If you’re a big fan of scenic country walks and exploring quaint, friendly towns, then the Yorkshire Dales and surrounding area are perfect for your next hiking trip. With mile upon mile of gorgeous scenery, including national parkland; the Yorkshire Dales – or the Dales as they’re also affectionately known – has plenty to offer even the most avid walker, hiker or biker.

Located across North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Cumbria, the Dales are easy enough to get to from all over the country. The North East of England is accessible by rail, bus or car and is conveniently located in such a place that it’s just a few hours’ journey from many populous locations in the UK.

If you’re thinking about exploring the Yorkshire Dales, you’ll definitely want to make your way towards the national park at its centre. Just fifty miles away from Manchester, with Darlington to the east, Kendal to the west and Bradford and Leeds to the south, the Yorkshire Dales National Park is 680 square miles of rolling countryside.

But that’s not all. Contained within the large expanse of the park are also five visitor centres, which are located in several of its major destinations; a museum which makes the most of its building’s past, which used to be a railway station; Bolton Castle; several waterfalls including Cautley Spout waterfall and the Kisdon Force waterfall and much, much more.

Fans of geology will marvel at the extensive collection of rock types to be found in the Dales, including majestic-looking formations that create some of the area’s mysterious underground caves. And if you’re just interested in checking out some beautiful countryside while you head out on an invigorating walk, the national park has plenty of routes for you to take, including long and short distance, easy and difficult routes.

There’s just so much to choose from that you could find yourself wishing you’d planned to stay much longer than originally thought!

Even outside of the national park, the Dales are superb for exploring and discovering, whether by foot, bike or car. The area receives an impressive number of tourists during the summer months and it’s not hard to see why. This means hotels and hostels can book out quickly, though, so make sure you get ahead of the pack and book into Clapham, Horton, Sedbergh or Harrogate hotels in good time so you’re not disappointed – and don’t forget to pack your walking boots!

About the Author

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.