10 of the Best Yorkshire Walks

With picturesque dales and moors, and stunning coastlines, walkers are truly spoilt for choice when searching for destinations within Yorkshire. To make your decision slightly easier, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite Yorkshire walks, so that you and your nearest and dearest can appreciate the region’s varied landscape.

Malham Cove, Gordale Scar & Janet’s Foss Walk – North Yorkshire

Length: 4.4 miles
Start: Malham village post office
End: Malham

Just north of the village of Malham, this cove is a well-known spot within the Yorkshire Dales National Park and has been amazing visitors for centuries. Originally formed by a waterfall carrying meltwater from glaciers at the end of the last ice – this large curved limestone formation now houses flowing water underground.

On this circular Yorkshire walk you can not only enjoy stunning views of the cove, but also malhamdale, Gordale Scar which is a wide amphitheatre with cliffs either side and a breath-taking waterfall, Janet’s Foss, a smaller waterfall, beautiful woodland and you may just spot the resident Peregrine Falcons who’ve become a famous attraction.

Bronte Country – West Yorkshire

Length: Various

Bronte Country is an area of vast moors riven with deep valleys, situated within the beautiful South Pennine Hills. In the valleys are small villages and towns with a rich history and industrial past. There’s many different walking routes to choose from – our choice is a circular walk that begins in the historic Haworth village, treading moorland paths once familiar to the Bronte sisters – and consequently named after them – who not only lived in the area but also based many of their novels on the surrounding landscape.

Ribblehead Viaduct Walk – North Yorkshire

Length: 5 miles
Start: Car park off of the B6255
End: Car park off of the B6255

Enjoy a circular walk travelling around this famous Grade II listed structure whilst breathing in the countryside air. Situated within the Yorkshire Dales, this hugely picturesque spot is surrounded by beautiful rolling hills. The impressive viaduct carries the Settle to Carlisle Railway across Batty Moss in the valley of the River Ribblehead. Whether you’re isolating alone or with someone you love, be sure to add this glorious destination to your list of Yorkshire walks.

Langsett Reservoir – South Yorkshire

Length: 2.5 miles or 3 miles
Start: S36 4GY
End: S36 4GY

This circular walk takes visitors around the gorgeous Langsett Reservoir which is situated on the edge of the Peak District National Park. The walk commences in the village of Langsett and follows footpaths dotted throughout the woodland and open moorland surrounding the reservoir. This walk can sometimes be tricky but rest assured – you will be greatly rewarded with exquisite views across the Peak District. This destination proves to be a favourite for dog walkers, so why not bring your pooch along and enjoy this glorious Yorkshire walk?

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Ilkley Moor – North Yorkshire

Length: 2.4 miles
Start: Cow and Calf
End: Cow and Calf

Ilkley Moor is a popular walking destination all year round, encouraging travellers from far and wide to engage in leisurely walks. Lying directly above the idyllic spa town of Ilkley, this spot is ideal for walking, rock climbing, bird-watching and absorbing panoramic views. This loop trail is famous for its links to ancient myths and legends which have been kept alive by local villagers. The moor is also home to a series of fascinating ancient monuments, so why not wander among the prehistoric rock carvings of a wild, windswept moor?

Flamborough Head – East Riding of Yorkshire

Length: 2.5 miles
Start: Flamborough Lighthouse
End: Flamborough Lighthouse

Flamborough Head is marked out by a stretch of rugged white cliffs surrounding a small village, the ultimate paradise for outdoor lovers. The coastline provides great hiking opportunities, looping around windswept paths which prove to be a great spot for bird watching. The white cliffs provide impressive nesting sites for thousands of sea birds and are of international significance for their geology. Flamborough head is an all-round exciting haven for walking enthusiasts looking to explore the wild and untamed Yorkshire Coast.

Aysgarth Falls Waterfall Walk – North Yorkshire

Length: 3.4 miles
Start: Aysgarth Falls National Park Centre
End: Aysgarth Upper Falls

The Aysgarth Falls are a triple flight of spectacular waterfalls surrounded by luscious green woodland and farmland, located within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Attracting visitors for more than two hundred years, William Wordsworth and John Ruskin are amongst those who have appreciated Yorkshire’s rural waterfall, with the watercolour artist J.M.W. Turner being inspired by Aysgarth Falls. Visitors can walk amongst the impressive landscape, guided by public footpaths through the wooded valley which offers views of the river and falls. Wildflowers appear throughout the year, and in the warmer months, the woodland is full of flourishing anemones and primroses.

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Marsden Moor Estate – West Yorkshire

Length: Various

Whether you’re familiar with the area or looking to try something new, the Marsden Moor Estate is sure to impress walkers. This exhilarating location covers a large part of the Pennine Way, exploring a variety of landscapes brought together within the Moor. Expect winding paths, a series of reservoirs, canals and far-reaching views.

There is a selection of walks which can be enjoyed when visiting Marsden Moor, so get your walking boots on and prepare to return time and time again, experiencing different views and rural scenery each and every time.

Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay – North Yorkshire

Length: Up to 7 miles
Start: Whitby Bus Station
End: Robin Hood’s Bay

The dramatic Yorkshire coastline is a source of endless fascination, full of beauty and dripping in history, folklore and legend, whilst simultaneously providing incredible views for visitors making their way along the Whitby walking trail. This linear walk along the coast displays incredible views of the bay and the sea which appears to stretch outwards infinitely.

The beauty of this walk is that you can join and finish wherever you like, tailoring it to provide the ultimate satisfactory experience for everyone involved – after all, we certainly do all love to be beside the seaside!

Yorkshire Wolds Way Walk – East Riding of Yorkshire

Length: Designed to suit each walker

The Yorkshire Wolds Way is an impressive 79 mile-long walk, featuring incredible views of the surrounding landscape. Understandably, it isn’t possible to take part in the entire trail, but why not create a route of your own. The trail winds through what is considered to be some of the most tranquil rural landscapes throughout the entirety of England. The walk is also best-known for featuring the banks of the immense Humber estuary, leading visitors along wooded slopes, through serene, picturesque dry valleys before climbing onto the fresh tops of rolling hills, where on clear days – granted we’re not gifted with many of them – individuals claim that they ‘can see on infinitely’.

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