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The Western Dales straddles the borders of Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Amongst the beautiful countryside you will find a traditional way of life, talented craftsmen, historic buildings and unusual events.
Each Dale has its own distinct personality, ranging from gentle green riverside pastures to wild windswept tops. The Yorkshire Dales and Pennine Cycleways run through the area, which is also excellent for walking with several long distance routes passing through.
There are many themed walks and trails, or for those who prefer to be shown the delights of the area, there are also guided walks available (leaflets from local Information Centres).
Kirkby Stephen is a favourite haunt for antique enthusiasts and nestles at the northern end of dramatic Mallerstang, where the Pennines to the north give way to gentle river valleys studded with surprising works of art in the form of The Eden Benchmarks.
You can get away from it all in Garsdale, a peaceful valley dotted with farmsteads, stretching from Sedbergh towards Hawes in the Northern Dales. High and wild on the tops, a trip up here is guaranteed to blow those cobwebs away!
Delightful Dentdale offers stunning scenery and the unique character of Dent with its white-washed cottages and cobbled streets. There is also the chance to join the Settle-Carlisle Railway - with stations near Kirkby Stephen, Dent and Garsdale, it's the ideal and most relaxing way to explore both the Western and Southern Dales without a car.
A favourite of Wainwright, the magnificent sweeping folds of the Howgill Fells offer both superb, quiet fell walking and less strenuous rambles. Sedbergh lies in the foothills and retains its old-world personality with cobbled yards and historic houses.
But if you are seeking the typical English countryside of rolling green hills, fields and woodlands, visit the gentle green Lune Valley. Turner was inspired to paint one of his more famous works from Ruskin’s View in the lovely market town of Kirkby Lonsdale.
Visit our market towns and villages pages for more information. Click here to search for accommodation in the Western Dales
Click here for Information Centres and Information Points in the Dales |
Northern Dales
