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Dog Friendly Walks in the Yorkshire Dales

22 dog friendly walks in the Yorkshire Dales, from gentle valley paths to proper fell days out. All hand-picked for dog owners who want wide open country and honest notes on what each walk is actually like with a dog in tow.

22 locations
Ingleton Waterfalls Trail walk

Ingleton Waterfalls Trail

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 9/10

A privately managed circular trail through two river gorges that strings together six major waterfalls and some of the finest woodland walking in the north of England.

Malham Cove, Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss walk

Malham Cove, Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 9/10

This iconic circular from Malham village packs limestone gorges, woodland waterfalls and sweeping pavement views into one of the most spectacular walks in the Yorkshire Dales.

Ribblehead Viaduct and Whernside walk

Ribblehead Viaduct and Whernside

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 9/10

A magnificent high-level circuit that combines one of England's most iconic Victorian structures with a challenging fell walk to the summit of Whernside, the highest peak in the Dales.

Aysgarth Falls walk

Aysgarth Falls

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 8/10

A gentle woodland and riverside loop taking in all three tiers of one of Yorkshire's most celebrated waterfall systems, with good scent work and easy terrain throughout.

Bolton Abbey and The Strid walk

Bolton Abbey and The Strid

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 8/10

A beautifully varied estate walk combining ruined priory, ancient woodland and the most dangerous stretch of river in England, set in the lower reaches of Wharfedale.

Grassington to Burnsall Circular walk

Grassington to Burnsall Circular

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 8/10

A classic Wharfedale circuit linking two of the dale's most handsome villages via riverside Dales Way paths, limestone gorge scenery and open field walking with far-reaching views.

Hubberholme and Yockenthwaite Circular walk

Hubberholme and Yockenthwaite Circular

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 8/10

A short easy to moderate riverside circular between two of the prettiest hamlets in Upper Wharfedale, with the George Inn at Hubberholme as the perfect end.

Langstrothdale Chase Walk from Buckden walk

Langstrothdale Chase Walk from Buckden

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 8/10

A moderate Upper Wharfedale circuit linking Buckden with Cray, Yockenthwaite and Hubberholme through the ancient hunting forest of Langstrothdale Chase.

Malham Tarn and Fountains Fell walk

Malham Tarn and Fountains Fell

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 8/10

A serious day walk across the high limestone moors above Malham, taking in England's highest natural freshwater lake before climbing to the summit of Fountains Fell on a remote and demanding fell route.

Pen-y-ghent from Horton-in-Ribblesdale walk

Pen-y-ghent from Horton-in-Ribblesdale

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 8/10

One of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, Pen-y-ghent offers a challenging but rewarding ridge walk with a distinctive stepped profile and exceptional views across the limestone uplands.

Reeth to Grinton Circular, Swaledale walk

Reeth to Grinton Circular, Swaledale

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 8/10

An easy low-level Swaledale loop between Reeth and Grinton via river meadows and a dramatic suspension bridge, with welcoming pubs at both ends.

Swaledale: Keld to Muker Circular walk

Swaledale: Keld to Muker Circular

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 8/10

A classic Swaledale circular through the wildflower meadows and gorge paths linking Keld and Muker, the picture-postcard walk of the Dales.

Wharfedale: Burnsall to Linton Falls walk

Wharfedale: Burnsall to Linton Falls

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 8/10

An easy Wharfedale riverside stroll between two pretty villages, linking Burnsall's green with the tumbling Linton Falls and plenty of pub stops.

Gordale Scar and Malham Cove Extended Circular walk

Gordale Scar and Malham Cove Extended Circular

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 7/10

A dramatic moderate circular linking Janet's Foss, Gordale Scar and the limestone pavement above Malham Cove, easy to extend for a bigger day out.

Hawes to Hardraw Force walk

Hawes to Hardraw Force

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 7/10

A gentle farmland circuit in the heart of Wensleydale, culminating in England's highest single-drop above-ground waterfall, tucked into a dramatic limestone amphitheatre behind a village pub.

Littondale: Halton Gill to Horsehead Pass walk

Littondale: Halton Gill to Horsehead Pass

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 7/10

A quiet moderate moorland climb on an old packhorse route over Horse Head Pass, one of the remotest and most peaceful crossings in the Dales.

Semerwater Circular walk

Semerwater Circular

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 7/10

A quiet and undervisited circuit around North Yorkshire's second-largest natural lake, taking in remote Raydale hamlets, open fell views and a peaceful lakeside far from the main Dales honeypots.

Coverdale: West Scrafton and Arkleside Moor walk

Coverdale: West Scrafton and Arkleside Moor

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 6/10

A moderate off-the-beaten-track Coverdale circuit over Arkleside Moor, with old lead mining relics and huge views across the quietest Dales valley.

Dodd Fell and Drumaldrace from Gayle walk

Dodd Fell and Drumaldrace from Gayle

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 6/10

A challenging Wensleydale horseshoe over two remote Hewitts, all open moorland with huge skies and working sheep fells underfoot.

Ingleborough from Chapel-le-Dale walk

Ingleborough from Chapel-le-Dale

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 6/10

A challenging Yorkshire Three Peaks ascent from the quiet Chapel-le-Dale side, rewarding confident dog walkers with huge moorland views.

Whernside via Ribblehead Viaduct walk

Whernside via Ribblehead Viaduct

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 6/10

A challenging circular over Yorkshire's highest summit with the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct bookending the route, best suited to confident hill dogs on leads.

Three Peaks Challenge (Yorkshire) walk

Three Peaks Challenge (Yorkshire)

North Yorkshire
Dog Friendly: 4/10

An epic 24 mile circuit taking in Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, only suitable for very fit dogs prepared for long moorland miles on lead.