The stepping stones in Kettlewell

Kettlewell Stepping Stones

Kettlewell is one of our favourite places to visit in the Yorkshire Dales National Park!

This super easy and short circular family walk will take you to the stepping stones and back and is a perfect paddling walk for very young walkers!

Spring 2026 Update: sadly the slightly ‘dodgy’ stepping stone has washed away making this walk impassable unless you fancy wading through the river. A review is due Summer 2026.

Did you know Kettlewell has a fabulous set of stepping stones?

We love Kettlewell! It’s a stunning gem of a place, nestled in the heart of Wharfedale. Surrounded by impressive peaks and waterfalls, Kettlewell is one of our favourite places in the Yorkshire Dales!

Notoriously beautiful, it is super kid friendly as well and has a little play park (with a view to die for), a river that’s perfect for a paddle, and this walk will take you to the stepping stones and back in less than 2 miles!

Bite sized and perfect for young explorers!

Update May 2025. One of the stepping stones has shifted and is not as easy to navigate. The route is still passable, but you might need some hand holding, lifting, or at the most… bum shuffling. Hopefully, the stone will be sorted soon!

Update Easter 2026. The stepping stones saga continues. One of the stones has been displaced entirely. It seems as though this walk needs to be shelved until the stepping stone situation is resolved. Which is sad, because it’s wonderful. I will keep you posted, due to be re-visiting Summer 2026.

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Thank you for taking the time to have a look at my website and for reading this now!

I set up the Reluctant Explorers and maintain the website and attached social media accounts in my spare time, around mum-life and two jobs. It was designed to provide access for parents to free resources to help get more families outside and exploring in nature. These walks have all been created by myself and the kids and we have walked each one ourselves (and re-walk them regularly to keep the information as up to date as we can).

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Children walking across stone stepping stones under trees with river

What are the walk details for Kettlewell Stepping Stones?

Distance: 2 miles (short but sweet!)

Terrain: Easy footpaths, easy terrain underfoot, little to no ascent. There is some (200 yards) of road walking. Whilst it is a very brief section, the road can be busy, so take care. NOTE: One of the stones has been displaced. Keep your eyes peeled for more. Update due June 2026.

Parking: Kettlewell, Yorkshire Dales Pay and Display

Public Transport: There are buses that stop regularly at Kettlewell. Check out the Dales Bus website for more timetable information.

Dog Friendly? Yes - there is grazing livestock.

Location: Kettlewell, Upper Wharfedale

Map: OS Explorer OL30 Yorkshire Dales Northern and Central

What 3 Words: tight.contain.duplicate (Kettlewell Car Park)

Toilets/ Baby Change: Kettlewell Car Park.

Nearest Cafe/ Amenities: Kettlewell has a Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream hut, 3 Pubs with beer gardens, and a Cafe.

A traditional Yorkshire Dales barn in Kettlewell

The walk to the stepping stones in July

How to walk to Kettlewell Stepping Stones

Directions to be used alongside a map:

  1. Beginning at Kettlewell Pay and Display Car park, turn right and head across the bridge leading out of the village (be wary, this road can be busy particularly during the weekend or over holidays). On the opposite side of the bridge to the car park, and on the opposite side of the road, to your left, there is a gate and path leading down to the river side. Take this.

  2. Head down the slope towards the river’s edge. The path heads over the stepped stile in the dry stone wall and continues to be roughly parallel to the right hand side of the river. Follows this path as far as the stepping stones. Keep the perimeter wall and fences closely to your left hand side and pass through several stepped stiles.

  3. After around a mile, the path descends some stone steps to the left down to the stepping stones. Here is a great little stop off point to paddle or throw stones when the river is low. This is your furthest point.

  4. Once you have crossed the stepping stones, turn left and follow the path back to Kettlewell along the other side of the river. There is a wall to your right, and the river to your left. After just under half a mile, the path starts to bend to the right, down a narrow walled path. Take the path signposted Kettlewell, which crosses through the wall to your left and continue through a few more stiles, all the while, keeping the river to your left.

  5. After another 3rd of a mile, you will find yourself back at the bridge in Kettlewell!

Boom! Now it’s time for ICE CREAM and the park!

Last fully walked May 2025.

Easter 2026 Update. One of the stones is displaced. Sadly it’s not passable currently.

Want to make this walk longer?

Join it onto our Kettlewell to Starbotton walk.

Child paddling upstream of the stepping stones

When the water levels are low, it’s a cool paddle spot (see further information below)

Two children walking across a green grassy field with a grassy mountain ahead under blue skies with white clouds

The view on the return to Kettlewell, looking towards Buckden Pike

Child climbing dry stone wall on a stile with a signpost

The way back to Kettlewell.

Child hopping across obstacles at the play park with slide behind and blue skies

What’s cool for kids on this walk?

💦 Whilst this walk is short, we have happily spent a full day in Kettlewell, whiling the summer hours away playing by the river, which is a shallow and calm during the dry summer months. You can find several spots that are shallow enough to wade up to waist height, and the water around the stepping stones is similarly shallow.

Not to be a party pooper, but I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I didn’t warn you that the River Wharfe is renowned for being incredible fast rising, so care must be taken at all times.

Speaking of poop. There is a storm overflow in Kettlewell, which does regularly discharge after heavy rain. Check out the sewage map if you are considering paddling.

For more information about wild swimming with kids, then check out the dedicated page and be aware of the RLSS summer safety advice.

🧒 Kettlewell has a play park, located up from the Car Park on Conistone Lane. It is less than 5 minutes from the start of this walk.

🍦 Kettlewell is home to a permanent Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream Kiosk, where you can get ice cream and refreshments. Check seasonal times, if you are visiting outside of the summer months.

🍺 AND home to three pubs, who all serve decent pub grub! All three have got outdoor seating areas.

🌳 This wander really comes into its own from around May onwards, as the wildflower meadows of Upper Wharfedale are stunning! If you need some help with the walking whinges, then why not check out one of our walking games or print off a scavenger sheet?

Helpful Information!

For our dedicated help and safety information page, head to the link.

⭐ We hope you enjoy our walks, but please exercise common sense as routes can change with the weather conditions and seasons! The routes have been walked by our own two feet, but you know your own limits. Always take a back-up map, don’t rely on GPS alone, wear appropriate clothing for the weather and take adequate snacks and refreshments with you (although as a parent, I know you already know that bit!)

⭐ Leave no trace! Take nothing away and leave nothing behind, take all rubbish home with you.

⭐ If you choose to paddle, be aware of bio security. Always wear clean dry water shoes (if worn) to avoid cross contamination of species between watercourses, this is a particular issue in the Yorkshire Dales, to help protect the white clawed crayfish.

⭐ If you decide to paddle, be aware that wild water can be dangerous, and water levels will vary season to season. Always supervise children around water. Check out the safety information on the Royal Life Saving Society website.

A Yorkshire Dales ice cream parlour with a flag outside
Child doing an obstacle course at Bolton Abbey with ruins of the priory in the background

Staying in the Kettlewell area?

We have a Visit with Kids guide to provide you with all the family friendly inspiration you need! Think family friendly walks, local attractions and importantly, where to find the ice cream (and the play park!)

There are two guides covering this area and the nearby areas so why not check out our…

Visit Grassington with Kids Guide

Visit Skipton with Kids Guide

Tap here to head to our visit with kids guides
Kettlewell stepping stones route marked on ordnance survey map

Want to grab the route?

Head to the Ordnance Survey Navigation App where you can download the route!

(Always carry a back up map and know how to use it)

Image is Copyright of Ordnance Survey

Tap here to head to the Ordnance Survey Route

Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks

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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.