Yorkshire Dales National Park

The Yorkshire Dales National Park covers more than 2,000 square kilometres of the central Pennines, designated in 1954 and extended westwards in 2016 to take in parts of Cumbria including the Howgill Fells and the Orton Fells. Within its boundary lie some of the finest limestone landscapes in Britain, alongside heather moorland, hay meadows that bloom richly in early summer, and the sheltered green valleys for which the area is famous.

Walkers, cyclists and cavers come for the unrivalled access to open country. Headline sights include Malham Cove and Tarn, the underground chambers of White Scar and Ingleborough caves, the thundering waterfalls of Aysgarth and Hardraw Force, and the high tops of the Yorkshire Three Peaks. The Pennine Way and Dales Way long-distance trails both cross the park, while quieter green lanes and bridleways link village to village.

The park is well served by public transport for a rural area. The Settle to Carlisle railway provides a spectacular route through the western dales, with request stops at Ribblehead, Dent and Garsdale, and the seasonal DalesBus network links Skipton, Harrogate and Northallerton with villages including Hawes, Grassington and Reeth. National park visitor centres at Hawes, Aysgarth, Grassington, Malham and Reeth offer maps, exhibitions and walking advice.