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Explore the Yorkshire Dales

Things to Do in the Yorkshire Dales

Whether you want to sit back and soak in your surroundings or take a more active exploration of the region, there are plenty of fantastic things to do in the Yorkshire Dales.

With beautiful landscapes aplenty, a rich and fascinating heritage, gorgeous towns and villages, wonderful eateries and fantastic family attractions and events, it isn’t hard to find wonderful things to do in the Yorkshire Dales, but you may struggle to fit them all in on your break.

With that in mind we’ve created a number of articles to help you find the best things to do in the Dales. Find some inspiration with our guides below.

If you’re all set and ready to visit then take a look at our featured holiday cottages in the Dales.

Family Fun

With a wealth of activities scattered throughout its many wide open spaces and a myriad of tracks and trails to explore, the Yorkshire Dales is one of Britain's best playgrounds.

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5 Best Views of the Dales

This is taken on top of Moughton Scar; a ridge that runs sort of midway between Pen-y-Ghent and Ingleborough. Despite being in the middle of one of the most heavily visited and best loved parts of the Dales, not many people know about it.

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As Seen on the Big Screen

The penultimate tale of ‘The boy who lived’ needs little introduction. After 6 films and hundreds of millions of dollars in ticket receipts, the Deathly Hallows part 1 features Harry and co. on the run.

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Wonderful Waterfalls

There is something alluring and awe-inspiring about watching waterfalls as they trickle, tumble and crash over cliffs and through gorges, and the Yorkshire Dales have some of England's finest examples. We travelled its hills and valleys to find five of the most magnificent...

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Exploring the Dales – Day 1

Our first destination is the gorgeous market town of Grassington. It’s a fairly short drive from the cottages.com office and is the perfect place for visitors to Wharfedale to begin their journey. For starters it’s a complete honeypot location with lovely cobbled streets, limestone buildings, a host of quirky boutiques and tearooms and a packed calendar of cultural events that belies its small stature...

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Exploring the Dales – Day 2

Our second day starts early on a crisp spring morning. As the sun begins to break through the clouds we see anglers set to work at Kilnsey Trout Farm under the shadow of the Crag, a huge limestone cliff face that rises up over the Wharfedale Valley. Day one of Le Tour paid a memorable visit to Kilnsey and, not surprisingly, the village was widely regarded as one of the best places to watch the action...

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Exploring the Dales – Day 3

Twenty minutes into our final day and we encounter sheep down a narrow country road. If this happened anywhere else just after 9am it would be an inconvenience. The pace of life in the Yorkshire Dales, however, seems to have relaxed us. We are now firmly aware that we’re on the sheep’s time. So, after a half-hearted attempt to herd them back, we just sit tight and wait for them to decide where they’re going...

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Mountain Bike Routes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park

Rolling, rugged and full of rustic charm, the stunning Yorkshire Dales makes a perfect destination for off-road adventures on a mountain bike. Best of all, with dozens of different rides to choose from, there’s a great route to explore whether you’re new to the sport or a seasoned veteran.

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Yorkshire Dales Road Cycling Routes

The Yorkshire Dales is fantastic cycling country, something the success of the Grand Depart and the Tour de Yorkshire really brought home. With stunning scenery, varied terrain and charming towns and villages, there’s good reason for the sport’s growing popularity in these parts.

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Take a look at cottages.com for a selection of fantastic self-catering cottages in the Dales.

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