Official website of the Dales Way Association (DWA)

Dales Way Association

Welcome to the Dales Way Association

 
The Dales Way is a long distance footpath of about 80 miles (128 km) situated in the north of England and running from Ilkley to Bowness-on-Windermere.

Photo of Dales Way: Up Wharfedale from Conistone Pie

By following as far as possible riverside paths, it offers a scenically attractive route from urban West Yorkshire to the Lake District, which any reasonably fit family can undertake in a week's holiday. Although not always well served by public transport the Way, by following natural and sometimes ancient lines of communication, passes through many villages, and so accommodation is not a problem, although it is advisable to book in advance.

Walker on Dales Way

The Dales Way Association was established in 1991 to help support, maintain and promote the Dales Way Long Distance path.

FEATURE

2025 AGM marks year of improvements

This year's Dales Way Association Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on Saturday 26th April in Grassington and marked a year of major improvements to the Dales Way.

Black Moss Bridge - courtesy of HF Holidays

The meeting was told of 3 major projects the Association has been involved with to improve the Dales Way footpath: -

  • New improvement works in the Westmorland & Furness area courtesy of funding from HF Holidays include replacing faulty bridges and installing new gates (see above);
  • In the Yorkshire Dales National Park area a brand new section of riverside path near Hubberholme courtesy of the National Trust (see below);
  • And finally a brand new section of permissive path at Bolton Road on the approach to Bolton Abbey taking walkers off-road, courtesy of the Chatsworth Estate and Burley Walkers are Welcome.

Before the AGM there was an illustrated talk by Peter Katic of the National Trust.

The Work of the National Trust in Upper Wharfedale and its significance to the Dales Way

Peter Katic of the National Trust

Peter Katic – National Trust Head Ranger for the Upper Wharfedale Estate - will talk about the work of the National Trust and its partners in Upper Wharfedale and beyond, particularly the work on new woodland creation and peat works, and the creation of a brand new riverside section of the Dales Way near Hubberholme.

 

Meanwhile, a new edition of Colin Speakman's excellent guidebook Dales Way - the Complete Guide is now onsale. This 12th edition is bang up-to-date and includes the new section of riverside path on the approach to Hubberholme, opened to the public in early 2025.

Dales Way - the Complete Guide - Ed 3

Copies can be purchased online direct from the publishers - post free - at Skyware.co.uk

5 May 2025

 

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In Brief

 
 
 
The Dales Way Association;