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map showing location of tourYorkshire’s Limestone Dales guided walking holidays

Nestling in the shadows of the mighty ‘Three Peaks’ of Ingleborough, Pen-y-Ghent and Whernside lie Yorkshire’s limestone dales. The gleaming white of the limestone scars, laid bare by the last Ice Age, add light to a rugged landscape, whilst the sweet springy turf provides the perfect walking surface. This is an area famed for its tradition of access to the hills and valleys and every picturesque village offers a warm welcome.

Limestone pavement and Ingleborough

Picture: Limestone pavement and Ingleborough - britainonview/Joe Cornish

The limestone geology of this area has created a unique landcape of ‘limestone pavements’ and weathered scars. It is hard to resist the temptation to leave the path to touch the rocks, walk across the ‘pavements’ where rare lime-loving plants hide in the crevices, and sit on the abundant rocky seats thoughtfully provided by nature for the purpose of picnic stops!

The crystal clear rivers which run through Wharfedale and Ribblesdale meander over smooth shelves of limestone or, where harder rocks extrude, rush and boil through rocky constrictions and thunder over series of dramatic waterfalls.

The selection of walks will depend upon the grade of the tour, however, all the tours will visit Wharfedale for a walk from Grassington to Kettlewell; Ribblesdale where the shapely form of Pen-y-Ghent dominates the skyline, and Malhamdale where the natural limestone cliff of Malham Cove and the walls of Gordale Scar, which tower 300’ above the path, present an awe-inspiring sight.

We stay at The Austwick Traddock Hotel ETC/AA/RAC (ETC/AA/RAC**), an elegant Georgian country house which has been tastefully refurbished over the last few years and is set in its own attractive grounds. In a bygone era the grounds were the horse trading paddock – hence the name. Family owned and run, the Traddock provides an excellent standard of food and accommodation, plus a very warm welcome. The restaurant has been awarded an AA rosette and was also named as the 'Best Restaurant of the Year' in the Organic Industry Awards 2006. All of the beautifully appointed bedrooms have ensuite facilities.