short trip from Burneside will This trip is not available to solo walkers. If you a fabulous Dale’s village with everything you would bring you to Kendal where there are a variety of require single rooms we would be happy to expect to find - friendly pubs, a tea shop, post office eateries and pubs. accommodate you although there is a single room and a convenience store, not to mention oodles of supplement payable. charm. The high land produces more stunning views Day 6 Meals later on the path as you head up to Coniston Pike Burneside to Bowness-on-Windermere - which provides the best views of the Dales Way. A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch 9.5 miles, 15 km and dinner are not included so you are free to After some gentle downhill woodland walking and choose from the available options. Most of your some delightful riverside walking you will come to You have reached the climax as you leave Kendal accommodations will more than happy to provide a your destination for this evening. Hubberholme is a and head off to the . You may be lucky packed lunch on request and this can be booked on pretty little village and a one pub town. The George enough to catch a glimpse of kingfishers on this arrival. Dinner is available either at your Inn serves good food and offers a welcome section and there are plenty of interesting mills to accommodation or nearby pubs or restaurants. refreshment. see including an entire village of them at Cowen Head. The scenery is more and more rocky as you Day 3 progress to the end of the Dales Way. As you see the majestic lake ahead you can choose the long or Hubberholme to Dent Head (Cowgill) - 17 short route to your final destination. There is no miles, 27 km shortage of fine places to eat and drink in

As you leave Hubberholme you will also leave Windermere making it a great place to celebrate.

Wharfedale and enter Dentdale. This path takes you past the river cascading over several ledges. After

Deepdale Gill, which is a splendidly rugged area, the path begins to climb and this area can be a little muddy from the springs and streams that cascade down the hillside.

Later on you can take in the views of the three peaks, Whernside, Pen-y-ghent and Ingleborough as well as the Dent Head Viaduct.

Self Guided Walking & Cycling Tours—Call +44 (0)141 530 8886 or +1-844-312-6541

Baggage Transfer Travel Insurance

Your bags will be transferred from your It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs accommodation as per your itinerary and moved Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance Availability onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask which covers you for the activity and emergency you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg evacuation and hospital care. You can start your Dales Way walk anytime per person. Please ensure that you do not bring between April and September. more than one bag of 20kg, as if this occurs, the In order to help with availability, we recommend luggage transfer company will ask you to pay an either booking an extra night in Bowness at the end additional fee (approx. £8.50 per day, per bag). This of your walk or avoiding finishing in Bowness at the additional payment, should it be necessary, needs to weekend - many B&B's only accept 2 night bookings be made locally to the driver and in cash. Any Getting to Ilkley at the weekend in Bowness and it can make it more additional bags need to labelled as if they are not By Air - The closest airport is / Airport difficult to confirm your trip if you do finish at the labelled we cannot guarantee that they will reach and there are frequent bus links to Ilkley. weekend. you at the next accommodation. By Rail— Ilkley is well serviced via Leeds which Price If you are travelling from far afield and do have more connects with most major towns, trains leave every than one bag it is possible to arrange for the extra Please see our website for a current list of prices. hour from Leeds for more information check out luggage to be stored whilst you are on the tour for a National Rail page. Not Included in the Price fee of £25 per bag. These additional bags would be picked up at your accommodation at the start point By Road—We generally recommend that you use Travel insurance (required) • Travel to Ilkley and (St Bees or Kirkby Stephen) and dropped off public transport to access your walk as parking is not from Bowness-on-Windermere • Lunches & wherever you finish depending on the itinerary you generally available at your hotel/guesthouse/B&B in Dinners • Drinks and snacks • Personal equipment choose to do. Please contact us if you are interested Ilkley (or other start points). Should you be driving in this option. please contact your accommodation directly to Optional Extras: enquire if parking is available. The Dales area is Navigation Additional nights before, during or after the walk • bordered by major trunk roads. Leeds can also be Single room supplement if required This route is waymarked and much of it follows a reached by National Express Buses with local well laid out path so you will not need to be a services taking you to Ilkley. Booking competent navigator with map and compass, though Getting from Bowness-on-Windermere When you are ready to book you can do so securely some experience with both may be beneficial. This online at www.macsadventure.com or by phone: +44 tour also has access to the Macs Adventure From the end of the walk at Bowness-on- (0) 141 530 8886. or +1844 309 6352 (Toll free Us & Navigation Smartphone App - we highly recommend Windermere you can travel onwards by all forms of Canada) using it, or at least having it on your phone ready to public transport, as it is well linked. use should you ever be in any doubt about your Financial Protection By Air - Manchester Airport is the closest airport to direction. Bowness-on-Windermere and it takes approx. 2 Book with Confidence. We are a member of ABTA Experience & Fitness hours 30 minutes to reach by train. which means you have the benefit of ABTA’s assistance and Code of Conduct. We provide full By Rail - Windermere is the closest train station As this is a self guided trip you will be responsible for financial protection for your money. which is a short 10 minute bus or taxi journey from navigation, decision making and safety during your Bowness-on-Windermere. From here you can trip. You must have a good level of walking fitness connect to most major towns in the UK, including and be capable of negotiating challenging terrain. If Manchester (2 hours), Newcastle (3 hours), Glasgow you do not have the right amount of walking fitness (3 hours) and London (4 hours). then you must engage in a fitness programme prior to the trip.The walking surface is on everything from By Car - There is very limited parking in Bowness-on good walking trails to forestry roads and rough -Windermere so we do not recommend parking your hillsides. car here.

Equipment

Our pre-departure information pack has detailed advice and a kit list on what to take with you. This includes warm and waterproof gear, good walking boots and a day pack. A compass is also highly recommended.

Self Guided Walking & Cycling Tours—Call +44 (0)141 530 8886 or +1-844-312-6541

Macs Adventure Ltd, 2nd Floor, Skypark 5, 45 Finnieston Street, Glasgow, G3 8JU +44 (0)141 530 8886 or +1-844-312-6541

Self Guided Walking & Cycling Tours—Call +44 (0)141 530 8886 or +1-844-312-6541