Yorkshire Dales (Slow Travel)

The most comprehensive guide to Yorkshire Dales National Park and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, now in a thoroughly updated third edition.

The Yorkshire Dales could have been invented for modern travel. With cinematic caves, valleys, waterfalls and dramatic limestone geology famous around the world, the region offers something special at every turn. Within a short walk of dramatic landscapes, you'll find filmset-perfect traditional pubs and cafes where you're as likely to chat to shepherds as celebrities. The Dales have never been places to hurry, and in a travel world where 'slow', 'sustainable' and 'local' matter more than ever, this remarkable English region offers much to savour at leisure—like one of its renowned artisan cheeses or beers.

Written and updated by two Yorkshire residents and outdoors enthusiasts, this guide complements well-known honeypots like Aysgarth Falls, Malham and Grassington with off-piste gems you'll have to yourself: wild swimming spots, hidden caves, Dark Skies sites and traditional stone villages. With hundreds of square kilometres of open-access land, the Dales are one of the UK's premier hillwalking destinations, hosting beloved routes such as the Pennine Way, Three Peaks, Dales Way and the recently upgraded Coast to Coast. The region has also become renowned as one of England's finest places for cycling, from family trips to e-biking and road racing.

Discover the Tan Hill Inn—Britain's highest pub, where sheep warm themselves by the fire—journey into Gaping Gill, one of Britain's largest underground chambers, or visit book-loving Sedbergh, where even the bus stops have bookshelves. Take a scenic rail trip on the famous Settle-Carlisle line crossing the country's longest railway viaduct. History buffs will love medieval castles including Skipton and Richmond, while wildlife-watchers can enjoy the birds of sparkling rivers and limestone-pavement flora. Bradt's Yorkshire Dales is the perfect companion for a successful trip.