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The Dales High Way is a 90-mile (145 km) long-distance walking route from Saltaire in West Yorkshire to Appleby-in-Westmorland in Cumbria. Designed as a high-level alternative to valley routes, it travels across open moorlands and elevated ridges before entering the Yorkshire Dales National Park, linking dramatic limestone landscapes with historic market towns.
Beginning beside the River Aire at Salts Mill World Heritage Site, the route climbs steadily west into the Pennines, crossing wild moors, remote uplands, and classic Dales scenery. It passes through Ilkley, Grassington, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Ribblehead, and Dent, before finishing in the Eden Valley at Appleby, with wide views across the northern Pennines throughout.
For self-guided walking holidays and outdoor adventures, the Dales High Way offers challenge, solitude, and some of the finest long-distance scenery in northern England.
Distance: 90 miles / 145 km
Start Point: Saltaire, West Yorkshire
End Point: Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria
Time Required: 7–10 days
Terrain: High moorland, limestone dales, upland ridges, pastureland, river valleys
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous — long days with sustained climbs and exposed sections
Accessibility: Rail access at Saltaire, Ilkley, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Ribblehead (limited Settle–Carlisle services), Dent (station at Cowgill), and Appleby
Begin at Salts Mill beside the River Aire before climbing onto open moorland toward Ilkley, with wide views over Airedale.
Cross Ilkley Moor and descend into Wharfedale, following upland paths to the lively market town of Grassington.
A classic Dales section across limestone pasture and high moorland, passing near the Malham Tarn uplands and beneath the slopes of Pen-y-ghent.
Traverse high ground between the peaks of the Three Peaks area, with big sky views and open, wind-sculpted landscapes.
Cross remote moorland to the deep, dramatic valley of Dentdale, with a long descent into the stone-built village of Dent.
Follow elevated ridges across the northern Pennines, crossing from the Yorkshire Dales into the Eden Valley for a scenic finish at Appleby.
Towns & Villages:
Saltaire, Ilkley, Grassington, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Ribblehead, Dent, Appleby-in-Westmorland
Accommodation:
Country inns, village B&Bs, walker-friendly guesthouses, farm stays, and market-town hotels along the route
Food & Drink:
Traditional Dales pubs, tearooms, bakeries in market towns, and hearty rural inns in remote villages
Culture & Heritage:
Salts Mill World Heritage Site, limestone farming landscapes, dry-stone walling traditions, Ribblehead Viaduct, historic market towns
