Pushchair and Accessible Walks
Kid friendly walks for prams and wheelchairs in and around the Yorkshire Dales
Are you looking for pram friendly walks? Or accessible walks in the Yorkshire Dales?
Then you are definitely in the right place! Here, you will find all of our pushchair friendly walks. They are either entirely do-able with a buggy or they will have a pram friendly option that will be described in more detail on each individual walk page. With all of the walks, be aware that the condition of the paths may deteriorate and change with time, so do bear that in mind when planning your adventures and have a Plan B in your back pocket!
Some of these walks are also accessible by wheelchair. If this is the case, there is a link on each page to the routes on either Access the Dales, a charity whose aim is to promote and improve accessibility to all within our National Parks. Alternatively, there will be a link to the Miles Without Stiles page which also details path surfacing and gradients FAR better than I can do! The links will take you to their routes which also have more detailed information about the level of wheelchair suitability. In some cases, there’s also the potential to borrow an all terrain wheelchair.
The walks are located all across the Yorkshire Dales National Park and in the outlying towns and villages too and in there you will find pushchair friendly waterfall walks, pushchair friendly woodland walks, walks with parks and more!
So take a scroll through and see what’s on offer! Each walk has its own dedicated page, so tap the buttons to see more!
The Star Guides
Each of our has been walked by our own 6 feet (in the sense of us being three actual humans, not in a kind of weird monster-like way!) Often, they have been walked several times and sometimes, they have been walked so often that they have been added to. This website has been growing alongside the OG Reluctant Explorers and now they can handle a little bit more - maybe yours can too.
I will say. As parents we know our kids better than anybody. I have done my best to include as much information as I can in each individual walk, so you can make your own judgement as a family. So the star ratings are just a guide to get you started.
⭐ Little Monkeys:
Walks suitable for younger children up to preschool (and beyond!) Shorter length walks with occasional pushchair access, no technical or tricky terrain. Perfect for those who are just getting out of the pushchair (and then back in again… and then back out…. and then… you know how it goes!)
⭐⭐ Little Adventurers:
Walks suitable for pre-schoolers and younger kids. Medium length/ difficulty walks. In these walks, there may be some more challenging terrain, but they are still fairly short.
⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers:
Walks suitable for older children. Not necessary longer length, but they are more technically challenging in the terrain, and on occasion the distance as well.
The Walk Emojis
I’m renowned for a heavy used of emojis in my regular life, so why on EARTH should my website be any different?! Here is a guide as to what they all stand for.
Essentially, it’s a brief look at what you can expect from the walk, but in emoji form. (I’m campaigning for a pram emoji. It would make my pushchair friendly walk life MUCH easier.)
👶 Suitable for Pushchairs (see? no pram emoji)
🎒 Suitable for Carriers (that’s a rucksack, not a weird satchel. Closest thing to a kid carrier I could find!)
🚘 Car Park/ On Street Parking (plain sailing there - all of our walks have places to park, although if possible try….
🚌 Public Transport (PLEASE! To try and alleviate parking problems and to just in general be an excellent egg.)
🐶 Dog Friendly (plenty of those!)
🥾 Sturdy Footwear or Wellies (I’d say for most, walking shoes/ boots, for some, wellies)
🛝 A park or play area (I try my hardest to find one, or at least tell you where the nearest one is!)
🦆 Ducks to Feed (bring your duck food!)
🍦 Ice Cream! For Ice cream is truly a WONDERFUL addition to a family walk!
☕ As is coffee (for the adults obviously - I’m not going to subject you to a caffeine fuelled reluctant explorer THE HORROR!) This one means you can find coffee, tea or hot chocolate (ok - that one’s for the WHOLE family!)
🍻 Because I know how a family walk can go, you’ll be relieved to know that I’ll also tell you if there’s a pub at the end!
💦 Water play/ paddle/ swim (Check out our advice on Wild Swimming with Kids and the RLSS Water Safety info)
✨📚 Cool history, geology, something blummin’ awesome to talk about.
👻 Legendary Story. Ghosts, horrible history, witches and trolls!
🌳 Walking Games - they all have these!
Malham Tarn Circular
📍 Malham, Malhamdale
⭐ Little Monkeys - ⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers
📏 Circular walk, under 2 miles - 5 miles
🥾👶/🎒🚘✨💦🌳🐶
Malham Tarn is the highest natural limestone lake in England and the largest in North Yorkshire! A designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, this walk will take you to the Nature Reserve and round in a circular route taking in sculptures, a bird hide, the ruins of a smelt mill and water sinks.
There is a shorter pushchair friendly route, and also a wheelchair accessible route too with all terrain wheelchairs available to borrow from the Malham Field Centre.
Gordale Scar
⭐ Little Monkeys
📍 Malham
🥾🚘💦👶/🎒☕🍦🌳🐶
📏 less than 1 mile
If you are after a pushchair friendly wander of epic proportions, look no further than Gordale Scar!
Be prepared to take a sturdy pushchair with you, as there have been a few lumps and bumps appear on the surface of the path towards the gorge.
This is also a Miles without Stiles walk and is wheelchair accessible. There is a link on the page for more specific information for wheelchair users.
Swinsty Reservoir
⭐⭐ Little Adventurers
📍 Washburn Valley, North Yorkshire, near Harrogate
🥾🚘🍦👻💦👶/🎒🌳🚌🐶
📏 4 miles
This is an excellent little wander around the smallest of the Washburn Reservoirs!
It has places to reach the water’s edge, it has ice cream and it has a super little picnic spot at the end! Family walk perfection! Oh and it’s do-able with a pushchair too!
Pateley Bridge Riverside
⭐ Little Monkeys
📍 Pateley Bridge, Nidderdale (Harrogate)
🚘👶🥾✨🦆🍦☕🌳🛝🚌🐶
📏 Circular walk, 1-2 miles
This walk is not only pushchair friendly and short (so perfect for the littlest of legs), but it has a park and if you’re lucky, an ice cream van! Plus, Pateley Bridge is home to the oldest sweet shop in the country! You’ve gotta be sold right?!
Gallows Hill Nature Reserve
📍 Central Otley, West Yorkshire
⭐ Little Monkeys
🚘👶🦆🌳🍦🛝☕🚌🐶
📏 less than 2 miles
Located in Otley, this is a top little wander, which you can connect up with a trip to the park and feed the ducks if you fancy making it a bit longer…. and there’s ice cream too!
Fewston Reservoir
⭐⭐ Little Adventurers
📍 Washburn Valley, near Otley
💦🥾👶🍦🌳🚌🐶
📏 4.5 miles
A top reservoir walk that starts and ends with an Ice Cream. And it officially has to be two ice creams (one at the start one at the end!!) It’s a borderline 2-3 star walk, the terrain is easy, so if you take your time, little legs could handle it despite the distance.
Plus you can bring the buggy!
Coldstones Cut and the Toft Gate Lime Kiln
⭐ Little Monkeys
📍 Greenhow Hill, near Pateley Bridge
🥾🚘👶/🎒✨🌳🐶
📏 1-2 miles
This is an explore rather than a walk (that’ll help with the whinge factor!) It takes in the Coldstones Cut, which is a massive art installation overlooking a working quarry (aka Digger Heaven) and also you’ll see the super cool ruins of a Victorian Lime Kiln!
Hardraw Force
📍 Hardraw, Wensleydale. The Yorkshire Dales
🚘🥾🍻☕👶/🎒💦👻🌳🚌🐶
📏 1-2 miles circular trail
A fabulously accessible waterfall walk, Hardraw Force is ace and even better in the winter when it’s a true force to be reckoned with!
Located behind the Green Dragon Pub in Wensleydale this waterfall incurs a fee to go and see it, as it’s found on private land. There are high and low routes to explore, so you can adapt to the abilities of your explorers!
(Ooh and it was where they filmed THAT scene in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves)
Knaresborough Circular
📍 Knaresborough, near Harrogate North Yorkshire
⭐ Little Monkeys
📏 Under 1 mile
💦🌳👶🥾✨🍦☕🚌🐶
This little wander around the River Nidd in Knaresborough is the perfect addition to a day out in the historic town. With splash spots and some cool ruins to explore too, it’s a must do if you’re headed to Knaresborough for the day!
Cauldron Falls
📍 West Burton, Wensleydale, The Yorkshire Dales
⭐ Little Monkeys / ⭐⭐ Little Adventurers
🚘🥾🎒/ 👶🍻🛝☕🍦💦🌳🐶🚌
📏 Circular walk, less than 2 miles
Cauldron Falls is the PERFECT name for this stunning waterfall in West Burton, because it perfectly describes it’s ferocity after heavy rain. The best news? You’ll find it at the top of another set of wonderful waterfalls in this beautifully wooded clearing in Wensleydale.
This walk offers a super short pushchair option (which is a really just a walk to the waterfalls and back) or a longer version. Plus, it has a play area (with a pub opposite!) WINNER!
Aysgarth Falls and Freeholders Woods
⭐⭐ Little Adventurers
📍 Aysgarth, Wensleydale, North Yorkshire Dales
🎒/👶🥾🍦☕🛝🍻👻💦🌳✨🐶🚌
📏 2 miles linear walk
I’ll bet you will have heard of the famous Aysgarth Falls! No surprises with this wander, it follows the trail right through the stunning SSSI and nature reserve, Freeholder’s Wood.
An absolute corker. It’s just a classic Dales location. Best visited after a good old fashioned Yorkshire deluge of rain!
Cotter Force, nr. Hawes
📍 Near Hawes, Wensleydale
⭐ Little Monkeys
👶💦✨🌳
📏 Less than 1 mile linear
This is a brilliantly accessible waterfall walk in Wensleydale. Both pushchair and wheelchair accessible, it’s also the perfect length for very little legs, just starting to explore!
And great for a paddle and a dip too!
Malham Cove
📍 Malham, Malhamdale, Yorkshire Dales
⭐ / ⭐⭐ Little Monkeys/ Little Adventurers
👶/🎒🥾🍦🍻☕💦🌳🚌🐶
📏 Less than 2 miles circular
A work of geological wonder, Malham Cove is not only the home of a top kid friendly walk, but was the filming location for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1! Love a Potter reference!
Burley Stepping Stones
⭐ Little Adventurers
📍 Burley in Wharfedale, near Ilkley, West Yorkshire
📏 2 miles
👶/🎒🥾🛝🍦☕🚘💦🐶🚌🌳
This is a classic Burley in Wharfedale wander! With geocaches, stepping stones, stone throwing spots and the park, what’s not to love?!
Ilkley Tarn
📍 Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire
⭐ Little Monkeys
🚘🚌👶🦆💦🌳🐶
📏 1 mile
An awesome pushchair friendly walk for little legs. With ducks. Sadly not ones you can feed anymore as a result of the quest to improve the tarn water quality. BUT…
This walk is short, sweet, and has plenty of snack stops! The perfect walk for the youngest walkers (plus they can bring their scooter!)
⭐ Little Monkeys
📍 Ben Rhydding, Ilkley, West Yorkshire
📏 less than 1 mile
🚘👶☕🥾🦆🐶🌳
A nature reserve is a top way to engage a budding explorer, with plenty of creepy crawlies, birds and plants to spot. This one is a very short little wander with plenty to see and if you’re lucky, you might spot an otter!
Even better, you can start from a top little garden centre (with a brilliant cafe!)
Ben Rhydding Nature Reserve
Burnsall Circular
⭐⭐ Little Adventurers
🥾🚘🎒🦆💦👻✨🌳🚌🐶
📏 3-4 miles circular walk - pushchair option 1-2 miles out and back
📍 Burnsall, Wharfedale - Yorkshire Dales South East
The perfect kid friendly circular walk starts and ends in the beautiful village of Burnsall and it does what it says on the tin! It’ll take you in a loop past Loup Scar (ah… the two loops…) up to Thorpe and then back underneath the lower slopes of Burnsall and Thorpe Fell. Super!
Part of this walk is pushchair and wheelchair friendly up to Loup Scar.
Bolton Abbey, The Strid
⭐ Little Monkeys
📍 Wharfedale, The Yorkshire Dales National Park (SE)
📏 2-3 miles (but this can be pushchair friendly)
👶/🎒🥾🦆🚘💦✨👻🍦☕🐶🚌🌳
The walk to the Strid from the Cavendish Pavilion is pushchair friendly (if you take the lower route). This walk can also be done as a circular as well (although that’s not pushchair friendly).
The Strid? Well to put that bluntly, it’s the entirety of the River Wharfe forced through the narrowest of rocky channels, creating a raging torrent of water. A sight to behold, particularly after heavy rain! But never one to get too close to, it’s 100% deadly. Perfect for the Bolton Abbey seasonal kids trails I say! (Don’t worry, I’m kind of joking… Kind of…)
Something in mind? Search our full site!
(e.g. search: Gaping Gill Winch, Kettlewell etc.)
All our Family Friendly Walks on One Map!
What’s that I see? A MAP!?
Yes, that’s right, you guys asked, and here it is. The map of ALL the Reluctant Explorers family walks!
The one you can see is embedded so you can use it straight from the website, or if you’d prefer, you can view it straight in Google Maps, simple 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 walk 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!)
Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks
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![Swimming in Janet's Foss Yorkshire Dales]()
Waterfall Walks
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![Malham cove walk for kids]()
Pushchair Friendly
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![Pinhaw Beacon trig point walk near Skipton]()
Peak Bagging Walks
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![The Park at Greenhow Nidderdale]()
Walks with Play Parks
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![Gordale Scar in Malham Yorkshire Dales]()
Organised by Location
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![Walking in the woodland in Wensleydale]()
Woodland Walks
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![Playing on the shore of Embsay Reservoir Yorkshire Dales]()
Reservoir Walks
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![The ruins of Bolton Abbey]()
Bolton Abbey Estate Walks
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![Leaping over the stile at Almscliffe Crag]()
Walks Under 2 Miles
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![Child walking into a pub in Appletreewick]()
Walks with Pubs and Cafes
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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.