Fancy retiring the pub habit for the weekend and heading out into the glorious landscapes God’s Own Country has to offer? We’ve rounded up the best walks in Yorkshire – all providing spectacular views of the iconic Yorkshire countryside.
There is plenty of luscious green space to be enjoyed in the area and with wellness being one of the buzzwords of the minute there is nothing better you can do for yourself than takes some time out in nature.
And with Yorkshire having such a diverse landscape with dales, moors and unique coastline we are spoilt for choice when it comes to hiking destinations within Yorkshire.
1. River Swale, Swaledale
A 2.5-mile walk with some fantastic views, the Keld, River Swale and Swaledale Waterfalls route is a great choice for walkers looking for an easy route – however, while the walk is fairly easy, there is a slight incline to be aware of.
The walk kicks off in Keld at the River Swale, where walkers can head to check out the East Gill Beck, before moving on to Birk Hill and the pretty waterfall at Kisdon Force and East Gill Waterfall. There is much to take in, so a handy camera is recommended.
Other highlights include the Pennine Bridleway, Currack Force, Keld village itself and Catrake Force. A great walk-in Yorkshire for water lovers!
2. Marsden Moor, Huddersfield
A personal favourite for us here at The Yorkshireman, Marsden Moor is a great option for beginners and pro walkers – with different routes for varying abilities.
One of the more popular walks in Yorkshire offers three reservoirs to visit: Butterley reservoir, Blakeley Reservoir and Wessenden Reservoir. The route features mostly flat land (other than climbing up the incline through the village) and is a beautiful spot to simply take in the sights and snap some photos.
Another popular route is the Pule Hill circular walk, a 4.5-mile route that gives trekkers sights of the canal, Pule Hill, the moor and remains of Marsden’s industrial heritage.
3. Flamborough Head Circular Walk, Yorkshire Coast
Flamborough Head is always a delight to see, with the circular walk being a fantastic choice for those looking to take in some fresh, sea air on their route.
The 7-mile walk is fairly challenging but well worth it for the views you get from the top of the cliffs! Starting in Flamborough village, the route heads by Thornwick Bay (a great photo opp), before descending on the beautiful Flamborough Cliffs Nature Reserve. Following the coastline on top of the cliffs, trekkers will get glorious views out to sea – perfect for a mild day.
The route also runs past the Lighthouse, before circling back around to the village and the remains of Flamborough Castle.
4. Malham Cove, Malham
One of the most terrific walks in Yorkshire, Malham Cove is famous for its incredible limestone cove top – as featured in Harry Potter.
The cove is a huge limestone formation and can be enjoyed as part of a 4.5-mile circular walk. The walk starts just south of Malham Village, and leads walkers along the famous Pennine Way, before arriving at the picturesque Janet’s Foss.
The route then progresses towards Gordale Scar, where you can take in the sights of the caves, the waterfall, and Gordale Beck. The walk finishes at Malham Cove, where you’ll be sure to want to update your Instagram Story from the iconic limestone pavement. Not only that, there’s even a pub to finish so you can claim your well-deserved reward – a nice, cold pint!
5. Fell Beck & Brimham Rocks, Yorkshire Dales
A short 2.8-mile walk, this easy route lets walkers explore Brimham Rocks, before taking in views of the vast Yorkshire Dales.
The route is a fairly easy one, with mostly flat land to work with for the duration. You’ll take in panoramic views throughout the walk, as well as stumble upon sights of the Druids Writing Desk, the Dancing Bear, the woodland and Fell Beck itself. The walk talks just 1 hour 15 minutes, so is perfect to squeeze in before scranning your weekend chippy.
Read More: The 7 Best, Most Idyllic Canal Walks In Yorkshire
6. Haworth Circular Walk, Haworth
Haworth is a glorious place to visit, with its picturesque, quaint town that’s perfect for exploring. But on top of that, the moors offer some incredible views for walkers to uncover.
The circular walk is five miles, taking up to 3 hours to complete – however it’s a great choice for walkers of all abilities. Fun fact: the landscape was actually an inspiration for the Bronte sisters when writing their novels!
The route begins at Penistone Hill Country Park, before passing Lower Laithe Reservoir and giving trekkers sights of Top Withins and the beautiful Bronte Waterfall. Be sure to check out the village and grab a cuppa while you’re there – it really is a pretty place!
7. Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire
The historic Fountains Abbey is always a memorable day out – it has a charm that draws tourists and budding photographers each year. The woodland along with the gorgeous, tranquil ornamental lake and gardens is the perfect place to visit.
Whether spring, summer or winter, it’s another one of the great walks in Yorkshire. The 5-mile circular takes in landmarks such as Fountains Hall, Studley Royal Water Garden and the Deer Park. Snowdrops, primroses and other wildlife make the perfect backdrop for a day out.
8. Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire
Hebden Bridge holds a soft spot in our hearts. Its beautiful canal and location near the river Calder make for a beautiful spring walk in Yorkshire. If you follow the Hebden Beck you can enjoy a fantastic walkout to a beautiful woodland area, which is covered in bluebells in spring and alive through summer.
The waterside destination of Yorkshire, Hebden Bridge is idyllic even in the rain. There are plenty of independent cafes, restaurants and pubs to enjoy a well-earned drink after a good ol’ stroll.
9. Ingleton, Yorkshire Dales
Located at the edge of the Yorkshire Dales near our sworn enemies in Lancashire, the Ingleton Waterfall Trail is loved by many – and for good reason, too, since it’s as magical as it sounds.
Offering majestic sights of five main waterfalls and eight water spots in total, the trail follows the River Twiss and the River Doe from the Ingleton starting point, where, along the way, you’ll also be treated to spectacular sights of one of Yorkshire’s Three Peaks, Ingleborough.
The four-mile route, which takes between two and four hours to complete, starts off pretty strong – and budding photographers will be keen to get some stunning shots of Thornton Force, which is part of the first half of the trail.
10. Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire
Sat on the outskirts of Leeds, near the historic market town of Ilkley is the Ilkley moorland which has plenty of walk options for you to try. There are some fantastic spots to visit such as the Twelve Apostles, Cow & Calf and Ilkley Tarn.
The perfect place to park up is at the Cow & Calf free car park and take it from there. It’s a short walk up the hill to the Cow & Calf gritstone. You can then head out to Ilkley Tarn where you’ll find on the walk rocky streams and the plunge pool of White Wells.
11. Yorkshire Wolds Way
Near our hometown in the lesser-known Yorkshire Wolds is a beautiful 79-mile walk along East Yorkshire’s chalk hills to the North Yorkshire coast. This can be broken into sections, one of our favourite parts is the Huggate region.
The village has a beautiful pub that does great food and a decent pint. Check out our article on the Yorkshire Wolds to look into each section
12. Roseberry Topping, Great Ayton
Found in the North York Moors, between Great Ayton and Newton Under Roseberry Roseberry Topping is one of the best walks in Yorkshire which is a unique summit sitting at 1,049. It has an interesting cone-shaped top caused by weathering.
You can start your walk in the beautiful village of Great Ayton for an 8-mile trek. You can head towards Newton Wood which is carpeted with spring flowers that make your way up Roseberry Topping before having a leisurely stroll through Slacks Wood and Cliff Ridge Wood whilst heading back to the village.
Read More: 7 Of The Most Beautiful Nature Walks In South Yorkshire
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