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!

Child wearing blue shorts and tshirt with a baseball cap on his head and wearing hiking boots is walking across rocks next to a river with a stone built bridge behind and lush green trees

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.

Child wearing star print joggers and a blue tshirt with an orange backpack looking up at a large white rocky cliff face with green grass in the foreground

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.

A girl with a blue rucksack and green leggings looking at a large waterfall cascading over a rocky ledge into a plunge pool with the spray creating a rainbow in the sun

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.

The hands of a child holding a fork eating a flapjack next to a hot chocolate with marshmallows on top on a table with a tray placed on top of it

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.

A white trig point with a child lying in a superman pose on the top wearing shorts and a blue and brown fleece hiking boots and mountains in the background with cloudy sky above

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.

A child wearing a blue coat and orange backpack looking up at the sky in woodland with sun glaring through the canopy of leaves

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 Autumn walks. Because let’s face it, woodland is at its best in Autumn.

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.

a boy wearing yellow and a girl in pink dungarees are walking along a stony path surrounded by steep rocky gorge sides with green grass and blue sky

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 where you 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.

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.

Two children dressed as ghosts wearing sunglasses and blue helmets with a headtorch on in a cave

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.

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.

A child crouching down in hiking boots wearing an orange backpack with a coat tied across it with a field of wildflowers stretching uphill to a stone building at the top lined by trees

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 has a good old chunk of these rare habitats in the country.

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.

child wearing a blue jumper and a blue rucksack

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 has a good old chunk of these rare habitats in the country.

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.