Family Walks in the Yorkshire Dales
Where can you find the best walks for the kids in and around the Yorkshire Dales?
Well, if I were you, I’d start by looking right here!
From this page you can begin your search for the perfect family hike in and around the Yorkshire Dales. With over 100 walks to choose from, they have been arranged into categories so you can find a walk to suit whatever you are looking for and whatever age or abilities your own kids are. We have been exploring the Yorkshire Dales as a family for over a decade and as locals to the area, we have walked these walks time and time again.
You can guarantee that each one has been tried and tested, hiked by the kids and has been given a Reluctant Explorers seal of approval.
On each individual walk page you will find all the information you need as a parent to be able to plan your own adventure in the Yorkshire Dales, such as detailed route instructions, links to online maps, logistical information about parking, toilets and baby change facilities and where’s nearby to eat with the kids. You’ll also find out if there are any cool stories to tell, interesting facts, where the play park is or more importantly where to find the ice cream!
You’ll also find detailed information about terrain, whether it’s pushchair friendly, or whether you need to really ramp up on the sweets bribery!
Written by a parent, for parents.
Let’s begin to plan your Yorkshire Dales adventure!
The Best Short Walks in the Yorkshire Dales
Here, you’ll find all of our favourite short and easy walks for kids that are under two miles (or even less!)
They may be short and sweet, but they are true adventures! Suitable for all ages from pushchair friendly walks for toddlers, to more technically challenging terrain for older kids and teens, you can guarantee that the only thing mini about these adventures is the length!
If you tap the button below, you’ll go to our Short and Easy Walk menu page, where you can begin to plan your own family adventure.
Pushchair Friendly Walks in the Yorkshire Dales
Here, you’ll find all of our buggy friendly walks!
Sometimes, it’s just GOT to be a pushchair walk.
You might be surprised to find that on this page, you’ll find pushchair friendly walks to waterfalls, stepping stones, through woodland and to some of the most epically famous places in the Yorkshire Dales. So what are you waiting for, go pack the pushchair!
If you tap the button below, you’ll go to our pushchair walks page, where you can begin to plan your own family adventure.
Family Walks with Waterfalls
The best family friendly waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales
I’m not biased but the Yorkshire Dales has some of the finest waterfalls in the country. Ok, maybe I am a tiny bit biased, but the truth is, the Dales has the three of the highest waterfalls in England. Fact. Hardraw Force is the tallest single drop waterfall (pictured), Gaping Gill has the tallest subterranean waterfall and Cautley Spout is the tallest cascade waterfall too. Impressive right?
But what you might be surprised to know is that on our kid friendly waterfalls page, there are falls suitable for toddlers, pushchair walks, accessible walks and also really excellent waterfall adventures for older kids and teens too!
If you tap the button below, you’ll go to our Waterfall Walks menu page, where you can begin to plan your own family adventure.
Walks with Family Friendly Pubs and Cafes
Our favourite family friendly pub and cafe walks in the Yorkshire Dales
If you search for ‘Family Friendly Pub and Cafe Walks’ you’ll probably find loads of suggestions! But how do you know if they’re actually any good? And how do you know if they’re actually family friendly?
Well I can help you out! As locals to the Yorkshire Dales, I have created a page with recommendations for family friendly pubs and cafes that have walks, all from our personal experience with them. If it’s not been included it’s because we either haven’t tried it yet, or it’s not quite up there amongst our favourites.
So, if you’re looking for a cosy fire, or a sunny beer garden or you fancy kicking off a wander with a hot chocolate and a cake, then this is the page for you!
Pictured: The Riverbank in Burnsall
If you tap the button below, you’ll go to our Family friendly Pub and Cafe walks menu page, where you can begin to plan your own family adventure.
The Most Family Friendly Peaks in the Yorkshire Dales
The best Yorkshire Dales mountains and fells to climb with the kids
Why should you even listen to us? Because we have quite literally climbed them all! Yes, as a family, we have climbed every single mountain (as classified by the Nuttalls) in the Yorkshire Dales. Which is why we have a whole page dedicated to them.
Not all of them. Just the most family friendly. Something that you can only decide when you’ve bagged them all! So you’ll find something for the trig hunters, mini fells for younger children and big old peaks for the older kids and teens who are ready for more of a challenge.
You’ll also find details of our Epic Mountain Challenge, The Yorkshire Three Peaks AND how we tackled the Y3P Challenge with the kids!
If you tap the button below, you’ll go to our Peak Bagging Walks menu page, where you can begin to plan your own family adventure.
Family Walks with Play Parks in the Yorkshire Dales
Kid friendly walks that end with the park!
If you ask the children, one of the best things to feature on a walk, is the park at the end! And when you know there’s a park coming, those legs walk just a little bit quicker and with slightly less moaning!
So we of course have found ALL the best family friendly walks that feature play parks, either at the end or sometimes half way!
If you tap the button below, you’ll go to our walks with play parks menu page, where you can begin to plan your own family adventure.
Family Friendly Reservoir and Lake Walks
Kid friendly walks around Lakes and Reservoirs!
If you’re after some inspiration for walks that feature plenty of places to throw stones, of just to spend a day by the water, these are the walks for you!
There are walks to suit all ages from short toddler walks to walks great for teens. All the information you need to plan an excellent lakeside wander!
If you tap the button below, you’ll go to our walks with reservoirs menu page, where you can begin to plan your own family adventure.
Family Friendly Walks Arranged by Location
If you’re staying in the Yorkshire Dales, where on earth do you start to look for a walk for the family?
Well hopefully you have SOME idea as to where you currently are! So if you’re staying in Wensleydale, Wharfedale, Swaledale, Westmorland or beyond you’ll be able to plan some excellent adventures with the kids.
Across not only the entirety of the National Park, but the outlying and gateway towns too. So, if you’re in the Dales, I’ll BET we have a walk for you, suitable for all ages and abilities!
If you tap the button below, you’ll go to our Family Walks by Location menu page, where you can begin to plan your own family adventure.
Family Friendly Woodland Walks
Woodland Walks for kids in the Yorkshire Dales
You won’t find much woodland in the Yorkshire Dales, but what you will find is rare and ancient and blummin’ marvellous!
So of course we have a page dedicated to the stunning woodland walks that we do have! The BEST late Summer and Autumn walks. Because let’s face it, woodland is at its best in right then!
If you tap the button below, you’ll go to our Woodland Walks menu page, where you can begin to plan your own family adventure.
Family Friendly Spooky Walks
Spooky for kids in the Yorkshire Dales
If you are a fan of a ghost story, legend or folktale, then these walks are for you! These kid friendly walks all feature some weird and wonderful story about the Yorkshire Dales.
The perfect family Halloween walk. Or if you, like us, think all year is spooky season, then ANYTIME walks!
If you tap the button below, you’ll go to our spooky walks menu page, where you can begin to plan your own family adventure.
Family Friendly Wildflower Walks
Wildflower Walks for kids in the Yorkshire Dales
Wildflower walks that are perfect for Spring in the Yorkshire Dales! Did you know that wildflower meadows are a very rare habitat and that the Yorkshire Dales is home to the vast proportion of them?
They are STUNNING in May and June, so check out these family walks for the prettiest Yorkshire Dales walk EVER!
If you tap the button below, you’ll go to our Woodland Walks menu page, where you can begin to plan your own family adventure.
Family Friendly Bluebell Walks
Bluebell Walks for kids in the Yorkshire Dales
QUICK, SEE THEM BEFORE THEY’RE GONE!
Unless you’re reading this in October and then you’re about 6 months too late! Popping up around April and early May, the bluebells are a sight to be seen and if you’re keen on seeing them in all their glory with the kids, then we have some excellent family friendly bluebell walk suggestions.
If you tap the button below, you’ll go to our Bluebell Walks menu page, where you can begin to plan your own family adventure.
Something in mind? Search our full site!
(e.g. search: Gaping Gill Winch, Kettlewell etc.)
Explore all of our family friendly walks on one interactive map!
If you are searching high and low for a family friendly walk in the Yorkshire Dales but don’t know where to begin, then start here!
You can browse all of our tried and tested kid friendly hikes from family friendly waterfall walks to pushchair friendly routes, from easy short child-friendly hikes to some of our walks suitable for older kids. This tool will help you to start planning your perfect family adventure!
How to use the interactive walks map:
The map you can see is embedded, so you can use it straight from the website. Alternatively, if you’d prefer, you can view it straight in Google Maps, simply tap the link on the button below.
The benefit of using it directly from the website is that when you tap on each individual walk, you will find the page link to each walk, allowing you to jump straight to the route information!
The map can be filtered as follows:
Family Walks (purple) | Pushchair Walks (pram) | Waterfall Walks (blue) | Walks Under Two Miles (yellow)
For more types of walks (pub walks, woodland walks etc. Head to the menus above where they are all categorised, depending on what you fancy!)
Did you just stumble upon our little website?
Well hi there!
If we’ve just popped up on your Google search then welcome, I want to let you know a little more about us.
We are three explorers (two reluctant, one very much enthusiastic) and this website holds so much more that just the walks you see above! Over the years we have researched, walked and then re-walked over a hundred family friendly walks across the Yorkshire Dales National Park and beyond, and you’ll find them all here on the website!
But not just that, this website serves as a lifeline for any families visiting the Yorkshire Dales, with Visit with Kids Guides, details of any family friendly Seasonal Attractions and Events and an A-Z of Play Parks, and the blog which covers everything else in between, from campsite recommendations, to wild swimming spots!
So sit back and take a little look!
Thanks for visiting,
Sam, Edie and Ezra.
Leave No Trace
The Yorkshire Dales is our home, and the home of so many others who care deeply about this beautiful space.
Should you visit, make sure to:
Take home anything you bring, leave no rubbish behind.
Make the world a better place by picking up any rubbish you see, even if it isn’t yours.
Leave everything else as you found it.
Help us to protect our wild spaces.
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