Child walking with large stick looking at calm river under a blue sky in the countryside

Kettlewell to Starbotton

This Kettlewell walk is a proper crowd pleaser, not going to lie!

The Starbotton circular pretty much delivers on all the family friendly walk fronts so you’d better get reading to find out more!

Have you ever been to Kettlewell?

Because if the answer is no, I’m here to tell you that you NEED TO GO TO KETTLEWELL! This stunning little village in the Yorkshire Dales is a true hub in Wharfedale with a strong community spirit. Pay it a visit in August and you’ll find the iconic Dales tradition of the Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival (let’s just say, they need to open the big field for all the folk visiting!)

But in usual circumstances for such a tiny little Dales village, Kettlewell is a great hub for some family walks, and with three central pubs with three beer gardens on offer and a recently refurbished play area, oh and an ice cream parlour too, you will have plenty to keep everybody happy!

This loop starts and ends at the pay and display car park, and takes you all the way to neighbouring village, Starbotton. It has stunning views up and down the Upper Wharfedale valley, and heads back alongside the river, where there are places to get down to the water for a splash and to picnic!

Tempted? Read on for the details!

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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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The view back towards Kettlewell and along the Wharfe valley

The view back towards Kettlewell on the way to Starbotton

Climbing a stile on the path between Kettlewell and Starbotton

Climbing one of the stiles

Tree climbing on the path between Kettlewell and Starbotton

Plenty of trees to climb!

What are the walk details?  

Distance: 4.5 miles

Terrain: Easy terrain but boots required. Clear identifiable footpaths and well signposted. Some ascent 700 feet. Extremely limited road walking (on quiet roads). Be aware there are lots of stiles on this walk.

Public Transport? Yes! There are buses to Kettlewell, but they are subject to seasonal changes, so check out the timetable at the Dales Bus website!

Parking: Kettlewell, Yorkshire Dales authority pay and display car park.

Location: Kettlewell, Upper Wharfedale

Map: OL30 Explorer Yorkshire Dales Northern and Central

What 3 Words: tight.contain.duplicate (car park and start point)

Toilets/ Baby Change: At Kettlewell pay and display car park.

Nearest Cafe/ Amenities: In Kettlewell for pubs, cafes, ice cream and more.

Are dogs allowed? Yes!

Looking at the sign for Starbotton

How to walk the Kettlewell to Starbotton loop

Directions to be used alongside a map

  1. Starting at the Kettlewell pay and display car park, head towards the toilets, and the road bridge over the beck (don’t cross it!). Cross the road, and head between the Yorkshire Dales Ice cream kiosk and the cafe on the opposite side of the road. Continue to walk along this quiet road until you reach a tiny footpath over a wooden footbridge to your left. Turn right at the end.

  2. At the end of the road and at the post office/ village store, turn left and continue straight on, passing the Kettlewell YHA on your right and head to the end of the road. Immediately in front of you at this point is a row of houses. The path heads up right, up a stony track running between the houses. It is signposted Starbotton 1 3/4 miles.

  3. Head through the wooden gate at the top, and then up slightly. The path then heads left and runs along side the wall (keep that on your left). The path is clear to see and easy to follow and heads in the direction of Starbotton passing through several gates, and over several stiles. After around 1.5 miles, you will reach Starbotton at which point the path heads left through through a wooden gate in a dry stone wall and then descends steps on the other side. There is a handrail here too.

  4. Head downhill as far at the public footpath sign, which points right towards the road, through a gate in the wall on your right. Head through the gate, then through a gap in the next wall, then down the track to a gate at the bottom of the field. You will meet a little lane leading left towards the main road between Kettlewell and Buckden. Head towards the main road.

  5. On your right, you will see the village sign for Starbotton. At this point, cross the road (taking care. Although this is a country road, it can be busy, particularly at weekends). Directly opposite, is a signpost for Arncliffe/ Kettlewell/ Buckden. Head through the wooden gate here, and then down the walled stony track on the other side, until you reach the footbridge over the River Wharfe.

  6. Cross the footbridge and at the far side, turn left. At this point, you will meet the popular trail, The Dales Way. It is extremely well walked, and is very well waymarked, which makes my job very easy from this point onwards!

  7. The path loosely follows the line of the river all the way back into Kettlewell. As long as the River is on your left, you are headed in the right direction! After around 2 miles, you will be back in Kettlewell. Make sure you stop off at our favourite paddling spot on the river before you head back into the village. We love it here and have spent many an hour splashing!

  8. Follow the footpath all the way back to the road heading into Kettlewell, cross the road bridge over the river, and head back into Kettlewell!

Should you wish to extend this walk further, you can walk on from the bridge to the stepping stones further along the river. Find the Kettlewell stepping stones walk details here!

Last walked April 2026

Child lying down eating a cookie under blue skies on the grass

Picnicing by the river on the way back to Kettlewell

Children walking along a walled path with daffodils and blue skies in the Yorkshire Dales

The path from Starbotton to the River Wharfe

The footbridge crossing the River Wharfe

The footbridge over the River Wharfe

The centre of Kettlewell in Upper Wharfedale

The centre of Kettlewell

the play park at Kettlewell

The play park at Kettlewell

What’s cool for kids in Kettlewell?

🍦 The Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream Kiosk is always a firm favourite at the end of one of our Kettlewell walks! It’s located next to the river on the opposite side of the road to the car park and has a great selection of Yorkshire Ice Cream! (seasonal opening hours apply)

🧒 There is a play park at Kettlewell, located on Conistone Lane (what 3 words - munch.sonic.beakers)

🍻 There are no fewer than 3 pubs in Kettlewell! We love the Bluebell, but if you’re after a post walk pint, then Kettlewell is your oyster!

💦 There are so many places to get down to the edge of the water in Kettlewell, and we love a paddle here. There are plenty of stones to throw and there are plenty of fish and crayfish to spot too! (If you choose to splash, always supervise children around water. Be aware that water depths vary greatly in rivers, and those changes can occur quickly. The Wharfe is renowned for being quick rising after wet weather and the currents can be strong. If in doubt, don’t allow children to paddle).

🌻 Visiting in August? Kettlewell is well known for its scarecrow festival!

🌳 What whinge busting activities are great for this walk? In late May and early June, the wildflowers are at their peak, so if you walk at this time, then why not go identify some wildflower, or maybe hunt for bees! Why not have a game of river kitchen? Or check out some of our other walking games?

Walking through a gate on the path in Wharfedale

Helpful Information!

For all our helpful information and safety tips head to our dedicated page.

⭐ 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.

Walking on the path towards Starbotton
Ordnance survey map of starbotton

Want to grab the route?

Head to the Ordnance Survey Navigation App where you can download the route! Here’s our route taking in Kettlewell and Starbotton.

(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
Tap here to head to the Ordnance Survey Route
Child lying across a trig point with mountains in the background under cloudy skies

Loving the Yorkshire Dales?

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Tap here to head to the Yorkshire Dales walks

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