The Dales Way: From Ilkley to the Lake District through the Yorkshire Dales

A fully waymarked trail from Ilkley to Bowness-on-Windermere, the Dales Way links two of England's most celebrated national parks, the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District. Well served for accommodation and facilities, and with easy walking on riverside paths, it is one of the gentlest multi-day walks in Britain and therefore an ideal introduction to long-distance walking. It can be comfortably completed in 6-8 days. Presented in six daily stages of 7-19 miles (with suggestions for alternative schedules), this guide describes the Way in both directions, with the main route description running from south to north. Step-by-step route description is accompanied by 1:100,000 mapping, and a trek planner, showing where facilities are available, is included to facilitate planning. Accommodation listings and useful contacts can be found in the appendices. A separate, conveniently sized map booklet located in the back-cover sleeve provides all the OS 1:25,000 mapping needed to complete the trail. The guide offers comprehensive notes on local points of interest, as well as an overview of Dales geology, history, plants and wildlife to enhance the walking experience. The practical information is all there too, including when to go, how to get there and what to take, making for an ideal companion to enjoying this delightful route.

Table of Contents:
Map key Overview map Route summary table The Dales Way Trek Planner Preface INTRODUCTION About the Dales Way Planning the walk Suggested itineraries When to go Getting there… and back Public transport First and last nights Accommodation Facilities en route Pack-carrying services (baggage transfer) Cash management Equipment Dogs Planning day-by-day Using this guide Maps Weather Waymarking and paths Health, safety and emergencies Phones and Wi-Fi All about the region Geography Geology Plants and wildlife History and culture THE DALES WAY: ILKLEY TO BOWNESS Wharfedale Stage 1 Ilkley to Burnsall Stage 2 Burnsall to Buckden Langstrothdale and Dentdale Stage 3 Buckden to Cowgill (Lea Yeat) Stage 4 Cowgill (Lea Yeat) to Millthrop (Sedbergh) Lonsdale and the Lakeland Fringe Stage 5 Millthrop (Sedbergh) to Staveley Into Lakeland Stage 6 Staveley to Bowness-on-Windermere Appendix A Useful contacts Appendix B Accommodation along the route Appendix C Further reading

About the Author :
Dr Terry Marsh is a Lancashire-based award-winning writer and photographer who specialises in the outdoors, the countryside, walking and travel. He has been writing books since the mid-1980s, and is the author, co-author or revision author of over 120 titles. Terry has an extensive interest in Cumbria and the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, Lancashire, the Peak District, Wales, the Scottish islands and the Isle of Man.