The most scenic walks in Yorkshire 

It’s home to the famous Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge – and with over 500 walking routes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park alone, needless to say this place is a walkers’ paradise. 

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker looking for your next challenge on a craggy hillside or sweeping coastal path, or you’re a casual rambler who just loves to explore nature and picturesque scenery on-foot, you’re sure to find a glorious trail in this county. In fact, there are so many to choose from, we thought it would be helpful to put together a list of some of the most scenic routes in Yorkshire – with a good mix of lengths, landscapes and difficulties for walkers of all ages and abilities. 

Yorkshire Three Peaks 

Difficulty: Highly challenging

Distance: 24 miles

This county is home to the famous Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, a serious adventure only to be attempted by experienced hikers! The route tackles the peaks of Pen-Y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The challenge is to complete it in under 12 hours – though with 24 miles and 1,585 metres of ascent to navigate, it takes many people longer. This challenge requires proper planning, a strong level of fitness, appropriate clothing and footwear, plenty of food and water, and a map and compass in case fog obscures the marked trail. So should you fancy the adventure but don’t have the long-distance hiking experience, it’s best to attend an organised event or book a guided trip. Each of the peaks also offers fantastic walks in their own right, if you’re keen for something a little less intensive (read on below). 

Pen-Y-Ghent

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Distance: 6 miles 

The first of Yorkshire’s renowned Three Peaks is Pen-Y-Ghent. This circular walk starts in the small village of Hortun-in-Ribblesdale and follows a waymarked route along the Pennine Way to the fell’s 694 metre summit. Whilst this is the smallest of the Three Peaks, you’ll still need a relatively good level of fitness to complete the walk – you’ll even need to do a little scrambling to get to the top – though it’s well worth the effort for the rewarding panoramic views you’ll get on a clear day. The route also takes in Hull Pot, a fascinating hole in the ground formed by a collapsed cavern, with a spectacular waterfall when the weather’s been wet. 

Whernside

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 7.5 miles 

Whernside is the second and the highest of the Three Peaks – and standing at 736 metres, it's the highest point in the whole of Yorkshire too. This well-trodden route starts at Ribblehead Viaduct, an impressive feat of engineering, and follows a long and steady climb to the mountain’s high level ridge. Summiting Whernside isn’t a walk in the park – but, as the most gradual ascent of the Three Peaks, is much more achievable for the average hiker than attempting the full challenge. Reaching the top still offers a good sense of achievement, as well as jaw-dropping views over the surrounding hills and moorland, of course! 

Ingleborough

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Distance: 6.5 miles 

The last of the Three Peaks, Ingleborough is the second highest with an elevation of 723 metres. Like the Pen-Y-Ghent and Whernside, this route is well-signposted and popular with all sorts of walkers, but is still moderately challenging to complete and will require a good level of navigation skills and fitness. The steep climb to Ingleborough’s summit is sure to get your heart pumping – but again, you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the Yorkshire Dales and all the way to the Lake District and Morecombe Bay, providing there’s not too much cloud cover. This summit is also the site of some archaeological Bronze Age remains that are worth exploring. 

York City Walls

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 2 miles

The ancient city of York is rich in history and is a gorgeous place to explore on-foot – and no visit would be complete without walking its ancient City Walls. At 2 miles long and mainly built in the 13th century, this beautifully preserved monument makes up the longest medieval town walls in England. The best way to explore them is via this trail by the Friends of York Walls, which takes in all the main features in around two hours, including the best surviving Roman fortress and the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey, as well as towers, arrow-slits, gun ports and more. You’ll get wonderful elevated views of the surrounding city too.

Malham Landscape Trail

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 4.9 miles

This beautiful circular trail in the Yorkshire Dales is popular with walkers, campers and climbers because, in a relatively short time, it takes in three of the national park’s famous sites. First you’ll encounter Janet’s Foss, a picturesque pool and waterfall amongst magical woodland. Next is Gordale Scar, a dramatic hidden ravine formed by glacial meltwater and limestone erosion over thousands of years. And finally you’ll reach Malham Cove, a huge amphitheatre-shaped limestone cliff that’s sure to take your breath away. Whilst graded ‘moderate’, the terrain on this route includes rough, steep and slippery sections so you’ll need sturdy footwear and a head for heights.

Flamborough Head

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 2.2 miles 

If you’re seeking a short-but-invigorating coastal stomp with ocean views stretching for miles, this easy circular route at Flamborough Head in East Riding of Yorkshire could be just the ticket. A windswept path, staggering white chalk cliffs and the vast open sea make up the landscape here. The cliffs are a nesting site for thousands of seabirds so it’s a wonderful walk for birdwatching too, especially in the summertime when you might spot colonies of auks, gannets and puffins. The route also passes the iconic Flamborough Head Lighthouse, built in 1806, where you can pop in for a tour if you’d like a closer look. 

Marsden Moor

Difficulty: Moderate 

Distance: 4.5 miles

Marsden Moor is a 5000-acre rugged landscape in West Yorkshire. This expansive area is managed by the National Trust and is home to a great variety of wildlife, history and walking trails. From short and easy strolls to challenging full-day hikes, there are plenty of routes for every kind of walker – though if you’re seeking something in the middle, the 4.5-mile Pule Hill circular is a good choice. This trail starts along the peaceful canal towpath, then gently undulates along the wild hillside, soaking up Marsden Moor’s diverse scenery of rock formations, reservoirs and wide open moorlands. 

Simon’s Seat and the Valley of Desolation 

Difficulty: Challenging 

Distance: 11 miles

Simon’s Seat is a rocky outcrop of millstone grit in the Yorkshire Dales and part of the Bolton Abbey Estate – and it’s a popular peak to climb for many hikers in the county. To reach its 485 metre summit you’ll walk up the Valley of Desolation which, despite its ominous name, provides some stunning natural scenery, including a hidden waterfall and tranquil woodland. If you’re up for a longer walk and would like to visit the historic Bolton Abbey and picturesque Barden Bridge along the way, take this 11-mile trail. Just be aware that there are some steep and rough sections, so it’s deemed a challenging route.  

Kilburn White Horse 

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 1.5 miles 

The Kilburn White Horse is the most northerly turf-cut figure in the UK and has become one of Yorkshire’s most iconic landmarks. It was cut into the hillside on Sutton Bank near Kilburn in 1857 by the village schoolmaster and his pupils and measures 318 feet long by 220 feet wide – on a clear day it’s even visible from north Leeds, 28 miles away! This short-but-steep circular trail will give you a close look at the landmark, as well as the excellent surrounding views across Hambleton Vale – although it’s difficult to get a sense of the horse’s scale from this viewpoint. 

Ingleton Waterfalls

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 4.5 miles

On the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park near the village of Ingleton, the River Doe and the River Twiss meet, resulting in a dramatic landscape of deep gorges and impressive cascading waterfalls. The Ingleton Waterfall Trail is a lovely circular route that takes in the gorges, falls and the stunning surrounding woodland scenery in just a few hours. The well-defined footpath follows the edge of the two rivers – just be aware that it is rocky and uneven in places and can be very muddy and slippery when wet. There are six waterfalls in total along the trail, each with its own character – and you’ll usually be able to hear them before you can see them! 

Aysgarth Woods & Waterfall 

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 1.5 miles

Another glorious waterfall walk is at Aysgarth Woods in North Yorkshire. At just 1.5 miles, this trail takes under an hour to complete but features three spectacular cascades along the way: High Force, Middle Force and Lower Force, all of which are especially thunderous and awe-inspiring after heavy rainfall! The route follows pleasant woodland paths and rolling farmland, with views of the medieval Bolton Castle. It’s a great place to spot wildlife too – look out for red squirrels, kingfishers and herons. You might even spot brown trout jumping out of the gorge, if you’re visiting on a warm summer’s evening. 

Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 7 miles

Set on a section of the Cleveland Way overlooking the North Sea, this 7-mile point-to-point route follows the Yorkshire coastline from the bustling town of Whitby southwards to the fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay. As well as magnificent coastal views, the walk features several points of interest along the way, including Whitby Abbey, the shipwreck of the Admiral Von Tromp, and the Hornblower Café which is set in a former foghorn station. It’s worth exploring the charming streets of Robin Hood’s Bay before getting the bus back to your starting point – or making the return journey north on-foot, providing you’ve got the energy and enough daylight hours ahead of you. 

Brontë Way

Difficulty: Challenging

Distance: 8 miles

The Brontë Way is a 43-mile long distance footpath that crosses West Yorkshire and Lancashire, offering a literary journey into the history, culture, and landscapes of the three Brontë sisters. This 8-mile circular stretch is a challenging but rewarding day-walk that takes in the Way’s various locations and highlights. It begins at Haworth where the sisters lived and wrote (you can visit the Brontë Parsonage Museum here), before passing the Brontë Waterfall and famous ‘Brontë Seat’ boulder. The route then leads you up to the ruin of Top Withins, thought to be the inspiration for Wuthering Heights, and along the wild Pennine moors.   

Where to stay in Yorkshire

With so many wonderful walking adventures to be had, you’re sure to want a beautiful base where you can refuel with an outdoor feast, soak in a wood-fired hot tub under the stars and drift off to a sound sleep, before waking to the sound of the birds and doing it all again. Sound blissful? Take a look at our two charming hideaways, Albie’s Freight Train and Sammi’s Freight Train. These lovingly restored railway carriages are tucked away in the rural Yorkshire countryside near Richmond and make the most heavenly rustic abodes for two (plus a four-legged friend!).