Buckden To Kettlewell walk, Upper Wharfdale

This easy linear walk follows the River Wharfe through the heart of Upper Wharfedale, linking the two stone-built villages of Buckden and Kettlewell. Starting in Buckden, the path heads south along the valley floor, with the steep flanks of the dale rising on either side and dry-stone walls marking out generations of hill farming.

The route passes Cow Pasture Barn, one of the many traditional field barns that are such a recognisable feature of this part of the Yorkshire Dales. Look out too for an old limekiln tucked into the hillside, a reminder of the area's long agricultural and industrial past. Roughly halfway along you skirt the village of Starbotton, a tiny cluster of greystone cottages well worth a short detour.

From there it is a gentle riverside stride into Kettlewell, where pubs, cafes and a bus stop make for a welcome finish. At 5.8 km with only 114 m of ascent, the walk is comfortably done in around an hour and a half, making it an ideal half-day outing in the Dales.